In our next woe Jesus gives an analogy of the Pharisees who appeared righteous on the outside. (like unto whitewashed tombs) however they were corrupt and decaying on the inside (vv. 27-32). It was a tradition for the Pharisees to build and decorate the tombs of the martyrs. However, it was …
Peter is saying that through the fiery trials of persecution and suffering it gives us opportunity to examine our own lives and ministry. Through this refining process we should ask ourselves the following questions: 1. Why am I suffering? (v. 15). Peter makes it c …
Solomon’s material wealth is displayed in the next few verses. His annual income was 666 talents of gold (25 tons or 50,000 pounds) (v. 13). This excluded profits that were given to him by other merchants (v. 14). The source of this massive amount of wealth in gold and silver was both external …
As has been previously stated, the Levites, the servants of God, were not to own their own land in Canaan. Instead, they were to be scattered among the other tribes as stated by Moses in his final message to the tribes, “They shall teach Thine ordinances to Jacob, and Thy law to Israel” …
Jesus and His disciples were staying in Bethany each night (v. 19). The next day the disciples noticed that the fig tree Jesus had cursed the day before was all dried up (vv. 20-21). As they called it to His attention He used it as an illustration to teach them these principles o …
The news came to Joseph one day that his father was very sick. He immediately laid aside his affairs of state, took his two sons, Ephraim and Manasseh, and hurried to see his father (v. 1). Jacob sat up in bed and when Joseph presented his two sons to him the aged patriarch prono …
Peter explains how the Christian who stands true to Christ during persecution doesn’t do evil. Christ never returned evil for evil and the Christian who has the right attitude of Christ toward suffering will not strike out against his persecutors …
The book of Isaiah makes a dramatic switch of emphasis at this point. Where the previous chapters are filled with messages of judgment, this chapter and the following emphasizes restoration and deliverance. We need to keep in mind that as Isaiah wrote these prophecies o …
The Israelites had been camped in the plains of Moab. From this position, they were ready to enter the Promised Land. Up to this point, all the tribes of Israel had fought together, traveled together, and sometimes had sinned together. But now things were changing as two of the t …
After an extremely busy day in Capernaum, we find Jesus rising early the next morning (probably between 3:00 and 4:00 a.m.) to spend time with His Father (vv. 35-39). According to an ancient tradition, a “solitary place†or “quiet place†was on a ridge of h …