Bible Commentaries

Numbers 6:1-27 — midst of evil but untouched by it.” Separation is contact w/o contamination! Jesus was “holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners” (Heb. 7:26), yet He was “a friend of tax collectors and sinners” (Luke 7:34). Last week was provisions made for purity of the camp, by the exclusion of the unclean. (i.e.) All infectious diseases; confess w/restitution; expose adultery & false accusations of adultery This week deals w/personal & voluntary

Deuteronomy 29:1-29 — redeemed them (from Egypt) and thus they were responsible to obey Him. If they obeyed, He would bless; if they disobeyed, He would judge. COVENANT RENEWED (1-9) (1) Wraps up the last chapter...in the Hebrew text it is 28:69. (2) Starts his 4th address but doesn’t address anything new, he just reiterates what has been said thus far. (4) To this very day suggests that Israel had not yet understood these saving events. Thus apart from divine enlightening, people always remain

Deuteronomy 5:20-33 — (23-33) ​​​​​​​He recalled the reactions of the people to the awesome manifestations of God that accompanied the giving of the law (23-27). Fire is, throughout the Bible, a symbol of the divine presence. (23,23,24,25,26) (25-27) They beg Moses to mediate between themselves & God. “Moses you approach the mountain in our place.” The type of fear (terror) that the Israelites experienced was not the type of fear (reverence) which God expected. Israel

Mark 3:1-19 — about the fierce winds, leaped up and was nearly blown over the edge to the glacier below! The guide grabbed hold of him and exclaimed:“On your knees, sir! You are safe here only on your knees!” [So, Get Alone & Get Praying] Get Help (14-19) Jesus wasn’t afraid to share His responsibilities! Like Moses father–in-law Jethro’s advice given in Exodus 18. Like Paul’s to Timothy, And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these

Mark 7:24-30 — Intro/Title: It happened in Southwest Asia in the 14th Century. The army of Asian conqueror Emperor Tamerlane (a descendant of Ghengis Khan) has been routed, dispersed by a powerful enemy. Tamerlane himself lay hidden in a deserted manger while enemy troops scoured the countryside. As he lay there, desperate

Mark 8:22-33 — was the atmosphere in Bethsaida that hindered him. Remember His problem in Nazareth. see Mark 6:5,6 All I know is…There are many times I need a 2nd touch. Praise God for His 2nd, 3rd, & 4th touch upon our lives. How many things weren’t clear to me, the 1st I heard of them? In another account it says he broke into song, singing... :) I can see clearly now, the rain is gone, I can see all

Mark 9:30-50 — First-ness. Don’t aim for human greatness; aim to be more like Jesus Christ. I’m going to show a 1 minute clip from Pixar animation The Incredibles. Reminded of this excerpt from Bob Goff’s book, Love Does (ch.24). Backstory: Mr. Incredible is the super hero dad in the movie, and he's tired of this job. He sells insurance, but he knows that's not the real him. So he starts doodling on his sketchpad, drawing different superhero suits because he wants

Luke 1:39-56 — carried down from the 1st father of our race. Rom.5:12 “Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned.” ELIZABETH’S BLESSING! (39-45) VISITING THE MOTHER OF THE BAPTIST! (39-45) Bouncing Babies! (39-41) (39) Zacharias & Elizabeth lived in one of the priestly cities (Joshua 21). So Mary travels from northern Israel (Nazareth) to a country house a few miles outside of

John 1:1-13 — maybe its my New Years gift to myself. Why is it my favorite? It’s Simply Christ! - It’s back to basics. John is like “a pool in which a child may wade & an elephant can swim!” Why did John write a 4th gospel? (last written) Matthew wrote a masterpiece; To Jews; Portrays Jesus as “The Messiah”. Tells us what Jesus said! Mark gives a snapshot; To Romans; Portrays Jesus as “The Servant”. Tells

John 20:1-18 — Edition, - Corrected and amended by the Author. The crowning joy of the resurrection. The culmination of belief. Why does each gospel writer report on the res? Why does John? (20:31) To elicit faith! Certain features are common to all 4 gospels, including the omission of any description of the actual resurrection. (ever think of that?) Passion of the Christ - remember how Mel Gibson depicted it; Res sequel? It was in a garden ages ago that paradise was lost, & now it

