Category Archives: bible

Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 18:1-6

Posted on June 16, 2018 by ehurst

Up to now in Matthew’s narrative, Peter often took the lead in things because he was the eldest of the Twelve, and apparently the largest physically. But Jesus had not yet designated who would hold what position in His future … Continue reading →

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Romans 5-6 — Law versus Grace

Posted on June 11, 2018 by ehurst

I can’t promise that you’ll like my handling of this. Our difficulty is not merely that Western Christianity reads the words wrong, but that Western Christianity has a totally different set of assumptions about reality from what Paul held when … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 16:13-28

Posted on June 9, 2018 by ehurst

The underlying theme that ties this whole passage together is getting a proper image of Jesus inheriting the Kingdom of Heaven. It’s too easy to forget this all takes place in the context of Ancient Near Eastern (ANE) culture. A … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 16:1-12

Posted on June 2, 2018 by ehurst

Most people miss what Jesus is saying in this passage, because it’s all one thing: The Jewish leaders trusted in logic instead of walking in faith. Their legalism insisted that they must adhere to the Law of Moses, but they … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 15:1-20

Posted on May 26, 2018 by ehurst

The first few verses give us the context. It refers to the Talmudic ritual hand-washing that the Pharisees had made into a binding customary law. It appears to be one of the oldest and most revered customs in Jesus’ time. … Continue reading →

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Teachings of Jesus — Matthew 13:44-52

Posted on May 19, 2018 by ehurst

Here we have four parables in quick succession. Together they tell us that the Kingdom of Heaven is all or nothing. God discriminates between those who meet His Son at the foot of the Cross and sacrifice as He did, … Continue reading →

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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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