I've been studying Deuteronomy chapters 5-7, preparing some notes for our small group leaders. As I've been doing that, I find myself approaching Easter freshly. Here are a couple of questions for us with chapters 5-6 particularly in mind.
Many modern Christians are familiar with Jesus' parable in Luke 14:15-24. The NIV entitles it, "The parable of the great banquet". I wish to give it a new name temporarily: "The parable of the great excuses". Although, once we've looked at it in context, we shall see the NIV has the emphasis right after all.
This is not a long post, but I've just seen something I've never seen before.
Matthew 12:1-14 illustrates and adds colour to Matthew 11:28-30.
Matthew 11:28-30 are some of the most beautiful words in the New Testament:
Here's a detail I've just noticed, and rather love.
Psalm 95:7 in the NIV reads as follows:
"For he is our God
and we are the people of his pasture
and the flock under his care."
Take that phrase "flock under his care" and look more closely.
וְצֹ֣אן יָד֑וֹ
Literally "the flock of his hand".
I've said before how valuable I find the writing of David Gooding, particularly on the book of Acts (paid link). It turns out his writing on Luke's gospel (paid link) is just as sharp.
The parable of the lost sheep occurs in two of the gospels: It's in Matthew 18:10-14 and Luke 15:1-7.
I'm preparing to preach on Mark 13 in a couple of Sundays time, and find myself once again reaching for R T France's excellent commentary on Mark (paid link).
On Tuesday, I posted some thoughts on why John records the miraculous catch of fish in John 21.
This Sunday I'm preaching on John 21:1-14, the miraculous catch of fish. I've been asking myself why this miracle is recorded in John's gospel. Here are some thoughts.
Here's why the question needs asking. The story is a miracle (the catch of fish), and a post-resurrection appearance (“Afterwards Jesus appeared again to his disciples. … This was now the third time Jesus appeared to his disciples after he was raised from the dead”).
As we look at the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2, the obvious lead human characters in the story are Herod, the Magi, and Jesus himself. These are the lead protagonists and antagonists.
Whilst the Jewish priests are more flat, functionary characters, we mustn't miss the contrast Matthew deliberately paints between them and the Magi.
Recent comments