Genesis 31
- Labon's servants got mad because Jacob had acquired great wealth and the Lord told Jacob to return to the land of his fathers.
- Jacob tells Rachel and Leah the vision he had from God which said he should leave their father's land. They saw that their father had cheated them out of money so they both (actually agreed) and told Jacob to do what the Lord had commanded him to do.
- The Lord remembered the pillar Jacob had made in bethel and referred to it when he addressed Jacob.
- Jacob fled without talking to Labon.
- Rachel ("the good wife") had stolen a household idol from her father.
- Labon overtook Jacob and confronted him, but did not harm Jacob because the Lord had told him not to.
- Labon said Jacob had acted foolishly in fleeing without telling Labon, but nothing Labon had done previously seemed to indicate that he'd willingly let Jacob go.
- Labon said someone with Jacob had stolen his household gods, and Jacob said that if anyone had anything that belonged to Labon they should be put to death.
- Rachel sat on her camel which contained the gods, but said she could not move because "the way of a woman was upon her"
- Would Rachel still have been "cycling" at her age?
- When Labon found nothing, Jacob asked why Labon had treated him so badly. He worked for Labon 14 years, 7 years for each daughter, and then he worked 6 more years tending the sheep under the deal he had made with Labon.
- Jacob told Labon that this was why God rebuked Labon in a dream the previous day.
- Labon spoke Aramaic apparently and Jacob spoke Hebrew at least they names the pillar they set up as a covenant this way.
- The vowed not to cross this pillar to do each other harm.
- Why is God referred to as the Fear of Isaac? Why is "Fear" capitalized twice in this passage?
- Labon blessed his daughters and grandchildren and went home. It's interesting that Labon did not bless Jacob himself.
Esther 7
- Esther's feast lasted 2 days.
- The king asked Esther what she wants and she said simply, her life and life for her people. She also said that if her people were merely to be enslaved she would have been quiet but since her people were to be wiped out she had to speak up.
- The king asked who would do this wicked act and Esther said it was Haman himself. Haman of course was scared,
- The king left the room very angry and while he was out, Haman fell on the couch to beg for his life from Esther. The king returned and thought Haman was attacking his wife, so the king had Haman hung on the gallows which were waiting for Mordecai.
- Didn't the king know that Esther was Jewish and piece together that the anti Jewish law was against her too?
Mark 2
- Jesus went to Capernaum and many came to hear Jesus speak and to be healed.
- 4 men brought their paralytic friend and lowered him through the roof to Jesus.
- Jesus told the man that his sins had been forgiven.
- Some of the scribes thought Jesus was blaspheming, so he healed the man and EVERYONE glorified God.
- Jesus could hear their question by the spirit
- Was this story the same incident recorded in Matthew or a different one?
- Why does Mark add so much detail to THIS story when he abbreviates the others?
- Jesus told Levi to follow Him and he did.
- v.15 - Why does it say "at table" and not "at the table"?
- Jesus was hanging out with tax collectors and sinners and the scribes asked why. Jesus replied that He came to save sinners not the righteous.
- Was anyone counted as righteous at this time since Jesus is constantly rebuking the Pharisees?
- Interesting to note that Mark refers to the Pharisees as "scribes" where as Matthew never did this.
- The Pharisees asked why Jesus' disciples didn't fast, and He told them they do not fast because the bridegroom "Jesus" is still with them. They will fast when He is taken from them.
- Jesus' disciples were picking grain to eat on the Sabbath and again the Pharisees asked why they were doing this.
- Jesus refers them to a time when David ate food from the house of God.
- What were the circumstances and/or reasons which caused David to break this commandment?
- Wouldn't that act by David be viewed as sin by God?
- Jesus said that the Sabbath was made for man and that He was Lord even of the Sabbath which must have been seen as blasphemy.
- Who is Mark?
- Why is the tax collector's name Levi in Mark and Matthew in Matthew 9:9-13?
Roman 2
- Paul rebukes them for being hypocrites, judging people for doing something wrong and then doing the same thing themselves. Paul reminds them that God WILL judge them for these things and that they are stockpiling wrath against themselves.
- Paul says that God demonstrates patience and kindness in order to lead people to repentance.
- Why does Paul say that God shows no partiality and then say the Jew shall be first and the Greek will be second?
- Wrath awaits those who are selfish and not living by the truth.
- v.12 - 16 - Is Paul saying that those who do not know the law will not be judged by it?
- Paul is saying that even people who have never heard the law parts of it written on their heart...kinda like a conscience I guess...knowing right from wrong.
- Paul is telling the Romans that their hypocritical ways are ruining their witness to unbelievers, basically blaspheming God to others because they have the Law but cannot keep it.
- Paul states that circumcision is an outward sign, but Gentiles who are not circumcised yet keep the law are viewed as righteous.
- Circumcision is a matter of the heart not a physical thing.
- Man's praise is from God not man ultimately.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Genesis 30 - Esther 6 - Mark 1 - Romans 1
Genesis 30
- This chapter is all about sibling rivalry between Rachel and Leah.
- Rachel was mad at Jacob that she could not have children and she blamed him. He responded to her in anger.
- Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob and she bore him 2 sons; Dan and Naphtali.
- Why didn't Rachel hate Bilhah for bearing children? How was this any easier for Rachel than seeing her sister bear children?
- Leah saw that Bilhah was having children so she sent in her servant Zilpah who bore Jacob 2 sons' Gad and Asher.
- Rachel wanted some of Rueben (Leah's son's) mandrakes http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mandrakes.
- Leah said no because Rachel had taken Jacob away from her, so Rachel said Leah could have Jacob for one night in exchange for some mandrakes.
- Leah conceived and bore Issachar (a 5th son by her)
- Why did Leah have to "buy time" with her husband Jacob?
- How did she bear Jacob an additional son? Did she again have to buy time with him or did he sleep with his wife because she bore him a son?
- Leah bore a 6th son, Zebulun, and a daughter Dinah
- Why did it mention this daughter since in previous genealogies it only addresses boys who were born?
- Rachel finally conceived and bore Joseph. God finally answered her prayers.
- Jacob wanted to leave Labon and start his own land because he wanted to care for his large family. He had served the allotted time as promised to Labon.
- Labon knew that he had been blessed during the time Jacob was with him and agreed to give Jacob every spotted goat and black lamb as payment as Jacob had requested.
- Labon tried to deceive Jacob by intentionally going into his own flock and sending any spotted or black lamb to his own sons flocks, so Jacob would get nothing.
- Why would Labon intentionally try to sabotage the blessings that he had had from Jacob's presence?
- Jacob did not respond in anger but simply put spotted sticks in front of the lambs when they were drinking (and breeding) and they bore spotted babies. He only did this in front of the stronger sheep and goats. The weaker ones he did not put spotted sticks in front of and those babies went into Labon's flock.
- Why did Jacob request the "blemished sheep and goats" when in later scriptural references these sheep are looked down upon and the "spotless lamb" is seen as good. Even in Jesus' one parable in Matthew he said goats would be separated out from the sheep. Was this just a metaphor?
Esther 6
- The king could not sleep, so he had the king's chronicles brought in and read to him. Upon doing so it was recorded that Mordecai had once saved the king's life.
- The king asked what had been done for Mordecai and his servants said nothing.
- In an ironic twist Haman was on his way to the king to talk about hanging Mordecai the next morning.
- The king asked Haman what should be done to honor someone in who the king delighted.
- Haman thought the king was referring to him so he told that king that such a person should be dressed up and paraded around town on the kings horse.
- The king told Haman to do this for Mordecai, which he did.
- Afterwards Haman ran home with his head down and his wife and friends said that if Mordecai was indeed a Jew nothing could be done to him and Haman would surely be defeated by Mordecai.
- What was the time frame of this chapter? Was Mordecai paraded around town late at night, or during the next day since the king's servants got him for Esther's feast while Haman was talking to his wife and friends?
Mark 1
- Mark jumps straight into Jesus' ministry, no birth story, just picking up right at John the Baptist in the wilderness. Mark does start his gospel with a prophecy from Isaiah.
- John the Baptist said there would be a man after him who he was not worthy to even tie his shoe.
- John lived in the wilderness and people came to be forgiven of their sins.
- How could John forgive sins? Did he have the power to do this?
- Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee came and was baptized by John and He heard a voice say to Him here is my Son in who I am well pleased.
- Did only Jesus hear and see these things?
- Did Jesus have the power of the Holy Spirit before this happened?
- Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan for 40 days.
- Didn't Matthew say that Jesus was tempted AFTER being in the wilderness 40 days?
- It's interesting to not how brief Mark's accounts of these things is.
- John was arrested and Jesus began His ministry.
- Jesus calls the first 4 disciples who leave fishing and become "fisher's of men".
- Interesting to note - James and John are sons of Zebedee (I thought that was a place)
- In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit who knew who Jesus was, and he commanded it to be silent and leave the man, which the spirit did.
- How does the evil spirit know who Jesus is?
- Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law (so Simon aka Peter was married)
- What happened to Peter's wife while he was preaching with Jesus and after His death and resurrection?
- The disciples found Him and said people were looking for Him, but He said they must go on to the next town.
- Jesus healed a leper who he told to tell no one except the priests that He had healed the man, but of course the man told everyone, and Jesus could no longer enter into a town but had to stay outside the town and let the people come to Him.
Romans 1
- Paul shares the gospel message in his greeting to the Romans, again pointing out that God had sent His Son, whom had been talked about in the OT, to give grace to those who would believe.
- Paul longed to go to them but had so far been prevented in doing so.
- This letter must have been written before he visited Rome in his appeal to Caesar which was talked about in Acts 27 & 28.
- How has Paul heard about the faith of the Romans when they had NOT heard about Paul's doings (as talked about in Acts when he entered Rome?)
- Did those receiving this letter even know who Paul was at the time?
