Category Archives: bible

Jeremiah 17:9

Posted on May 13, 2018 by ehurst

Several people have asked me how to reconcile our talk here about being heart-led with this verse in Jeremiah. Most English translations go something like this: The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; who can know it? … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 13:24-43

Posted on May 12, 2018 by ehurst

This is about the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus contrasts its nature with that of human kingdoms. The key is His quotation (v. 35) from Psalms 78:1-4. The context of the psalm is a reminder that the language of parables was … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 13:1-23

Posted on May 5, 2018 by ehurst

There is no clinical description possible; that’s the whole point of this passage. If you choose to invest your awareness into your convictions, you become sensitive to what those convictions have to say. In that sense, you are breathing life … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 12:38-50

Posted on April 28, 2018 by ehurst

We can easily see how most religions in this world seek to make converts. The adherents consider it their duty to share what they regard as the ultimate universal religion for all humanity. The Hebrew Scriptures are loaded with prophetic … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 12:22-37

Posted on April 21, 2018 by ehurst

We’ve noted often that the adoption of Hellenized reason perverted the humble mysticism that once characterized Hebrew religion. Reason is inherently arrogant, convinced it can handle all truth that matters, that it is fully competent and indisputable. With this deep … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 12:1-14

Posted on April 14, 2018 by ehurst

We have noted often how the Pharisees had added quite a few restrictions to the Law that were not required by Moses. They had done so as part of their shift to Hellenized rationalism, which turned their Hebrew mysticism into … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 11:20-30

Posted on April 7, 2018 by ehurst

Jesus compares the three cities where He spent most of His time and performed His most noteworthy miracles, against three Gentile cities most noted for their depth of heathen depravity. Sodom was destroyed in the massive volcanic explosion that superheated … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 11:1-19

Posted on March 31, 2018 by ehurst

John the Baptist had preached repentance to the Covenant in the Jordan Valley because it was convenient for observing the baptism cleansing ritual year-round. In his preaching, he disparaged as sinful the scandalous divorce and remarriage of Herod Antipas. For … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus: Matthew 10:34-42

Posted on March 24, 2018 by ehurst

Jesus continues the theme of otherworldliness. Here He injects a few notes from the Talmud, where it is predicted that the generation of the Messiah’s coming would see social chaos, a breakdown in the traditional shalom. But it’s more than … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus: Matthew 10:28-33

Posted on March 17, 2018 by ehurst

This is the ultimate otherworldly statement: This life is expendable; don’t cling to it. There is a life for each of us after this that no one can take from your Father. People love to nitpick over the precise meaning … Continue reading →

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