Category Archives: bible

Reviewing Daniel’s Statue

Posted on February 22, 2018 by ehurst

Review the prophet’s vision of the statue in Daniel 2. As with any proper parable, the image has meaning that branches out into all directions. It bears applications of divine wisdom to far more than one element in human existence, … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 20

Posted on February 17, 2018 by ehurst

Jesus uses another common parable from the Talmud. It was widely known in that part of the world that during rainy season, it could fall in torrents, rinsing the rocky places bare and flooding the wadis. Jesus could have easily … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 19

Posted on February 10, 2018 by ehurst

False Disciples 7:21-23 Jesus continues the thought in the previous lesson — there are false prophets and false disciples. The same criterion applies; it’s not enough to observe protocol. There has to be a solid connection with the heart and … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 18

Posted on February 3, 2018 by ehurst

False Prophets 7:15-20 This passage stands on a very large contextual background. Initially, a prophet gains a hearing by performing miracles and/or predicting things that consistently come to pass. However, Deuteronomy 13:2-4 is a strong example of pointing the people … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 17

Posted on January 27, 2018 by ehurst

Justice 7:12-14 First off, Jesus quotes directly from the Talmud, something accredited to several rabbinical scholars, but is found in far more ancient traditions all over the Ancient Near East. It’s the Golden Rule, which the Talmud states in the … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 16

Posted on January 20, 2018 by ehurst

Just Ask 7:7-11 First, we must establish that ask-seek-knock are ancient common images of prayer and worship in Hebrew culture. In this context it should be painfully obvious we aren’t talking about mere hedonistic comforts. The whole point here is … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 15

Posted on January 13, 2018 by ehurst

Judge Not 7:1-6 Jesus cites another Talmudic teaching. Matthew uses a neutral Greek word for “judge” (krino) — it’s meaning is entirely contextual. Thus, Jesus puts that teaching into a clear context regarding the hypocrisy so common to Scribes and … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 14

Posted on January 6, 2018 by ehurst

Seek the Kingdom First 6:25-34 In Jesus’ day there was no state-operated welfare system to abuse. Instead, there was a covenant under which a person’s extended family was responsible for their welfare, but was also held accountable for most everything … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 13

Posted on December 30, 2017 by ehurst

Serving Mammon 6:19-24 This one makes no reference to the Talmud, and only an indirect reference to the Old Testament. Jesus equates evil to being double-minded, in the sense of unfaithful to God. Righteousness is indicated with the Greek word … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 12

Posted on December 23, 2017 by ehurst

Fasting 6:16-18 Again: Jesus is telling His audience how to restore and renew the Covenant and prepare for the coming of the Messiah. What does it take to live in His blessed dominion? Fasting is actually a rather complex issue … Continue reading →

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