- "The righteous shall live by faith" shows how believers should live (This can also be translated as, "The one who by faith is righteous shall live" This seems to change the verse's meaning slightly.
- Paul says that the "unrighteous" have denied God and have been able to see Him in nature and the things around them.
- Does this mean that ALL people should know God regardless of whether they have been told about Him or not? How can they know the completed truth about God's Son if no one ever tells them?
- Paul says that mankind turned away from god and began worshipping idols. The people worshipped the creature (created things) instead of the Creator! (misguided by sinfulness)
- Paul appears to be addressing sin that came from turning away from God focusedness, one thing being same sex relations, which were shameful.
- "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." - These things are ALL sinful acts that God allowed due to sin and these are ALL reasons why people need a savior.
- (How often have I taken part in these things, even though I know the truth of the gospel)
- Paul says that even worse than DOING these things is the fact that other people are approving of and encouraging those people in their sins.
- Have I ever encouraged others to sin instead of gently rebuking them?
- This chapter is all about sibling rivalry between Rachel and Leah.
- Rachel was mad at Jacob that she could not have children and she blamed him. He responded to her in anger.
- Rachel gave her servant Bilhah to Jacob and she bore him 2 sons; Dan and Naphtali.
- Why didn't Rachel hate Bilhah for bearing children? How was this any easier for Rachel than seeing her sister bear children?
- Leah saw that Bilhah was having children so she sent in her servant Zilpah who bore Jacob 2 sons' Gad and Asher.
- Rachel wanted some of Rueben (Leah's son's) mandrakes http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/mandrakes.
- Leah said no because Rachel had taken Jacob away from her, so Rachel said Leah could have Jacob for one night in exchange for some mandrakes.
- Leah conceived and bore Issachar (a 5th son by her)
- Why did Leah have to "buy time" with her husband Jacob?
- How did she bear Jacob an additional son? Did she again have to buy time with him or did he sleep with his wife because she bore him a son?
- Leah bore a 6th son, Zebulun, and a daughter Dinah
- Why did it mention this daughter since in previous genealogies it only addresses boys who were born?
- Rachel finally conceived and bore Joseph. God finally answered her prayers.
- Jacob wanted to leave Labon and start his own land because he wanted to care for his large family. He had served the allotted time as promised to Labon.
- Labon knew that he had been blessed during the time Jacob was with him and agreed to give Jacob every spotted goat and black lamb as payment as Jacob had requested.
- Labon tried to deceive Jacob by intentionally going into his own flock and sending any spotted or black lamb to his own sons flocks, so Jacob would get nothing.
- Why would Labon intentionally try to sabotage the blessings that he had had from Jacob's presence?
- Jacob did not respond in anger but simply put spotted sticks in front of the lambs when they were drinking (and breeding) and they bore spotted babies. He only did this in front of the stronger sheep and goats. The weaker ones he did not put spotted sticks in front of and those babies went into Labon's flock.
- Why did Jacob request the "blemished sheep and goats" when in later scriptural references these sheep are looked down upon and the "spotless lamb" is seen as good. Even in Jesus' one parable in Matthew he said goats would be separated out from the sheep. Was this just a metaphor?
Esther 6
- The king could not sleep, so he had the king's chronicles brought in and read to him. Upon doing so it was recorded that Mordecai had once saved the king's life.
- The king asked what had been done for Mordecai and his servants said nothing.
- In an ironic twist Haman was on his way to the king to talk about hanging Mordecai the next morning.
- The king asked Haman what should be done to honor someone in who the king delighted.
- Haman thought the king was referring to him so he told that king that such a person should be dressed up and paraded around town on the kings horse.
- The king told Haman to do this for Mordecai, which he did.
- Afterwards Haman ran home with his head down and his wife and friends said that if Mordecai was indeed a Jew nothing could be done to him and Haman would surely be defeated by Mordecai.
- What was the time frame of this chapter? Was Mordecai paraded around town late at night, or during the next day since the king's servants got him for Esther's feast while Haman was talking to his wife and friends?
Mark 1
- Mark jumps straight into Jesus' ministry, no birth story, just picking up right at John the Baptist in the wilderness. Mark does start his gospel with a prophecy from Isaiah.
- John the Baptist said there would be a man after him who he was not worthy to even tie his shoe.
- John lived in the wilderness and people came to be forgiven of their sins.
- How could John forgive sins? Did he have the power to do this?
- Jesus from Nazareth of Galilee came and was baptized by John and He heard a voice say to Him here is my Son in who I am well pleased.
- Did only Jesus hear and see these things?
- Did Jesus have the power of the Holy Spirit before this happened?
- Jesus was in the wilderness being tempted by Satan for 40 days.
- Didn't Matthew say that Jesus was tempted AFTER being in the wilderness 40 days?
- It's interesting to not how brief Mark's accounts of these things is.
- John was arrested and Jesus began His ministry.
- Jesus calls the first 4 disciples who leave fishing and become "fisher's of men".
- Interesting to note - James and John are sons of Zebedee (I thought that was a place)
- In the synagogue there was a man with an unclean spirit who knew who Jesus was, and he commanded it to be silent and leave the man, which the spirit did.
- How does the evil spirit know who Jesus is?
- Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law (so Simon aka Peter was married)
- What happened to Peter's wife while he was preaching with Jesus and after His death and resurrection?
- The disciples found Him and said people were looking for Him, but He said they must go on to the next town.
- Jesus healed a leper who he told to tell no one except the priests that He had healed the man, but of course the man told everyone, and Jesus could no longer enter into a town but had to stay outside the town and let the people come to Him.
Romans 1
- Paul shares the gospel message in his greeting to the Romans, again pointing out that God had sent His Son, whom had been talked about in the OT, to give grace to those who would believe.
- Paul longed to go to them but had so far been prevented in doing so.
- This letter must have been written before he visited Rome in his appeal to Caesar which was talked about in Acts 27 & 28.
- How has Paul heard about the faith of the Romans when they had NOT heard about Paul's doings (as talked about in Acts when he entered Rome?)
- Did those receiving this letter even know who Paul was at the time?
- "The righteous shall live by faith" shows how believers should live (This can also be translated as, "The one who by faith is righteous shall live" This seems to change the verse's meaning slightly.
- Paul says that the "unrighteous" have denied God and have been able to see Him in nature and the things around them.
- Does this mean that ALL people should know God regardless of whether they have been told about Him or not? How can they know the completed truth about God's Son if no one ever tells them?
- Paul says that mankind turned away from god and began worshipping idols. The people worshipped the creature (created things) instead of the Creator! (misguided by sinfulness)
- Paul appears to be addressing sin that came from turning away from God focusedness, one thing being same sex relations, which were shameful.
- "And since they did not see fit to acknowledge God, God gave them up to a debased mind to do what ought not to be done. 29 They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, 30 slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, 31 foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless." - These things are ALL sinful acts that God allowed due to sin and these are ALL reasons why people need a savior.
- (How often have I taken part in these things, even though I know the truth of the gospel)
- Paul says that even worse than DOING these things is the fact that other people are approving of and encouraging those people in their sins.
- Have I ever encouraged others to sin instead of gently rebuking them?
Saturday, July 12, 2008
Genesis 29 - Esther 5 - Matthew 28 - Acts 28
Genesis 29
- Jacob goes into Haran to find a daughter of Labon to marry.
- Jacob meets some shepherds him Rachel, Labon's daughter. Jacob kisses her and weeps.
- Labon ran to meet Jacob and kissed him (Kissing must be a way of greeting in this culture).
- Jacob stayed there a month. Labon asked what he should pay Jacob for working for him.
- Jacob said he'd work for Labon for 7 years in order to marry Rachel.
- Jacob chose Rachel over Leah because Rachel was more beautiful.
- Because of his love for Rachel, the 7 years flew by.
- Labon held a great feast and sent Leah into Jacob instead of Rachel. (Jacob must have drank too much because he didn't knew who "came in to him that night")
- How did he not know the difference between Rachel and Leah?
Was it the custom at that time to have a week "honeymoon?"
- Labon gave Rachel to be Jacob's wife a week later in exchange for Jacob working 7 additional years.
- Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. (This must have caused tension and jealousy.)
- The LORD gave Leah 4 children to Jacob; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah whose names mean "See", "Heard", "Attached", and "Praised".
- Leah thought having children would make Jacob love her more.
- Why would God bless Leah with children and not allow Rachel to have children if Jacob was to be blessed and Jacob loved Rachel more?
Esther 5
- Esther went into the king and he held out his scepter (which was the only way fro her to talk to him unannounced without being killed)
- He said she could request anything even up to half the kingdom.
- Esther requested that the king and Haman come to a feast she had prepared and then she would share her request.
- Haman went to his wife and friend boasting about how great he was; in his riches, his high standing with the king, and in the fact that only he was invited with the king to Esther's feast tomorrow.
- Mordecai was still not bowing to Haman, so with advice of his wife, he made the gallows 50 feet (75 feet) high to hang Mordecai in the morning.
Matthew 28
- The day after the Sabbath there was a great earthquake and an angel appeared at Jesus' tomb.
- Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" went to Jesus' tomb and the angel told them that Jesus would meet them in Galilee.
- Was "the other Mary" Jesus' mother?
- Why did Jesus choose to go to Galilee first after he rose from the dead and not to somewhere greater like Jerusalem or Rome?
- The effect of seeing the angel was fear and great joy (strange combo)
- Jesus first met the 2 Marys.
- The Jewish priests gave a large sum of money to say the disciples had taken Jesus' body, thus trying to null and void Jesus prophecies about Himself.
- It says "some doubted" but I thought only Thomas doubted it was really Jesus.
- Jesus gave the great commission to the disciples, for them to go and make disciples of Christ among the nations.
- Jesus said He would be with them always even to the end of "the age"
- Is this the age until Christ's return?
