Category Archives: Bible Study

LUKE’S GOSPEL…THE TURNING POINT – 20

Bible Study, ,

“Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, “Who do the crowds say I am?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Peter answered, “God’s Messiah.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭18‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Matthew’s version of this pivotal incident includes a vital part of this exchange which Luke did not include. 

“When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?” They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and de. still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” “But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.” Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven. And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” Then he ordered his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Messiah.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭16‬:‭13‬-‭20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Why are these details so important? 

First, Matthew tells us where it happened. Jesus had purposely taken His disciples to a notoriously pagan and sleazy region in Israel. Caesaria Philippi, a Gentile city, dominated by pagan religion, in northern Israel near the source of the Jordan river. Founded in honour of the Caesar, this city had a temple dedicated to the his worship. Added to that, in the vicinity, at the base of a rocky cliff near a grotto, known as “the gate of hell”, the underworld, from which water flowed to join the snowmelt from Mt Herman to form the source of the Jordan, a pagan temple was built to honour Pan, a fertility god which was half human, half goat. 

Second, Matthew tells us why it happened. Worship of Pan included sexual intercourse with goats! Imagine Jesus and His disciples observing this perversity! What did Jesus have in mind?

Disgusting as it was, there was no better place in all Israel to illustrate what Jesus would reveal to His disciples. After Peter’s confession as spokesman for the disciples, Jesus declared, “Do you see this awful place? This is exactly the kind of place where I will build my church! So powerful is my name, Peter, as you have confessed, and my yoke of mercy and grace, that not even hell itself can withstand the message that can rescue people from this delusion.”  

Yes, Peter, “Upon this rock, where people worship Pan, I will build my church…”  Not on Peter.  He was a mere mortal. On the solid rock of truth that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God, and His message of salvation, Jesus’ church would stand firm and grow across the globe despite the very power of hell that stood against it. 

How we need this reassurance today! Despite every effort to discredit, to stamp out, to obliterate the church, its people, and its truth and power, the church of the Lord Jesus had not only stood against every hostile power, but it is flourishing and growing against all odds. Even in the darkest of places and the most hostile environments, His church stands firm. 

Jesus’ return, as we consider the signs, seems imminent. The earth itself longs for His coming, yearns for the day of unveiling, of the revelation of the glory of His hidden sons and daughters, and its liberation from bondage. 

“For the creation waits in eager expectation for the children of God to be revealed. For the creation was subjected to frustration, not by its own choice, but by the will of the one who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be liberated from its bondage to decay and brought into the freedom and glory of the children of God.”

‭‭Romans‬ ‭8‬:‭19‬-‭21‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Yes, it’s coming! Of this we came be sure because Jesus always did what He promised. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…A STRANGE INSTRUCTION – 19

Bible Study, ,

“When Jesus had called the Twelve together, he gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases, and he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal the sick. He told them: “Take nothing for the journey—no staff, no bag, no bread, no money, no extra shirt. Whatever house you enter, stay there until you leave that town. If people do not welcome you, leave their town and shake the dust off your feet as a testimony against them.” So they set out and went from village to village, proclaiming the good news and healing people everywhere.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭9‬:‭1‬-‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus’ mission about the kingdom was urgent. He needed to announce its arrival quickly, so He sent His disciples ahead of Him to prepare the people for its message. They were to do two things…announce and demonstrate the presence of God’s rule among His people. 

Demonstration involved a great healing campaign, as the disciples went along, as evidence of the nature and power of the kingdom of God. God was not only telling but showing His people that He was right there among them, setting right in part what had gone wrong in the beginning. 

Imagine the disciples’ joy when their touch healed people exactly as Jesus was doing!  This was real! God was with them, breaking Satan’s power and releasing a tsunami wave of miracles through them. 

However as always, not every Jew was impressed by the disciples’ activities, especially when it came to their association with Jesus. At the instigation of His enemies, some people were suspicious. Not everyone welcomed them with open arms. What would be the test? 

Some would, by offering the disciples hospitality and all the perks, show their acceptance of their message. Others, by refusing them hospitality, would call down judgment upon themselves by their refusal to reciprocate. What were the disciples to do?

“Jesus told his disciples to shake the dust off their feet as a symbolic act to signify that a town or household had rejected God’s message, marking them as spiritually unclean and worthy of judgment, like Gentiles, indicating the disciples’ task was done there and they should move on, leaving the responsibility for rejection with the people, a practice rooted in Jewish tradition of avoiding Gentile contamination. It served as a testimony, a warning of divine judgment, and a directive to focus efforts where the message was received, not to waste time on stubborn rejection.” (Source: Google AI). 

By shaking the dust off their feet, the disciples’ would be absolving themselves of all responsibility for the decision of those who rejected them and their message. They would be treating them as pagan Gentiles upon whom God’s judgement would fall for rejecting Him and His grace. 

Jesus’ instruction was in line with His warning to His disciples in His discourse about life in God’s kingdom. 

“Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Don’t waste your time on people who show by their words and attitude, that they have no interest in the things of God. They may even do you harm if you continue to interact with them. 

The counsel was the same for errant church members. 

“If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over. But if they will not listen, take one or two others along, so that ‘every matter may be established by the testimony of two or three witnesses.’ If they still refuse to listen, tell it to the church; and if they refuse to listen even to the church, treat them as you would a pagan or a tax collector.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭18‬:‭15‬-‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

As harsh as this may sound, Jesus instructed church leaders to treat unrepentant members under their leadership in the same way. Cut off connection with them because they become a danger to unity in the body of Christ. 

In the Old Covenant, the principle was harsh but clear for the simple reason that a bad apple in a box caused the rot to spread. 

“Anyone who attacks their father or mother is to be put to death…“Anyone who curses their father or mother is to be put to death.”

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭21‬:‭15‬, ‭17‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Likewise, people who were guilty of sexual misconduct were to be executed. For example…

“ ‘If a man commits adultery with another man’s wife—with the wife of his neighbor—both the adulterer and the adulteress are to be put to death.”

‭‭Leviticus‬ ‭20‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

This way of reacting to resistance to the message may seem to cut across grace but, in actual fact, it is both protection and a statement. Sin spreads quickly in a community of vulnerable people. Therefore, people who can cause dissension must be excluded as quickly as possible. Don’t waste time on them because they have already disqualified themselves from God’s  grace. 

Does this sound harsh? God is not playing games. He takes seriously what people do and say. He gives opportunity to repent, even second chances, but He also responds to rejection by rejecting those who reject Him. 

Jesus gave the same counsel to the seventy two He sent out to the wider community of Jews and Gentiles…

“Whoever listens to you listens to me; whoever rejects you rejects me; but whoever rejects me rejects him who sent me.””

‭‭Luke‬ ‭10‬:‭16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We should heed this wise counsel to protect ourselves, our families, and fellowship from the poison that can quickly spread and cause untold harm in a group. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…TWELVE YEARS – 18b

Bible Study, ,

“While Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue leader. “Your daughter is dead,” he said. “Don’t bother the teacher anymore.” Hearing this, Jesus said to Jairus, “Don’t be afraid; just believe, and she will be healed.” When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child’s father and mother. Meanwhile, all the people were wailing and mourning for her. “Stop wailing,” Jesus said. “She is not dead but asleep.” They laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭49‬-‭56‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We pick up the story of Jairus and his dying child again. 

In the interim, Jairus’s daughter died. What did the father feel about the interruption that lead to his child’s death? Was he angry, bitter against the woman, especially because it was a woman who had caused the delay? Little did he know that Jesus was weaving a complex situation into a perfect process. 

Jesus was about to step into a home where death had occurred. As a rabbi, it was unlawful for Him to do so. When the sick woman touched Him, she had automatically made Jesus “unclean” according to the law. Jesus asked…loudly…twice, “Who touched me?” Didn’t He know? Of course He knew! 

He wanted to ensure that the people around Him would know that He was ceremonially unclean. Therefore, for Him to go into the room where a dead body lay wouldn’t matter because He was already “unclean”!

Jesus took with Him His three most trusted disciples and the parents of the child as witnesses to what He was about to do. Just as the healing of the woman was connected to the prophetic word about His tallith, so the tallith would again play a central role in the healing of the little girl. 

“But he took her by the hand and said, “My child, get up!” Her spirit returned, and at once she stood up.”

What did Jesus say to her? The words in Aramaic are translated, “Child, get up!” However, if we examine the words carefully…

“He took her by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum!” (which means “Little girl, I say to you, get up!”).”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭5‬:‭41‬ ‭

…they can mean either…

“Talita koum!…”Child, get up!”…or

“Tallith, ha koum!”…“The tallith is here,” depending on the punctuation…

Which translation is more likely?

Since we have already seen how the faith of the woman was in the prophetic word about the Messiah’s wings…kanaph…the corners of the tallith…

“But for you who revere my name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its rays (wings…kanaph – corners of the tallit – prayer shawl). And you will go out and frolic like well-fed calves.”

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

…Isn’t it logical that Jesus would refer to His tallith as the symbol of her healing as well? 

Of course, Jairus, as a man well- educated in the Tanach, the Hebrew Scriptures, would immediately get the connection. Is that not the reason for Jesus’ warning…

“Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them not to tell anyone what had happened.”

As usual, Jesus’ method was to convince people that He was the Messiah by aligning Himself with prophecy rather than by what one person told another.  

So, we have an amazing story of two suffering people, beginning twelve years previously and woven together into one continuous whole. Together, they bear witness, again, to the readers of Scripture that what Jesus had done perfectly confirmed who He was, the Messiah, the Son of God. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…TWELVE YEARS – 18a

Bible Study, ,

“Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed him, for they were all expecting him. Then a man named Jairus, a synagogue leader, came and fell at Jesus’ feet, pleading with him to come to his house because his only daughter, a girl of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed him.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭40‬-‭42‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus was on His way to respond to Jairus’s urgent request when  He was interrupted by another person in need. In the interim, something happened that is vital to the story. 

