Tag Archives: shalom

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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Extravagance Is Not Shalom

Posted on January 22, 2018 by ehurst

Cruising the Christian News sites, I see the current big money items. 1. Vanity toys: Can you take him seriously? I prayed for a bicycle, and before that a used car for my working wife. That doesn’t make me holier, … 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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American Demon of Retaliation

Posted on December 15, 2017 by ehurst

A demon of retaliation stalks America. Granted, it’s been around the US for a long time, but recently it’s become far more active. We are seeing the spirit of retaliation like never before, a whole new scale of things in … Continue reading →

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Wiggle Those Fingers

Posted on December 13, 2017 by ehurst

Good things come to those that wait, Not to those who hesitate… (a line from “More Power To Ya” by Petra) How do you build on ancient ruins? You build with living stones. On the one hand, much of what … Continue reading →

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Sin Is a Tragedy

Posted on December 2, 2017 by ehurst

Here at Kiln of the Soul, we teach that Biblical Law is self-enforcing. We as individuals struggle to enforce the divine will on ourselves, much less on anyone else. Yet we are obliged to try despite the inevitable failures. Moreover, … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 7 (Updated)

Posted on November 18, 2017 by ehurst

Retaliation versus Restoration 5:38-42 It would be hard to find a passage that has been used and abused to spawn more nonsense than this one. It seems precious few commentators have ever bothered to discover the context in Hebrew history. … Continue reading →

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Transparency and Fruit

Posted on November 13, 2017 by ehurst

The fruit is not yet ripe for America’s crisis. I’m reaching for transparency. Bluntly: You deserve a chance to discount my narrative if it doesn’t apply to you. Your heart rules best when your mind is clear, so I want … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 6

Posted on November 11, 2017 by ehurst

Reputation for Honesty 5:33-37 The corrupt oral traditions in Jesus’ day saw the Pharisees and friends holding forth a catalog of various oaths. Each one was supposed to be appropriate for different contexts. These men were swearing on everything imaginable: … Continue reading →

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Sermon on the Mount 4

Posted on October 28, 2017 by ehurst

Matthew 5:21-26 — The Forgotten Treasure The Sermon on the Mount explains repentance and renewing the Covenant in anticipation of the Messiah coming. In this passage, Jesus repeatedly refers to “your brother” as a reference to your covenant kinfolk. It’s … Continue reading →

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