- This is the heart of the Gospel. Christ had conquered death and saved those who would believe in Him from their sins. He is our hope and confidence for eternal life. (Yay!!!)
Acts 28
- The natives welcomed Paul, Luke and the crew who were stranded in Malta.
- The people were very kind to them.
- They made a fire and Paul was bit by a viper. The natives thought Paul must have been a murderer because "Justice" was going to kill him.
- Why is Justice capitalized?
- Paul threw the snake into the fire (was this a reference to Satan being thrown into the lake of fire or just a coincidence) Paul had no ill effects and the people thought he must be a god.
- Publius, the local ruler, had a father who was very sick. Paul prayed for him and healed him and many others in Malta.
- They supplied Paul with everything else he would need for his journey.
- Paul stayed in Malta for 3 months in total.
- How did believers learn of the gospel before Paul got there?
- Paul was guarded by a soldier but other believers came and visited with him.
- Paul asked to speak with the local Jews in Rome and they had heard nothing good or bad about him. They wanted to hear his views about this "sect" (Christianity) that was being talked about everywhere.
- He tried to convince them about Jesus by using the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
- Some believed and some did not to which Paul referenced Isaiah where it said your will hear but not understand, etc...
- It's interesting that v.29 was omitted from the main passage, but it said the Jews departed from Paul after he stated that the Gentiles would hear and believe.
- Paul lived there 2 years talking with others and living in a dwelling that he was apparently renting at his own expense.
- Wasn't he guarded in jail or was he renting a place and just being watched by the guard?
- Jacob goes into Haran to find a daughter of Labon to marry.
- Jacob meets some shepherds him Rachel, Labon's daughter. Jacob kisses her and weeps.
- Labon ran to meet Jacob and kissed him (Kissing must be a way of greeting in this culture).
- Jacob stayed there a month. Labon asked what he should pay Jacob for working for him.
- Jacob said he'd work for Labon for 7 years in order to marry Rachel.
- Jacob chose Rachel over Leah because Rachel was more beautiful.
- Because of his love for Rachel, the 7 years flew by.
- Labon held a great feast and sent Leah into Jacob instead of Rachel. (Jacob must have drank too much because he didn't knew who "came in to him that night")
- How did he not know the difference between Rachel and Leah?
Was it the custom at that time to have a week "honeymoon?"
- Labon gave Rachel to be Jacob's wife a week later in exchange for Jacob working 7 additional years.
- Jacob loved Rachel more than Leah. (This must have caused tension and jealousy.)
- The LORD gave Leah 4 children to Jacob; Reuben, Simeon, Levi, and Judah whose names mean "See", "Heard", "Attached", and "Praised".
- Leah thought having children would make Jacob love her more.
- Why would God bless Leah with children and not allow Rachel to have children if Jacob was to be blessed and Jacob loved Rachel more?
Esther 5
- Esther went into the king and he held out his scepter (which was the only way fro her to talk to him unannounced without being killed)
- He said she could request anything even up to half the kingdom.
- Esther requested that the king and Haman come to a feast she had prepared and then she would share her request.
- Haman went to his wife and friend boasting about how great he was; in his riches, his high standing with the king, and in the fact that only he was invited with the king to Esther's feast tomorrow.
- Mordecai was still not bowing to Haman, so with advice of his wife, he made the gallows 50 feet (75 feet) high to hang Mordecai in the morning.
Matthew 28
- The day after the Sabbath there was a great earthquake and an angel appeared at Jesus' tomb.
- Mary Magdalene and "the other Mary" went to Jesus' tomb and the angel told them that Jesus would meet them in Galilee.
- Was "the other Mary" Jesus' mother?
- Why did Jesus choose to go to Galilee first after he rose from the dead and not to somewhere greater like Jerusalem or Rome?
- The effect of seeing the angel was fear and great joy (strange combo)
- Jesus first met the 2 Marys.
- The Jewish priests gave a large sum of money to say the disciples had taken Jesus' body, thus trying to null and void Jesus prophecies about Himself.
- It says "some doubted" but I thought only Thomas doubted it was really Jesus.
- Jesus gave the great commission to the disciples, for them to go and make disciples of Christ among the nations.
- Jesus said He would be with them always even to the end of "the age"
- Is this the age until Christ's return?
- This is the heart of the Gospel. Christ had conquered death and saved those who would believe in Him from their sins. He is our hope and confidence for eternal life. (Yay!!!)
Acts 28
- The natives welcomed Paul, Luke and the crew who were stranded in Malta.
- The people were very kind to them.
- They made a fire and Paul was bit by a viper. The natives thought Paul must have been a murderer because "Justice" was going to kill him.
- Why is Justice capitalized?
- Paul threw the snake into the fire (was this a reference to Satan being thrown into the lake of fire or just a coincidence) Paul had no ill effects and the people thought he must be a god.
- Publius, the local ruler, had a father who was very sick. Paul prayed for him and healed him and many others in Malta.
- They supplied Paul with everything else he would need for his journey.
- Paul stayed in Malta for 3 months in total.
- How did believers learn of the gospel before Paul got there?
- Paul was guarded by a soldier but other believers came and visited with him.
- Paul asked to speak with the local Jews in Rome and they had heard nothing good or bad about him. They wanted to hear his views about this "sect" (Christianity) that was being talked about everywhere.
- He tried to convince them about Jesus by using the Law of Moses and the Prophets.
- Some believed and some did not to which Paul referenced Isaiah where it said your will hear but not understand, etc...
- It's interesting that v.29 was omitted from the main passage, but it said the Jews departed from Paul after he stated that the Gentiles would hear and believe.
- Paul lived there 2 years talking with others and living in a dwelling that he was apparently renting at his own expense.
- Wasn't he guarded in jail or was he renting a place and just being watched by the guard?
Friday, July 11, 2008
Genesis 28 - Esther 4 - Matthew 27 - Acts 27
Genesis 28
- Isaac told Jacob NOT to marry a Canaanite but to go marry one of his first cousins, Rebekah's brother's daughter.
- Esau went to Ishmael, his uncle, and married one of his daughters.
- Jacob left Beersheba and headed toward Haran. There he fell asleep (with a rock for a pillow) and had a vision of stairs going from earth to heaven. There were angels go up and down it and God was at the top. He spoke to Jacob, reminding him of His covenant with his grandfather Abraham.
- Jacob then knew God was in that place!
- What was Jacob's perception of God at this time in history?
- How would God fulfill His promise through Jacob when He had told Abraham that his people would inherit the land after 400 years?
- Jacob named that town where he saw the vision Bethel.
- Jacob was aware of God's presence and promised to give Him a tenth of everything he had or ever would have.
- Is this the first "tithe" ever in history?
Esther 4
- Mordecai and the other Jews put on sackcloth and mourned at the king's gate, which was illegal.
- Esther sent her eunuch Hathach to ask Mordecai why he was weeping and Mordecai told her servant all that Haman had plotted to do to all Jews and showed her the decree.
- Was the decree posted in the city?
- Mordecai asked her to go and talk to the king about what Haman was doing, but she told Mordecai that it was illegal to go into the king without being summoned. The punishment was death. (She was understandably fearful). The King had not summoned her for 30 days.
- He said go in or not, the Lord will use her or someone else to save His people.
- Mordecai also saw Esther's queenship as being God's doing for a "time such as this".
- Esther agreed to go and if she was killed, she'd accept that.
- She asked Mordecai to tell all of the Jews of Susa to fast from food and water for 3 days on her behalf before she went into the king.
Matthew 27
-Jews deliver Jesus to Pilate to be killed.
- Judas is grieved by what he has done and goes and gives back the 30 pieces of silver to the Jewish counsel and hangs himself.
- The Jews buy a field with the money because it was "blood money" thus fulfilling what was written in Jeremiah where it states the will buy a field for 30 pieces of silver (wow!)
- Jesus said nothing at the Jews accusations before Pilate and he was amazed.
- Pilate's wife was having bad dreams and told her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus.
- Pilate offered to free Barabbas or Jesus and the chief priests had the crowd free Barabbas and say to crucify Jesus.
- Pilate asked what He had done wrong and they just kept shouting.
- Pilate washed his hands before the Jews and they replied, "His blood be on us and on our children!”
- Why would they say this, cursing themselves?
- The soldiers dressed him up and put a crown of thorns on His head mocking Him by calling Him the "king of the Jews"
- They spit on Him and hit Him.
- Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus' cross and Jesus refused to drink wine offered Him (thus keeping His vow at the last supper.
- People mocked Him saying that IF He were the Son of God He should be able to save Himself (But Jesus stayed there to finish what God had sent Him to do because He loved us)
- Even the 2 robbers being crucified with Him mocked Him.
- The sky darkened for 3 hours and then Jesus died.
- What exactly did Jesus mean when He said that God had "forsaken" Him?
= The curtain in the temple tore in two (the curtain separated God's holy place from the people and there was an earthquake. The centurion on guard knew that Jesus was the Son of God.
- Mary Magdalene and Mary and the mother of the sons of Zebedee were there.
- Why does Matthew acknowledge Mary Magdalene here when he hadn't mentioned her before?
- A man named Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus' body to bury Him and he rolled a great stone in front of the tomb's entrance.
- The Pharisees knowing that Jesus said He would raise from the day in 3 days requested that guards be placed around the tomb so that no one could steal Jesus body (pulling off a "hoax" that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
Acts 27
- Paul was sent by boat toward Rome (Luke was there with him) and the trip was slow going.
- Paul advised them not to go further because there would be great loss, but they pressed on anyway.
- They almost made their destination but were caught in a horrible storm that lasted for 3 days.
- They threw their cargo over to not sink and were getting hungry.
- Paul told them that an angel had told Paul he must go to Rome and that the ship would be wrecked but not one life would be lost.
- They had been lost at sea for 14 days and some men tried to leave in small boats but Paul told them that if they left the ship they would die, so they trusted him.
