Monday, September 28, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 11
Matthew 8:1-13; Luke 7:1-50 (New
International Version)
1 When he came down from the mountainside, large
crowds followed him. 2 A man with leprosy came and knelt
before him and said, "Lord, if you are willing, you can make me
clean." 3 Jesus reached out his hand and touched the
man. "I am willing," he said. "Be
clean!" Immediately he was cured of his leprosy. 4 Then
Jesus said to him, "See that you don't tell anyone. But go, show
yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to
them."
5 When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion
came to him, asking for help. 6 "Lord," he said,
"my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering." 7 Jesus
said to him, "I will go and heal him." 8 The
centurion replied, "Lord, I do not deserve to have you come under my roof.
But just say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9 For I
myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, 'Go,'
and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he comes. I say to my servant, 'Do
this,' and he does it." 10 When Jesus heard this, he was
astonished and said to those following him, "I tell you the truth, I
have not found anyone in Israel with such great faith. 11 I
say to you that many will come from the east and the west, and will take their
places at the feast with Abraham, Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of
heaven. 12 But the subjects of the kingdom will be thrown
outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth." 13 Then Jesus said to the
centurion, "Go! It will be done just as you believed it
would." And his servant was healed at that very hour.
1 When Jesus had finished saying all this in the
hearing of the people, he entered Capernaum. 2There a centurion's
servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. 3 The
centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to
come and heal his servant. 4 When they came to Jesus, they
pleaded earnestly with him, "This man deserves to have you do this, 5 because
he loves our nation and has built our synagogue." 6 So
Jesus went with them. He was not far from the house when the centurion sent
friends to say to him: "Lord, don't trouble yourself, for I do not deserve
to have you come under my roof. 7 That is why I did not even
consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be
healed. 8 For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers
under me. I tell this one, 'Go,' and he goes; and that one, 'Come,' and he
comes. I say to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 9 When
Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him,
he said, "I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in
Israel." 10 Then the men who had been sent returned to
the house and found the servant well.
11 Soon afterward, Jesus went to a town called
Nain, and his disciples and a large crowd went along with him. 12 As
he approached the town gate, a dead person was being carried out--the only son
of his mother, and she was a widow. And a large crowd from the town was with
her. 13 When the Lord saw her, his heart went out to her and
he said, "Don't cry." 14 Then he went up and
touched the coffin, and those carrying it stood still. He
said, "Young man, I say to you, get up!" 15 The
dead man sat up and began to talk, and Jesus gave him back to his mother. 16 They
were all filled with awe and praised God. "A great prophet has appeared
among us," they said. "God has come to help his people." 17 This
news about Jesus spread throughout Judea and the surrounding country.
18 John's disciples told him about all these
things. Calling two of them, 19 he sent them to the Lord to
ask, "Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone
else?" 20 When the men came to Jesus, they said,
"John the Baptist sent us to you to ask, 'Are you the one who was to come,
or should we expect someone else?' " 21 At that very time
Jesus cured many who had diseases, sicknesses and evil spirits, and gave sight
to many who were blind. 22 So he replied to the
messengers, "Go back and report to John what you have seen and heard:
The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy are cured, the
deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the
poor. 23 Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account
of me." 24After John's messengers left, Jesus began to speak
to the crowd about John: "What did you go out into the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind? 25 If not, what did you go out to
see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear expensive clothes and
indulge in luxury are in palaces.26 But what did you go out to see?
A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 27 This
is the one about whom it is written: " 'I will send my messenger ahead of
you, who will prepare your way before you.' 28 I tell you,
among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is
least in the kingdom of God is greater than he." 29 (All
the people, even the tax collectors, when they heard Jesus' words, acknowledged
that God's way was right, because they had been baptized by John. 30 But
the Pharisees and experts in the law rejected God's purpose for themselves,
because they had not been baptized by John.) 31 "To what,
then, can I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? 32 They
are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling out to each other:
" 'We played the flute for you, and you did not dance; we sang a dirge,
and you did not cry.' 33 For John the Baptist came neither
eating bread nor drinking wine, and you say, 'He has a demon.' 34 The
Son of Man came eating and drinking, and you say, 'Here is a glutton and a
drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and "sinners." ' 35 But
wisdom is proved right by all her children."