Let’s start at the beginning. Twelve years previously, two events happened. Jairus’s daughter was born and the woman began to bleed. The baby girl began to grow but the woman’s health began to deteriorate. 

Twelve years later, the stories of these two people connected in the presence of Jesus. Jairus’s child was deathly sick and the woman’s condition had brought her to despair. Perhaps she, too, was on her way out. 

Jairus called on Jesus for help but the woman, in the crowd, interrupted Jesus’ urgent mission. 

“And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding for twelve years, but no one could heal her. She came up behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding stopped. “Who touched me?” Jesus asked. When they all denied it, Peter said, “Master, the people are crowding and pressing against you.” But Jesus said, “Someone touched me; I know that power has gone out from me.” Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭43‬-‭48‬ ‭NIV‬‬

What was this woman’s intention? Perhaps she was aware of Malachi’s prophetic word…

“But to you who fear My name The Sun of Righteousness shall arise With healing in His wings; And you shall go out And grow fat like stall-fed calves.”

‭‭Malachi‬ ‭4‬:‭2‬ ‭NKJV‬‬

I have deliberately chosen a version that more accurately translates “kanaph” than the NIV. A common translation is “wings” referring to the corners of the garment to which the tassels were attached. 

“Tzitzit (pronounced “tsi-tsit”) are specially knotted ritual fringes or tassels worn by observant Jews on the four corners of a rectangular garment, symbolizing a reminder to keep God’s commandments, as commanded in the Torah. They are found on the large prayer shawl (tallit gadol) for prayer and on a smaller, poncho-like undershirt (tallit katan or arba kanfot) worn daily. Each tzitzit has specific strings and knots, with the number of strings and windings relating to the 613 commandments (mitzvot) of the Torah.” (Source: Google AI)

Symbolically, the tassels, with their five knots and four spaces, represented the five books of the Torah and the four letters in God’s name…YHWH. The tallith  (garment) with its tsitsit (tassels) on the four kanaph (corners or wings) reminded the wearer that he was to remember the Lord because he was living under the protection of God’s word and His name. 

Knowing this, the ailing woman wanted to touch the kanaph on Jesus’ tallith because it was the promise of healing. Did she recognise that Jesus was the promised Messiah who wore the tallith?

The outcome of this incident, although unmentioned, was confirmation that the woman’s faith was not misplaced. She was healed by touching the tsitsit on the kanaph of Jesus’ tallith, indicating that Jesus was, in fact, the Messiah. 

To be continued…

LUKE’S GOSPEL…A MOVING STORY – 17

Bible Study, ,

“No one lights a lamp and hides it in a clay jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, they put it on a stand, so that those who come in can see the light. For there is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought out into the open. Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭16‬-‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life never stands still. Every day is a new page, every situation a new chapter. 

Jesus told many stories, of situations, choices, and consequences like, for example, the story of a farmer who scattered seed in his field. Each seed germinated, grew, and eventually responded to the environment into which it fell. Most of the seeds were unproductive because their circumstances were hostile. One quarter grew, flourished, and produced a harvest. 

“Why are you telling us these stories?” the disciples asked. Jesus explained their purpose. Every parable was intended to draw people into the story, to identify their place in the narrative. “Where do you fit in?” Each story required a response. They were not intended to entertain but to expose. 

“So,” said Jesus, “some people hear but don’t listen. Every story I tell them pushes them deeper into rebellion. Every seed of truth I sow is rejected and becomes unproductive, like the seed falling into hard, stony, or thorny soil. They go progressively backwards into unbelief and towards judgment.” 

“He said, “The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that, “ ‘though seeing, they may not see; though hearing, they may not understand.’”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭8‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, even the stories Jesus told were intended to separate His hearers into two groups…those who heard and walked backwards and those who heard and walked on. No listener remained the same. 

James expressed the same thought in his warning…

“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do.”

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭22‬-‭25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Life is always a moving story. No one ever stands still or remains the same, day in and day out. Each new year is an opportunity to do a “ lifestyle audit”, to check the progress, to gauge the distance we have travelled since the last audit. 

Some have travelled far along the path of faith, faithfulness, and obedience to the one we call “Lord”. Others have slid back into unbelief, disobedience, and rebellion, simply by failing to respond to the Word. 

So, Jesus counsels, whatever you hear, whatever truth to which you are exposed, is not intended to hide but to bring light into every situation and, one day it will. You can be sure that God’s truth will uncover every lie we have believed, every deception, every wrong path we have followed, every instruction we have ignored. 

Our journey through life continues every day and we progress or regress according to the way we hear. 

“Therefore consider carefully how you listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what they think they have will be taken from them.”

We will either gain or lose wisdom along the way. What we carry into eternity will depend on what we do with what we hear now. 

To be continued…