- There were 276 men on the ship, and not one hair was harmed. (Ties in with Jesus' one parable).
- The men wanted to kill the prisoners, but the centurion who had talked with Paul saved his and the other prisoners' lives.
-
- Isaac told Jacob NOT to marry a Canaanite but to go marry one of his first cousins, Rebekah's brother's daughter.
- Esau went to Ishmael, his uncle, and married one of his daughters.
- Jacob left Beersheba and headed toward Haran. There he fell asleep (with a rock for a pillow) and had a vision of stairs going from earth to heaven. There were angels go up and down it and God was at the top. He spoke to Jacob, reminding him of His covenant with his grandfather Abraham.
- Jacob then knew God was in that place!
- What was Jacob's perception of God at this time in history?
- How would God fulfill His promise through Jacob when He had told Abraham that his people would inherit the land after 400 years?
- Jacob named that town where he saw the vision Bethel.
- Jacob was aware of God's presence and promised to give Him a tenth of everything he had or ever would have.
- Is this the first "tithe" ever in history?
Esther 4
- Mordecai and the other Jews put on sackcloth and mourned at the king's gate, which was illegal.
- Esther sent her eunuch Hathach to ask Mordecai why he was weeping and Mordecai told her servant all that Haman had plotted to do to all Jews and showed her the decree.
- Was the decree posted in the city?
- Mordecai asked her to go and talk to the king about what Haman was doing, but she told Mordecai that it was illegal to go into the king without being summoned. The punishment was death. (She was understandably fearful). The King had not summoned her for 30 days.
- He said go in or not, the Lord will use her or someone else to save His people.
- Mordecai also saw Esther's queenship as being God's doing for a "time such as this".
- Esther agreed to go and if she was killed, she'd accept that.
- She asked Mordecai to tell all of the Jews of Susa to fast from food and water for 3 days on her behalf before she went into the king.
Matthew 27
-Jews deliver Jesus to Pilate to be killed.
- Judas is grieved by what he has done and goes and gives back the 30 pieces of silver to the Jewish counsel and hangs himself.
- The Jews buy a field with the money because it was "blood money" thus fulfilling what was written in Jeremiah where it states the will buy a field for 30 pieces of silver (wow!)
- Jesus said nothing at the Jews accusations before Pilate and he was amazed.
- Pilate's wife was having bad dreams and told her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus.
- Pilate offered to free Barabbas or Jesus and the chief priests had the crowd free Barabbas and say to crucify Jesus.
- Pilate asked what He had done wrong and they just kept shouting.
- Pilate washed his hands before the Jews and they replied, "His blood be on us and on our children!”
- Why would they say this, cursing themselves?
- The soldiers dressed him up and put a crown of thorns on His head mocking Him by calling Him the "king of the Jews"
- They spit on Him and hit Him.
- Simon of Cyrene carried Jesus' cross and Jesus refused to drink wine offered Him (thus keeping His vow at the last supper.
- People mocked Him saying that IF He were the Son of God He should be able to save Himself (But Jesus stayed there to finish what God had sent Him to do because He loved us)
- Even the 2 robbers being crucified with Him mocked Him.
- The sky darkened for 3 hours and then Jesus died.
- What exactly did Jesus mean when He said that God had "forsaken" Him?
= The curtain in the temple tore in two (the curtain separated God's holy place from the people and there was an earthquake. The centurion on guard knew that Jesus was the Son of God.
- Mary Magdalene and Mary and the mother of the sons of Zebedee were there.
- Why does Matthew acknowledge Mary Magdalene here when he hadn't mentioned her before?
- A man named Joseph asked Pilate for Jesus' body to bury Him and he rolled a great stone in front of the tomb's entrance.
- The Pharisees knowing that Jesus said He would raise from the day in 3 days requested that guards be placed around the tomb so that no one could steal Jesus body (pulling off a "hoax" that Jesus had been raised from the dead.
Acts 27
- Paul was sent by boat toward Rome (Luke was there with him) and the trip was slow going.
- Paul advised them not to go further because there would be great loss, but they pressed on anyway.
- They almost made their destination but were caught in a horrible storm that lasted for 3 days.
- They threw their cargo over to not sink and were getting hungry.
- Paul told them that an angel had told Paul he must go to Rome and that the ship would be wrecked but not one life would be lost.
- They had been lost at sea for 14 days and some men tried to leave in small boats but Paul told them that if they left the ship they would die, so they trusted him.
- There were 276 men on the ship, and not one hair was harmed. (Ties in with Jesus' one parable).
- The men wanted to kill the prisoners, but the centurion who had talked with Paul saved his and the other prisoners' lives.
-
Thursday, July 10, 2008
Genesis 26/27 - Esther 1-3, Matthew 25/26 - Acts 25/26
Genesis 26/27
- There was a famine and God told Isaac NOT to go to Egypt, but he stayed near Abimelech, the same king who had dwelt with Abraham.
- Isaac told the people in that land that Rebekah was his sister (and this was an outright lie because she was his first cousin once removed)
- Why did God again send blessing on Isaac after he lied to the king?
- Isaac gained great wealth in the land of the Philistines, so much so that Abimelech sent him away because he had more wealth than Abimelech himself.
- Isaac began redigging the wells that his father had dug, and there were some quarrels with the men of Gerar as to who owned 2 of them.
- Abimelech came to Isaac because he could see that the Lord was with Isaac and he made an oath with him that there should be peace between both of them.
- Isaac prepared a feast and they made an oath.
- Isaac settled back in Beersheba, a town where Abraham his father had stayed.
- Esau married 2 Hittite women and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
- Did the two sons find their marriages bitter?
- What is the proper response in this situation in order to glorify God and NOT be bitter?
(Ch.27)
- Isaac is old and about to die, so he sends Esau out to prepare him a meal so that Isaac might bless Esau.
- Rebekah overhears this so she has Jacob kill 2 goats, and she puts fur on Jacobs hands and neck so that he might appear hairy like Esau because Isaac is blind.
- Jacob takes the meal into his father and blatantly lies to him about who he is, so Isaac blesses Jacob thinking he is Esau.
- Esau returns from obeying his father and Isaac tells him that he has already blessed Jacob, and both Isaac and Esau are upset.
- Why can't Isaac take back the blessing or call a curse upon Jacob and Rebekah for deceiving him?
- Why would God bless Jacob for lying and punish Esau for obeying his father?
- Esau plots to kill his brother, so Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother Laban's house in Haran.
- If Esau said he wanted to kill Jacob to himself, how did Rebekah find out about it?
- Rebekah does not want Jacob to marry a Hittite woman.
Esther 1-3
- Ahasuerus was king over 127 provinces and threw a great celebration for 180 days.
- He told the people in Susa, the capitol, to do as they like and on the 7th day he sent for Queen Vashti, his wife, and she refused to come to him when he asked.
- The king asked his wise men and counsel what was to be done about Queen Vashti according to the law.
- Memucan said in reply that the queen had not only done what was wrong before the king but also before all the people of his kingdom. He told the king to tell Vashti that she may never come before the king again and that the king should replace her with another wife.
- They wanted women everywhere to see and know that they must obey their husbands and that not doing so was not acceptable. They used Queen Vashti as an example to all the people in the province.
- King Ahasuerus made a law and sent it to all 127 provinces in their own languages so everyone would understand this new law.
(Ch.2)
- King Ahasuerus had been without an acting queen for 5 years, when his advisers said he should seek a new queen, so they gathered all the beautiful virgins to go before the king.
- Mordecai, was bringing up Hadessah, Esther, because his uncle had been killed after being carried away by King Nebecanezer. He told Esther not to tell who her relatives were and she obeyed Mordecai.
- Esther spent 1 year beautifying herself before going in to the king and he loved her and made her queen, officially replacing Vashti.
- There was a great celebration and the king gave back tax money and threw a great feast (he appears to be a very generous king)
- Bigthan and Teresh plotted to kill the king and when Mordecai overheard this he told Esther who informed the king. The men were found guilty and Mordecai's name was written in the king's book of chronicles.
(Ch.3)
- The King promoted Haman as second in command and Mordecai refused to bow before him and pay homage. This infuriated Haman.
- Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew and planned to destroy ALL of the Jews because of Mordecai's refusal to bow. (One man's faith in God threatened the existence of all God's people)
- In King Ahasuerus' 12th year Haman's men were casting lots (What for?) and they told the king that there was a people who were not like any other who the king should NOT tolerate.
- Haman only gave the king enough information to make them sound bad and the king gave Haman his ring to do what he saw as right to do.
- It took 13 days for Haman to get his plot against the Jews moving.
- Haman created an edict and sent it to all provinces saying that all Jews should be destroyed in one day, the 13th day of the 12th month. The cities were thrown into confusion and the king was oblivious to what was happening.
- Did King Ahasuerus have anything personally against the Jews?
Matthew 25/26
- The parable of the 10 virgins is another reference to how some will enter heaven and some will not. The 5 girls who took extra oil were ready when the bridegroom came, while the other 5 were not. The 5 who were not ready, were excluded from the wedding feast. (We must be ready for Christ's return)
- Parable of the talents - an owner left some money with 3 different servants when he went away. The one had 5 talents and he earned 5 more. The second servant received 2 talents and he also doubled them. The last servant received 1 talent and he buried it and simply gave it back to his master when he returned.
- A talent is worth 20 years wages.
- The 2 servants that doubled their money were praised as "good and faithful" and they received even more from the master.
- The other servant was rebuked for not at least collecting interest on the money. He was sent away weeping and gnashing his teeth (another reference to hell).
- Did the master in the story know in advance that the 3rd servant was unfaithful and give him less money to steward intentionally?
- Jesus refers to His second coming when the people will be separated believers and unbelievers; goats and sheep.
- Why do goats get a bad rep, when they are used in OT ceremonies and are a clean animal?