John 8:12-36 — international flight and they were brought to the cockpit while he was on duty. They were getting a flying lesson just before the Aeroflot jet crashed in Siberia, killing all 75 people aboard. The transcript of the desperate final minutes before the March 1994 crash reveal the captain shouting, “Get out! Get out!” More than a dozen times the pilot yelled at his son, who was in the captain’s seat when the plane began to plunge. The deciding act occurred when the boy’s foot “accidentally

John 9:13-41 — “wait till everyone hears what happened!”...but that wasn’t the story! :( The man was questioned by his Nearby Nearsighted Neighbors who Need to Know!(10) & now from the Pharisees. BELIEVING IS SEEING! INTERROGATION! (13-34) The Blind Man Questioned (13-17) (14) Rabbis taught you could spit on a rock, but not on the ground, for that would be working (i.e. it might roll on the dirt & make mud). By this time, years of legalistic accretion had encrusted the original

Acts 11:1-30 — them…“I went to Cornelius’s house & ate with Gentiles, because God told me to!” Have you ever found it difficult explaining something you believe God told you to do? PETER IN JERUSALEM! (1-18) (3) This is their issue. (14) And all your household – is known as “people movements” in missiology. When a whole family or a whole group makes a decision for Christ is a foreign concept to most of us. Do you think it’s valid when you hear of it

Acts 14:1-28 — courageously entered the city again. Paul the “Energizer Apostolic Bunny”. Whether verbal or physical abuse, he kept on beating his drum. “Nothing outlasts the Energizer Apostle!” The very next day he travels to Derbe 40 miles away. (no more Lingering in Lystra) A 40 mile walk after being stoned to death? He must have been in excruciating pain! Illustration: The memo from the testing director of MGM, shortly after Fred Astaire’s 1st screen

Acts 19:21-41 — because of panic; Gas prices; financial woes of the Stock Market; marriage being redefined; threats of attacks against Iran/Israel. How do we handle al these things? Panic or Peace…Your Pick! PANIC OR PEACE…YOUR PICK! (21-41) Shalom type peace = quietness, confidence, security, & rest. It’s the steadiness of Daniel waiting in the lions den; It’s the serenity of Jesus asleep in the storm-tossed boat;It’s the joyful singing of Paul & Silas chained

Romans 7:1-12 — (New Husband, New Fruit, New Service); The Law:Reveals(Sin),Arouses(Sin),Ruins(the Sinner),Reflects(the Sinfulness of Sin) THE LAW IS DEAD TO ME! (1-6) NEW HUSBAND! (1-3) We haven’t only died to sin(6:2) but also to the law(7:4). Thus, the law no longer wields authority over us. Paul laid down the principle that the law exercises lordship over a person only as long as that person “lives”. Death cancels the Law’s claim upon that individual. To

Philippians 1:19-30 — ‘Christ,’ & if I die I should merely gain more of Him. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant seeking beautiful pearls, who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it. (Mt.13:45,46) Jesus is our Pearl of great price, for whom we are willing to part with all that we have. Let us be like the oxen which stands between the plough & the altar, to work or to be sacrificed; & let our motto be, “Ready For Either!” When

2 Timothy 2:14-26 — Intro: What are the Christians answer, attitude, & approach toward Evil things & Enemies of the truth? jhgjhgjj! (14-26) WORD-WARRING! (14) Strive = battle, to wage a war. A war of words! We are warned NOT to do this saints! Stay away from petty arguments. Stick to essentials! Why? – Because the results are no profit, & possibly ruin hearers. WORD-WARRIORS!

1 John 2:15-29 — eyes; she took) Some have likened this to Achan’s temptations in the tent (Joshua 7:21 saw; coveted; took; the Babylonian garments/ 200 shekels of silver/wedge of gold) Some have likened this to Jesus’ temptations in the wilderness (Mat. 4 stones/bread; jump; all these things I will give you) (Max Lucado) The desire to enjoy things, the desire to achieve things, the desire to get things. (Griffith Thomas) The desire of having; The desire of seeing; The desire of being. (17)

Revelation 2:12-17 — believer who lived & died for Christ. “He calls his sheep by name” 2 Tim.2:19, “Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His.” CONDEMNATION! (14,15) Some held bad doctrine – (not even “the churches” stance, yet still effected the body) “But…they were too tolerant of false doctrines!” They were drifting into Worldliness & Carnality! Some resisted