- Jesus stated that when we do any kindness toward the least of others, we do unto Him. (Our actions toward others are count as done toward Christ good or bad)
- Those who do not take care of the poor and needed do not care for Jesus either and it will be counted against them.
- believers will receive eternal life (heaven) and non believers will receive eternal punishment (hell)
(Ch. 26)
- Jesus told the disciples that he would be crucified.
- Caiaphas organized a plot to kill Jesus
- A woman came to Jesus and anointed his head with expensive oil to which the disciples rebuked her for wasting the oil. They wanted to sell the oil and give the money to the poor.
- Jesus said that this woman would be remembered for her thoughtful actions.
- Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus for 30 silver pieces.
- Jesus at the Passover feast with the disciples and He told them that one of the 12 would betray Him. They were sad.
- How can Judas be cursed when Jesus told the disciples that they would be blessed because of Him and Judas had been serving Jesus all this time?
- We are called to steward the gifts and resources we are given by God wisely.
- When Jesus replied that Judas had said so why didn't the other disciples react?
- Jesus had them break the bread which symbolized His body broken for them (their sins) and the He told them to drink the wine and said it is His blood poured out for them, and said that would be His last drink until He was with God.
- Jesus tells the 12 that they will ALL leave Him, to which Peter says he'd rather die than do, but Jesus tells him that Peter will deny Him 3 times that night. All of the other disciples said the same as Peter.
- Jesus took Peter and James and John (whose mom had asked Jesus to let them sit with Him in heaven) with Him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Jesus asked that if possible the cup (dying to appease God's wrath against our sins) be taken from Him, but all 3 times God did not say anything in response. (I have heard people say this was so terrible because it was the only time in history that God did not answer His Son.)
- His 3 disciples with Him fell asleep instead of praying for Him because they were physically weak.
- Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and Jesus was arrested.
- One of the disciples drew his sword and cut of the one man's ear.
- Jesus rebuked the disciple and said He could call angels to His aid if He so chose. He had to do what He had come to accomplish.
- The disciples ALL fled as Jesus had predicted.
- Jesus asked why they arrested Him at night instead of in the temple, and pointed out that doing it this way, fulfilled even more OT prophecies.
- The Council sought to stir up the people and falsely accuse Jesus so He might be put to death. They accused Jesus of many things but He remained silent. The only statement He responded to was when they asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God. He responded by saying "You have said so"
- They struck Him and spit in His face for "blasphemy" and they told Him to prophecy who had struck Him.
- Three people asked Peter if he was with Jesus and he denied it (probably because he was fearful). They knew Peter by his accent.
- Peter even called a curse upon himself and swore he didn't know Jesus. The rooster crowed and Peter realized that what Jesus had prophesied happened. He wept bitterly.
(How many times have I denied or skirted around the fact that I'm Christan for fear of persecution?)
Acts 25/26
- Festus went to Jerusalem and the Jews tried to have him bring Paul there so they could kill him on the way.
- Jews came to Caesarea and charged Paul with many crimes but had no proof.
- Paul said he'd gladly be put to death if there was any wrong doing on his part. he appealed to Caesar.
- King Agrippa visited Festus at Caesarea. Festus said that Paul and the Jews were disputing whether a certain Jew, Jesus, was alive or dead.
- King Agrippa was interested and wanted to talk to Paul himself.
- Festus wanted King Agrippa and other counsel members to listen to Paul, so that he would have some charge to send in a letter to the Emperor.
(Ch. 26)
- Paul wanted to speak before King Agrippa because he knew of Jewish controversies.
- Paul asked why anyone would be surprised that God could raise someone from the dead (God is proclaimed to be "almighty in the OT)
- Paul states his past doings in persecuting the Christians
- Where was Paul when Jesus was crucified?
- A "goad" is a large stick for prodding animals.
- Paul was sent by Jesus to "open the eyes of the people" to save them from the devil.
- Paul appeals to Agrippa's understanding of what was said by Moses and the prophets.
- Why does it say that Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead, when several others had died and been brought back to life by Jesus, the disciples, and Paul?
- Festus thought Paul had gone mad.
- Paul appealed again to Agrippa and asked him if he believed in the prophets. Agrippa was surprised that Paul was trying to make him a Christian, and doing it so quickly.
- Paul said he didn't care whether it was in a short time or in a long time, but he wished that they might believe (even in chains Paul is trying to win others for Christ. Wow!)
- Paul could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar because he was blameless. (Paul knew that the Spirit wanted him to proclaim the gospel in Rome itself.
- There was a famine and God told Isaac NOT to go to Egypt, but he stayed near Abimelech, the same king who had dwelt with Abraham.
- Isaac told the people in that land that Rebekah was his sister (and this was an outright lie because she was his first cousin once removed)
- Why did God again send blessing on Isaac after he lied to the king?
- Isaac gained great wealth in the land of the Philistines, so much so that Abimelech sent him away because he had more wealth than Abimelech himself.
- Isaac began redigging the wells that his father had dug, and there were some quarrels with the men of Gerar as to who owned 2 of them.
- Abimelech came to Isaac because he could see that the Lord was with Isaac and he made an oath with him that there should be peace between both of them.
- Isaac prepared a feast and they made an oath.
- Isaac settled back in Beersheba, a town where Abraham his father had stayed.
- Esau married 2 Hittite women and they made life bitter for Isaac and Rebekah.
- Did the two sons find their marriages bitter?
- What is the proper response in this situation in order to glorify God and NOT be bitter?
(Ch.27)
- Isaac is old and about to die, so he sends Esau out to prepare him a meal so that Isaac might bless Esau.
- Rebekah overhears this so she has Jacob kill 2 goats, and she puts fur on Jacobs hands and neck so that he might appear hairy like Esau because Isaac is blind.
- Jacob takes the meal into his father and blatantly lies to him about who he is, so Isaac blesses Jacob thinking he is Esau.
- Esau returns from obeying his father and Isaac tells him that he has already blessed Jacob, and both Isaac and Esau are upset.
- Why can't Isaac take back the blessing or call a curse upon Jacob and Rebekah for deceiving him?
- Why would God bless Jacob for lying and punish Esau for obeying his father?
- Esau plots to kill his brother, so Rebekah sends Jacob away to her brother Laban's house in Haran.
- If Esau said he wanted to kill Jacob to himself, how did Rebekah find out about it?
- Rebekah does not want Jacob to marry a Hittite woman.
Esther 1-3
- Ahasuerus was king over 127 provinces and threw a great celebration for 180 days.
- He told the people in Susa, the capitol, to do as they like and on the 7th day he sent for Queen Vashti, his wife, and she refused to come to him when he asked.
- The king asked his wise men and counsel what was to be done about Queen Vashti according to the law.
- Memucan said in reply that the queen had not only done what was wrong before the king but also before all the people of his kingdom. He told the king to tell Vashti that she may never come before the king again and that the king should replace her with another wife.
- They wanted women everywhere to see and know that they must obey their husbands and that not doing so was not acceptable. They used Queen Vashti as an example to all the people in the province.
- King Ahasuerus made a law and sent it to all 127 provinces in their own languages so everyone would understand this new law.
(Ch.2)
- King Ahasuerus had been without an acting queen for 5 years, when his advisers said he should seek a new queen, so they gathered all the beautiful virgins to go before the king.
- Mordecai, was bringing up Hadessah, Esther, because his uncle had been killed after being carried away by King Nebecanezer. He told Esther not to tell who her relatives were and she obeyed Mordecai.
- Esther spent 1 year beautifying herself before going in to the king and he loved her and made her queen, officially replacing Vashti.
- There was a great celebration and the king gave back tax money and threw a great feast (he appears to be a very generous king)
- Bigthan and Teresh plotted to kill the king and when Mordecai overheard this he told Esther who informed the king. The men were found guilty and Mordecai's name was written in the king's book of chronicles.
(Ch.3)
- The King promoted Haman as second in command and Mordecai refused to bow before him and pay homage. This infuriated Haman.
- Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew and planned to destroy ALL of the Jews because of Mordecai's refusal to bow. (One man's faith in God threatened the existence of all God's people)
- In King Ahasuerus' 12th year Haman's men were casting lots (What for?) and they told the king that there was a people who were not like any other who the king should NOT tolerate.
- Haman only gave the king enough information to make them sound bad and the king gave Haman his ring to do what he saw as right to do.
- It took 13 days for Haman to get his plot against the Jews moving.
- Haman created an edict and sent it to all provinces saying that all Jews should be destroyed in one day, the 13th day of the 12th month. The cities were thrown into confusion and the king was oblivious to what was happening.
- Did King Ahasuerus have anything personally against the Jews?
Matthew 25/26
- The parable of the 10 virgins is another reference to how some will enter heaven and some will not. The 5 girls who took extra oil were ready when the bridegroom came, while the other 5 were not. The 5 who were not ready, were excluded from the wedding feast. (We must be ready for Christ's return)
- Parable of the talents - an owner left some money with 3 different servants when he went away. The one had 5 talents and he earned 5 more. The second servant received 2 talents and he also doubled them. The last servant received 1 talent and he buried it and simply gave it back to his master when he returned.
- A talent is worth 20 years wages.
- The 2 servants that doubled their money were praised as "good and faithful" and they received even more from the master.
- The other servant was rebuked for not at least collecting interest on the money. He was sent away weeping and gnashing his teeth (another reference to hell).
- Did the master in the story know in advance that the 3rd servant was unfaithful and give him less money to steward intentionally?
- Jesus refers to His second coming when the people will be separated believers and unbelievers; goats and sheep.
- Why do goats get a bad rep, when they are used in OT ceremonies and are a clean animal?
- Jesus stated that when we do any kindness toward the least of others, we do unto Him. (Our actions toward others are count as done toward Christ good or bad)
- Those who do not take care of the poor and needed do not care for Jesus either and it will be counted against them.
- believers will receive eternal life (heaven) and non believers will receive eternal punishment (hell)
(Ch. 26)
- Jesus told the disciples that he would be crucified.
- Caiaphas organized a plot to kill Jesus
- A woman came to Jesus and anointed his head with expensive oil to which the disciples rebuked her for wasting the oil. They wanted to sell the oil and give the money to the poor.
- Jesus said that this woman would be remembered for her thoughtful actions.
- Judas Iscariot agreed to betray Jesus for 30 silver pieces.
- Jesus at the Passover feast with the disciples and He told them that one of the 12 would betray Him. They were sad.
- How can Judas be cursed when Jesus told the disciples that they would be blessed because of Him and Judas had been serving Jesus all this time?
- We are called to steward the gifts and resources we are given by God wisely.
- When Jesus replied that Judas had said so why didn't the other disciples react?
- Jesus had them break the bread which symbolized His body broken for them (their sins) and the He told them to drink the wine and said it is His blood poured out for them, and said that would be His last drink until He was with God.
- Jesus tells the 12 that they will ALL leave Him, to which Peter says he'd rather die than do, but Jesus tells him that Peter will deny Him 3 times that night. All of the other disciples said the same as Peter.
- Jesus took Peter and James and John (whose mom had asked Jesus to let them sit with Him in heaven) with Him to pray in the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Jesus asked that if possible the cup (dying to appease God's wrath against our sins) be taken from Him, but all 3 times God did not say anything in response. (I have heard people say this was so terrible because it was the only time in history that God did not answer His Son.)
- His 3 disciples with Him fell asleep instead of praying for Him because they were physically weak.
- Judas betrayed Jesus with a kiss and Jesus was arrested.
- One of the disciples drew his sword and cut of the one man's ear.
- Jesus rebuked the disciple and said He could call angels to His aid if He so chose. He had to do what He had come to accomplish.
- The disciples ALL fled as Jesus had predicted.
- Jesus asked why they arrested Him at night instead of in the temple, and pointed out that doing it this way, fulfilled even more OT prophecies.
- The Council sought to stir up the people and falsely accuse Jesus so He might be put to death. They accused Jesus of many things but He remained silent. The only statement He responded to was when they asked if He was the Christ, the Son of God. He responded by saying "You have said so"
- They struck Him and spit in His face for "blasphemy" and they told Him to prophecy who had struck Him.
- Three people asked Peter if he was with Jesus and he denied it (probably because he was fearful). They knew Peter by his accent.
- Peter even called a curse upon himself and swore he didn't know Jesus. The rooster crowed and Peter realized that what Jesus had prophesied happened. He wept bitterly.
(How many times have I denied or skirted around the fact that I'm Christan for fear of persecution?)
Acts 25/26
- Festus went to Jerusalem and the Jews tried to have him bring Paul there so they could kill him on the way.
- Jews came to Caesarea and charged Paul with many crimes but had no proof.
- Paul said he'd gladly be put to death if there was any wrong doing on his part. he appealed to Caesar.
- King Agrippa visited Festus at Caesarea. Festus said that Paul and the Jews were disputing whether a certain Jew, Jesus, was alive or dead.
- King Agrippa was interested and wanted to talk to Paul himself.
- Festus wanted King Agrippa and other counsel members to listen to Paul, so that he would have some charge to send in a letter to the Emperor.
(Ch. 26)
- Paul wanted to speak before King Agrippa because he knew of Jewish controversies.
- Paul asked why anyone would be surprised that God could raise someone from the dead (God is proclaimed to be "almighty in the OT)
- Paul states his past doings in persecuting the Christians
- Where was Paul when Jesus was crucified?
- A "goad" is a large stick for prodding animals.
- Paul was sent by Jesus to "open the eyes of the people" to save them from the devil.
- Paul appeals to Agrippa's understanding of what was said by Moses and the prophets.
- Why does it say that Jesus was the first to be raised from the dead, when several others had died and been brought back to life by Jesus, the disciples, and Paul?
- Festus thought Paul had gone mad.
- Paul appealed again to Agrippa and asked him if he believed in the prophets. Agrippa was surprised that Paul was trying to make him a Christian, and doing it so quickly.
- Paul said he didn't care whether it was in a short time or in a long time, but he wished that they might believe (even in chains Paul is trying to win others for Christ. Wow!)
- Paul could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar because he was blameless. (Paul knew that the Spirit wanted him to proclaim the gospel in Rome itself.
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Genesis 24/25 - Nehemiah 13 - Matthew 23/24 - Acts 23/24
Genesis 24/25
- Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. He will not let Isaac marry a Canaanite nor will he send Isaac back to his homeland because God has promised Abraham this land.
- Why does Abraham have his servant put his hand under his thigh to make an oath?
- Abraham tells the servant that if he is unsuccessful, he shall go free.
- The servant prayed that he'd find a girl who would say certain things to him.
- While he was finishing his prayer Rebekah came to the well.
- Rebekah is Isaac's first cousin once removed.
- The servant rejoice at the Lord's provision.
- Why does the servant always say "the God of my master"?
- Laban and Bethuel's response was that if the servant's mission was from the Lord they could say nothing good or bad about it.
- Rebekah said she would go with Abraham's servant and when she saw Isaac in the field she covered her face and became Isaac's wife.
- The grieving for Sarah was now over.
(Ch. 25)
- Abraham got another wife Keturah and she bore him 6 more children.
- Abraham died at 175 and was buried with Sarah
- Ishmael bore 12 sons and died at 137
- Isaac and Rebekah got married at 40 and she bore him children when he was 60.
- The Lord told Rebekah that she'd bear twins and she did
- Esau came out first and was a hunter and loved most by Isaac
- Jacob came out second hold Esau's heel and was loved most by Rebekah
- Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for some stew because he was so hungry.
- What is entailed in a birthright and how can you physically sell it?
Nehemiah 13
- After hearing the Book of the Law, Nehemiah had Israel separate themselves from the foreigners among them.
- Eliashib, the priest, gave Tobiah (one of the men against rebuilding Jerusalem) a house in the temple.
- Nehemiah returned to King Artaxerxes in his 32 year as king for some time and then came back to Jerusalem later. Nehemiah was in Jerusalem rebuilding it for 12 years before returning to Assyria as he had promised.
- Nehemiah tried to right all the wrongs being done by the people of Jerusalem. He kicked Tobiah out of the temple.
- The Levites had left the temple to grow crops because the people stop giving them their tithes.
- Nehemiah rebuked the people for this too.
- People were bringing in goods on the Sabbath, and Nehemiah shut the gates on the Sabbath and told the merchants to go away.
- Some Jews intermarried and had children. Nehemiah beat them and pulled out their hair because he said even King Solomon sinned because of marrying foreigners.
- 3 times in this chapter Nehemiah asks God to remember him for what he had done for God's people.
(This chapter just shows how quickly people can go from worshipping God with their whole hearts to drifting away from God and hardening their hearts toward Him.
Matthew 23/24
- Jesus points out to the disciples that the Pharisees are hypocrites who do not help the people but put extra burdens on them.
- Christ is to be their only instructor.
- Woe #1 - They keep people from entering heaven
- Woe #2 - Make proselytes (new convert to a doctrine or religion) of people and make them even more evil than themselves.
- Woe #3 - For swearing to and exulting in the wrong things; such as gold, instead of the temple or in the sacrifice rather than the altar.
- Woe #4 - They offer things on the alter but neglect justice and mercy and faithfulness (What does the gnat and camel reference mean?)
- Woe #5 & #6 - The Pharisees try to look good and righteous on the outside while being corrupt and hypocritical on the inside
- Woe #7 - For killing prophets in the past from Abel to Zechariah
Can the wrongs of my ancestors be charged against me?)
Jesus laments for the city
(Ch. 24)
- Jesus says that the temple will be destroyed.
- This chapter goes into detail about Christ's return.
- There will be famines, wars, and earthquakes in the last days and many will be led astray.
- Jesus tells the disciples that they will be hated and killed.
- Daniel's prophecies will come to pass as well
- What were Daniel's prophecies?
- Jesus tells them not to believe anyone else who claims to be the Christ because when Christ returns it will come as a surprise to everyone, like the flood in Noah's day.
- (v.24) - Is Jesus saying it is possible for the elect to fall away?
- The sun will be darkened and the stars will fall from heaven and Jesus will return in great glory and the angels will round up the elect.
- Jesus tells them to look for these signs because they will let them know when Jesus will be coming.
- What does Jesus mean that this generation will not pass away until they see these things since Jesus did not return in the disciples' days?
- One person will be taken and the person next to the left behind (kinda like what happened in the movie)
- Jesus told them to always be ready for His return because it will come when they are not expecting it. Only God knows when, no person, angel, not even Jesus himself knows when this will occur.
Acts 23/24
- Paul spoke to the Jews and the high priest smacked him for which he called a curse against the high priest. Paul apologized because there is a commandment against speaking evil of rulers.
- Paul stated he had been a Pharisee himself and this caused a debate because the Pharisees believed in angels, the spirit, and the resurrection, where as the Sadducees do not. The Pharisees thought his story might be true.
- Where did they base their beliefs?
- The tribune took Paul back to the barracks because of the crowd and the Lord spoke to him and told him he must preach the same truth in Rome.
- The Jews plotted to kill him and made an oath amongst themselves not to eat until they killed Paul.
- Paul's nephew learned of their plot and told Paul who sent him to tell the tribune.
- The tribune escorted Paul with military protection to Caesarea which was under Felix.
- Felix sent Paul to be guarded until they could hear Paul's case when his accusers arrived.
(Ch.24)
- Tertullus spoke for the Jews and accused Paul of being in a sect called the Nazarenes and stirring up Jews in many nations.
- Paul simply replied that he had been in Jerusalem for 12 days worshipping and seeking to do right by God and man, when Jews from Asia brought accusations against him.
- Paul said that the only controversial thing he said was about the resurrection and the Way.
- Felix put Paul back in prison and conversed with him often for his remaining 2 years in office before Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus.
- Felix kept Paul in prison when he was replaced to make the Jews happy.
- Abraham sends his servant to find Isaac a wife. He will not let Isaac marry a Canaanite nor will he send Isaac back to his homeland because God has promised Abraham this land.
- Why does Abraham have his servant put his hand under his thigh to make an oath?
- Abraham tells the servant that if he is unsuccessful, he shall go free.
- The servant prayed that he'd find a girl who would say certain things to him.
- While he was finishing his prayer Rebekah came to the well.
- Rebekah is Isaac's first cousin once removed.
- The servant rejoice at the Lord's provision.
- Why does the servant always say "the God of my master"?
- Laban and Bethuel's response was that if the servant's mission was from the Lord they could say nothing good or bad about it.
- Rebekah said she would go with Abraham's servant and when she saw Isaac in the field she covered her face and became Isaac's wife.
- The grieving for Sarah was now over.
(Ch. 25)
- Abraham got another wife Keturah and she bore him 6 more children.
- Abraham died at 175 and was buried with Sarah
- Ishmael bore 12 sons and died at 137
- Isaac and Rebekah got married at 40 and she bore him children when he was 60.
- The Lord told Rebekah that she'd bear twins and she did
- Esau came out first and was a hunter and loved most by Isaac
- Jacob came out second hold Esau's heel and was loved most by Rebekah
- Esau sold his birthright to Jacob for some stew because he was so hungry.
- What is entailed in a birthright and how can you physically sell it?
Nehemiah 13
- After hearing the Book of the Law, Nehemiah had Israel separate themselves from the foreigners among them.
- Eliashib, the priest, gave Tobiah (one of the men against rebuilding Jerusalem) a house in the temple.
- Nehemiah returned to King Artaxerxes in his 32 year as king for some time and then came back to Jerusalem later. Nehemiah was in Jerusalem rebuilding it for 12 years before returning to Assyria as he had promised.
- Nehemiah tried to right all the wrongs being done by the people of Jerusalem. He kicked Tobiah out of the temple.
- The Levites had left the temple to grow crops because the people stop giving them their tithes.
- Nehemiah rebuked the people for this too.
- People were bringing in goods on the Sabbath, and Nehemiah shut the gates on the Sabbath and told the merchants to go away.
- Some Jews intermarried and had children. Nehemiah beat them and pulled out their hair because he said even King Solomon sinned because of marrying foreigners.
- 3 times in this chapter Nehemiah asks God to remember him for what he had done for God's people.
(This chapter just shows how quickly people can go from worshipping God with their whole hearts to drifting away from God and hardening their hearts toward Him.
Matthew 23/24
- Jesus points out to the disciples that the Pharisees are hypocrites who do not help the people but put extra burdens on them.
- Christ is to be their only instructor.
- Woe #1 - They keep people from entering heaven
- Woe #2 - Make proselytes (new convert to a doctrine or religion) of people and make them even more evil than themselves.
- Woe #3 - For swearing to and exulting in the wrong things; such as gold, instead of the temple or in the sacrifice rather than the altar.
- Woe #4 - They offer things on the alter but neglect justice and mercy and faithfulness (What does the gnat and camel reference mean?)
- Woe #5 & #6 - The Pharisees try to look good and righteous on the outside while being corrupt and hypocritical on the inside
- Woe #7 - For killing prophets in the past from Abel to Zechariah
Can the wrongs of my ancestors be charged against me?)
Jesus laments for the city
(Ch. 24)
- Jesus says that the temple will be destroyed.
- This chapter goes into detail about Christ's return.
- There will be famines, wars, and earthquakes in the last days and many will be led astray.
- Jesus tells the disciples that they will be hated and killed.
- Daniel's prophecies will come to pass as well
- What were Daniel's prophecies?
- Jesus tells them not to believe anyone else who claims to be the Christ because when Christ returns it will come as a surprise to everyone, like the flood in Noah's day.
- (v.24) - Is Jesus saying it is possible for the elect to fall away?
- The sun will be darkened and the stars will fall from heaven and Jesus will return in great glory and the angels will round up the elect.
- Jesus tells them to look for these signs because they will let them know when Jesus will be coming.
- What does Jesus mean that this generation will not pass away until they see these things since Jesus did not return in the disciples' days?
- One person will be taken and the person next to the left behind (kinda like what happened in the movie)
- Jesus told them to always be ready for His return because it will come when they are not expecting it. Only God knows when, no person, angel, not even Jesus himself knows when this will occur.
Acts 23/24
- Paul spoke to the Jews and the high priest smacked him for which he called a curse against the high priest. Paul apologized because there is a commandment against speaking evil of rulers.
- Paul stated he had been a Pharisee himself and this caused a debate because the Pharisees believed in angels, the spirit, and the resurrection, where as the Sadducees do not. The Pharisees thought his story might be true.
- Where did they base their beliefs?
- The tribune took Paul back to the barracks because of the crowd and the Lord spoke to him and told him he must preach the same truth in Rome.
- The Jews plotted to kill him and made an oath amongst themselves not to eat until they killed Paul.
- Paul's nephew learned of their plot and told Paul who sent him to tell the tribune.
- The tribune escorted Paul with military protection to Caesarea which was under Felix.
- Felix sent Paul to be guarded until they could hear Paul's case when his accusers arrived.
(Ch.24)
- Tertullus spoke for the Jews and accused Paul of being in a sect called the Nazarenes and stirring up Jews in many nations.
- Paul simply replied that he had been in Jerusalem for 12 days worshipping and seeking to do right by God and man, when Jews from Asia brought accusations against him.
- Paul said that the only controversial thing he said was about the resurrection and the Way.
- Felix put Paul back in prison and conversed with him often for his remaining 2 years in office before Felix was replaced by Porcius Festus.
- Felix kept Paul in prison when he was replaced to make the Jews happy.
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Genesis 22/23 - Nehemiah 11/12 - Matthew 21/22 - Acts 21/22
Genesis 22/23
- The symbolism between Abraham being willing to sacrifice his only son mirrors God send Jesus to die for the sins of those who would believe.
- Abraham who kept lying about Sarah's relationship to him, had no hesitation in following the Lord's instructions to take Isaac to the mountain and to offer his only son as a burnt offering, even after Isaac ask him about it. Abraham's only reply was the Lord will provide an offering.
- This was a test to see if Abraham really feared the Lord, and when he had tied up Isaac and drew his knife to sacrifice his son, the angel appeared and told him to stop.
- God provided a ram stuck in a bush to sacrifice.
- I have heard it said that Abraham's faith was so strong that he assumed that God would raise him from the dead after he killed Isaac because God had made a covenant with Abraham.
- This test sealed the fact that Abraham's descendants would be blessed.
- Abraham's brother Nahor bore 8 sons, one of whom was Bethuel who would father Rebekah.
(Ch. 23)
- Sarah died at 127 years old in the land of the Hittites.
- Kiriath-Arba and Mamre are both referred to as Hebron
- The Hittites saw Abraham as a "prince of God" and wanted to give him the field with the cave to bury his wife, but he bowed before them and asked to pay for it. He paid 400 shekels (4400 grams) of silver.
- Why didn't Abraham accept the field as a gift from the Hittities?
Nehemiah 11/ 12
- 1 out of 10 people volunteered to live in Jerusalem while other people lived in the surrounding towns.
- There were 3,044 people who volunteered to live in Jerusalem which means 27,396 people lived in the surrounding towns.
- Each group of men living in Jerusalem had an overseer
- Names which stuck out were Asaph and Joel (Was this the man who write the OT book?)
- Pethahiah was by the king's side concerning the Israelites
- Some people were encamped in Beersheba which was where Abraham lived after Sarah died.
(Ch. 12)
- Names which stood out were Zerubbabel, Joiakim, Zechariah
- The Levites gave thanks on every watch as David had commanded in his day.
- They dedicated the wall with 2 great choirs, one led by Ezra to the south and one led by Nehemiah to the north. There was great rejoicing and sacrifices by everyone there.
- Men were appointed to gather tithes and portions for Levites required by Law.
- The Levites served as they did in the days of David and Aaron.
Matthew 21/22
- Jesus sent His disciples to get a donkey on which He would enter Jerusalem. This fulfilled an OT prophecy about "humbly entering on a donkey"
- The people celebrated Jesus' arrival.
- Jesus entered the temple and drove out everyone who was selling goods there because the temple was a "house of worship" not a place to sell goods.
- Jesus preached and healed people in the temple, but lodged at Bethany
- A fig tree which did not have fruit Jesus told to wither up and it did. This amazed the disciples and Jesus told them that if they had enough faith they could tell a mountain to throw itself into the sea and it would do so.
- Chief priests again tried to trick Jesus by asking Him where He got His authority to heal people and He asked them where John got his authority. The priests could not come up with an answer that was good so Jesus denied them their answer.
- Parable of 2 sons shows one son who says he didn't want to do what his father asked but eventually did it, where as the 2nd son said he would do it but did not. All agreed that the 1st son had done the right thing.
- The parable of the tenants showed that the tenants would not give the owner the fruit of the land and killed the servants that he sent.
- The owner sent his son, whom the tenants killed thinking this would win them the inheritance, but all those listening agreed that the owner would come and destroy those tenants. (This parable foreshadows what will happen to Jesus, the son, whom God has sent)
- The Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus but they feared what the crowd would do.
(Ch.22)
- This chapter is all about the Pharisees and Sadducees trying to trick Jesus in His words.
- Jesus begins with a parable about a king who invited guests to his sons wedding reception and everyone he invited denied his invitation, so he destroyed them.
- Then the king sent servants to gather people from the street, and one man was tied up and thrown out because he was not dressed for the occasion.
- If these people were poor and from the street would they have had nice wedding clothes?
- It seems that this parable is directed at the Jews since they were God's chosen people, but because they rejected Him, He turned to the Gentiles.
- The "weeping and gnashing of teeth" usually means they are in hell.
- The Pharisees asked Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. He said that since Caesar's image was on the coin, people should pay Caesar their taxes, but also give to God what is God's. (It would seem that Jesus is saying we should obey our governments laws as well as God's)
- Sadducees asked Jesus about the resurrection (which they did NOT believe in) saying a woman marrying seven brothers in turn as they died, who does she belong to at the resurrection.
- Who are the Sadducees?
- Jesus' response was that she belongs to no one because there is no marriage in heaven. People will be like the angels.
- The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and the 2nd most important is to love your neighbor as yourself. (If you love God you will try not to sin to honor Him and you will not act unkindly toward others if you're treating them like yourself)
- Jesus asked whose son the Christ was and they replied David, but Jesus countered that if that were true David would not have called Him Lord.
- This series of amazing answers stopped any further questions from being asked. (If we're informed of scripture and God's desires, we will be able to meet any tough questions people may ask)
- The responses to Jesus' answers were astonishment, marvel, and speechlessness.
Acts 21/22
- Paul and Luke headed toward Tyre on their way to Jerusalem
- Through the Spirit people were telling Paul not to go into the city
- Why would Paul NOT listen to the Spirit talking?
- Agabus, a prophet, tied himself up with a belt and told Paul this would happen to him in Jerusalem and he'd be handed over to the Gentiles.
- Paul told the people to stop weeping and breaking his heart, but he still went to Jerusalem.
-James warmed Paul that some Jews were against him because they saw his preaching as being against Moses.
- Why does James seem to tell Paul to go against what the counsel had decided for the Gentile believers when addressing Jews believers?
- Paul went into the temple and gave an offering, but Jews from Asia saw Paul and incited a riot against him. They began beating him (so bad he couldn't walk to the barrack) and the authorities there came and broke up the conflict.
- They said Paul had defiled the holy temple by bringing Trophimus, the Ephesian there. It doesn't actually say if this was true or not.
- The tribune thought Paul was an Egyptian who had led an rebel army, but found out this was NOT true and Paul, being weak and beaten, asked to address the crowd
- Why does this chapter end so abruptly?
(Ch. 22)
- Paul addresses the crowd in Hebrew (Paul also knew Greek)
- Paul recounts his conversion story to the people, starting with the fact that he too was persecuting the people following "The Way" until Jesus appeared to him and struck him blind.
- The crowd listened quietly and didn't say a word until Paul said that Jesus had said to him to take this Word to the Gentiles.
- At this they began shouting and rioting. They wanted to kill him.
- The tribune took Paul to flog the truth out of him and he asked how they could do this because Paul was a Roman citizen. The centurion was upset at this and told the tribune.
- What were the laws about Roman citizens?
- How did Paul become a native born Roman citizen?
- The member of the tribune had bought with roman citizenship for a large sum of money.
- The counsel called in the Jews the next day to find out why they were so angry at Paul.
- The symbolism between Abraham being willing to sacrifice his only son mirrors God send Jesus to die for the sins of those who would believe.
- Abraham who kept lying about Sarah's relationship to him, had no hesitation in following the Lord's instructions to take Isaac to the mountain and to offer his only son as a burnt offering, even after Isaac ask him about it. Abraham's only reply was the Lord will provide an offering.
- This was a test to see if Abraham really feared the Lord, and when he had tied up Isaac and drew his knife to sacrifice his son, the angel appeared and told him to stop.
- God provided a ram stuck in a bush to sacrifice.
- I have heard it said that Abraham's faith was so strong that he assumed that God would raise him from the dead after he killed Isaac because God had made a covenant with Abraham.
- This test sealed the fact that Abraham's descendants would be blessed.
- Abraham's brother Nahor bore 8 sons, one of whom was Bethuel who would father Rebekah.
(Ch. 23)
- Sarah died at 127 years old in the land of the Hittites.
- Kiriath-Arba and Mamre are both referred to as Hebron
- The Hittites saw Abraham as a "prince of God" and wanted to give him the field with the cave to bury his wife, but he bowed before them and asked to pay for it. He paid 400 shekels (4400 grams) of silver.
- Why didn't Abraham accept the field as a gift from the Hittities?
Nehemiah 11/ 12
- 1 out of 10 people volunteered to live in Jerusalem while other people lived in the surrounding towns.
- There were 3,044 people who volunteered to live in Jerusalem which means 27,396 people lived in the surrounding towns.
- Each group of men living in Jerusalem had an overseer
- Names which stuck out were Asaph and Joel (Was this the man who write the OT book?)
- Pethahiah was by the king's side concerning the Israelites
- Some people were encamped in Beersheba which was where Abraham lived after Sarah died.
(Ch. 12)
- Names which stood out were Zerubbabel, Joiakim, Zechariah
- The Levites gave thanks on every watch as David had commanded in his day.
- They dedicated the wall with 2 great choirs, one led by Ezra to the south and one led by Nehemiah to the north. There was great rejoicing and sacrifices by everyone there.
- Men were appointed to gather tithes and portions for Levites required by Law.
- The Levites served as they did in the days of David and Aaron.
Matthew 21/22
- Jesus sent His disciples to get a donkey on which He would enter Jerusalem. This fulfilled an OT prophecy about "humbly entering on a donkey"
- The people celebrated Jesus' arrival.
- Jesus entered the temple and drove out everyone who was selling goods there because the temple was a "house of worship" not a place to sell goods.
- Jesus preached and healed people in the temple, but lodged at Bethany
- A fig tree which did not have fruit Jesus told to wither up and it did. This amazed the disciples and Jesus told them that if they had enough faith they could tell a mountain to throw itself into the sea and it would do so.
- Chief priests again tried to trick Jesus by asking Him where He got His authority to heal people and He asked them where John got his authority. The priests could not come up with an answer that was good so Jesus denied them their answer.
- Parable of 2 sons shows one son who says he didn't want to do what his father asked but eventually did it, where as the 2nd son said he would do it but did not. All agreed that the 1st son had done the right thing.
- The parable of the tenants showed that the tenants would not give the owner the fruit of the land and killed the servants that he sent.
- The owner sent his son, whom the tenants killed thinking this would win them the inheritance, but all those listening agreed that the owner would come and destroy those tenants. (This parable foreshadows what will happen to Jesus, the son, whom God has sent)
- The Pharisees wanted to arrest Jesus but they feared what the crowd would do.
(Ch.22)
- This chapter is all about the Pharisees and Sadducees trying to trick Jesus in His words.
- Jesus begins with a parable about a king who invited guests to his sons wedding reception and everyone he invited denied his invitation, so he destroyed them.
- Then the king sent servants to gather people from the street, and one man was tied up and thrown out because he was not dressed for the occasion.
- If these people were poor and from the street would they have had nice wedding clothes?
- It seems that this parable is directed at the Jews since they were God's chosen people, but because they rejected Him, He turned to the Gentiles.
- The "weeping and gnashing of teeth" usually means they are in hell.
- The Pharisees asked Jesus about paying taxes to Caesar. He said that since Caesar's image was on the coin, people should pay Caesar their taxes, but also give to God what is God's. (It would seem that Jesus is saying we should obey our governments laws as well as God's)
- Sadducees asked Jesus about the resurrection (which they did NOT believe in) saying a woman marrying seven brothers in turn as they died, who does she belong to at the resurrection.
- Who are the Sadducees?
- Jesus' response was that she belongs to no one because there is no marriage in heaven. People will be like the angels.
- The greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart and the 2nd most important is to love your neighbor as yourself. (If you love God you will try not to sin to honor Him and you will not act unkindly toward others if you're treating them like yourself)
- Jesus asked whose son the Christ was and they replied David, but Jesus countered that if that were true David would not have called Him Lord.
- This series of amazing answers stopped any further questions from being asked. (If we're informed of scripture and God's desires, we will be able to meet any tough questions people may ask)
- The responses to Jesus' answers were astonishment, marvel, and speechlessness.
Acts 21/22
- Paul and Luke headed toward Tyre on their way to Jerusalem
- Through the Spirit people were telling Paul not to go into the city
- Why would Paul NOT listen to the Spirit talking?
- Agabus, a prophet, tied himself up with a belt and told Paul this would happen to him in Jerusalem and he'd be handed over to the Gentiles.
- Paul told the people to stop weeping and breaking his heart, but he still went to Jerusalem.
-James warmed Paul that some Jews were against him because they saw his preaching as being against Moses.
- Why does James seem to tell Paul to go against what the counsel had decided for the Gentile believers when addressing Jews believers?
- Paul went into the temple and gave an offering, but Jews from Asia saw Paul and incited a riot against him. They began beating him (so bad he couldn't walk to the barrack) and the authorities there came and broke up the conflict.
- They said Paul had defiled the holy temple by bringing Trophimus, the Ephesian there. It doesn't actually say if this was true or not.
- The tribune thought Paul was an Egyptian who had led an rebel army, but found out this was NOT true and Paul, being weak and beaten, asked to address the crowd
- Why does this chapter end so abruptly?
(Ch. 22)
- Paul addresses the crowd in Hebrew (Paul also knew Greek)
- Paul recounts his conversion story to the people, starting with the fact that he too was persecuting the people following "The Way" until Jesus appeared to him and struck him blind.
- The crowd listened quietly and didn't say a word until Paul said that Jesus had said to him to take this Word to the Gentiles.
- At this they began shouting and rioting. They wanted to kill him.
- The tribune took Paul to flog the truth out of him and he asked how they could do this because Paul was a Roman citizen. The centurion was upset at this and told the tribune.
- What were the laws about Roman citizens?
- How did Paul become a native born Roman citizen?
- The member of the tribune had bought with roman citizenship for a large sum of money.
- The counsel called in the Jews the next day to find out why they were so angry at Paul.
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