36 Now one of the Pharisees invited Jesus to
have dinner with him, so he went to the Pharisee's house and reclined at the
table. 37 When a woman who had lived a sinful life in that
town learned that Jesus was eating at the Pharisee's house, she brought an
alabaster jar of perfume, 38 and as she stood behind him at
his feet weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them
with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them. 39 When
the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, "If this
man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman
she is--that she is a sinner." 40 Jesus answered
him, "Simon, I have something to tell you." "Tell me,
teacher," he said. 41 "Two men owed money to a
certain moneylender. One owed him five hundred denarii, and the other
fifty. 42 Neither of them had the money to pay him back, so he
canceled the debts of both. Now which of them will love him more?" 43 Simon
replied, "I suppose the one who had the bigger debt
canceled." "You have judged correctly," Jesus
said. 44Then he turned toward the woman and said to
Simon, "Do you see this woman? I came into your house. You did not
give me any water for my feet, but she wet my feet with her tears and wiped
them with her hair. 45 You did not give me a kiss, but this
woman, from the time I entered, has not stopped kissing my feet. 46 You
did not put oil on my head, but she has poured perfume on my feet. 47Therefore,
I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven--for she loved much. But he who
has been forgiven little loves little." 48 Then Jesus
said to her, "Your sins are forgiven." 49 The
other guests began to say among themselves, "Who is this who even forgives
sins?" 50 Jesus said to the woman,"Your faith has
saved you; go in peace."
1 Corinthians 7
1 Corinthians 7New International Version (NIV)
Concerning Married Life
7 Now for the matters you wrote about: “It is good for a man not to have sexual relations with a woman.” 2 But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband. 3 The husband should fulfill his marital duty to his wife, and likewise the wife to her husband. 4 The wife does not have authority over her own body but yields it to her husband. In the same way, the husband does not have authority over his own body but yields it to his wife. 5 Do not deprive each other except perhaps by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control. 6 I say this as a concession, not as a command. 7 I wish that all of you were as I am. But each of you has your own gift from God; one has this gift, another has that.
8 Now to the unmarried[a] and the widows I say: It is good for them to stay unmarried, as I do. 9 But if they cannot control themselves, they should marry,for it is better to marry than to burn with passion.
10 To the married I give this command (not I, but the Lord): A wife must not separate from her husband. 11 But if she does, she must remain unmarried or else be reconciled to her husband. And a husband must not divorce his wife.
12 To the rest I say this (I, not the Lord): If any brother has a wife who is not a believer and she is willing to live with him, he must not divorce her. 13 And if a woman has a husband who is not a believer and he is willing to live with her, she must not divorce him. 14 For the unbelieving husband has been sanctified through his wife, and the unbelieving wife has been sanctified through her believing husband. Otherwise your children would be unclean, but as it is, they are holy.
15 But if the unbeliever leaves, let it be so. The brother or the sister is not bound in such circumstances; God has called us to live in peace. 16 How do you know, wife, whether you will save your husband? Or, how do you know, husband, whether you will save your wife?
Concerning Change of Status
17 Nevertheless, each person should live as a believer in whatever situation the Lord has assigned to them, just as God has called them. This is the rule I lay down in all the churches. 18 Was a man already circumcised when he was called? He should not become uncircumcised. Was a man uncircumcised when he was called? He should not be circumcised. 19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing. Keeping God’s commands is what counts. 20 Each person should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
21 Were you a slave when you were called? Don’t let it trouble you—although if you can gain your freedom, do so. 22 For the one who was a slave when called to faith in the Lord is the Lord’s freed person; similarly, the one who was free when called is Christ’s slave. 23 You were bought at a price; do not become slaves of human beings. 24 Brothers and sisters, each person, as responsible to God, should remain in the situation they were in when God called them.
Concerning the Unmarried
25 Now about virgins: I have no command from the Lord, but I give a judgment as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy. 26 Because of the present crisis, I think that it is good for a man to remain as he is. 27 Are you pledged to a woman? Do not seek to be released. Are you free from such a commitment? Do not look for a wife. 28 But if you do marry, you have not sinned; and if a virgin marries, she has not sinned. But those who marry will face many troubles in this life, and I want to spare you this.
29 What I mean, brothers and sisters, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they do not; 30 those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; 31 those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away.
32 I would like you to be free from concern. An unmarried man is concerned about the Lord’s affairs—how he can please the Lord. 33 But a married man is concerned about the affairs of this world—how he can please his wife— 34 and his interests are divided. An unmarried woman or virgin is concerned about the Lord’s affairs: Her aim is to be devoted to the Lord in both body and spirit. But a married woman is concerned about the affairs of this world—how she can please her husband. 35 I am saying this for your own good, not to restrict you, but that you may live in a right way in undivided devotion to the Lord.
36 If anyone is worried that he might not be acting honorably toward the virgin he is engaged to, and if his passions are too strong[b] and he feels he ought to marry, he should do as he wants. He is not sinning. They should get married.37 But the man who has settled the matter in his own mind, who is under no compulsion but has control over his own will, and who has made up his mind not to marry the virgin—this man also does the right thing. 38 So then, he who marries the virgin does right, but he who does not marry her does better.[c]
39 A woman is bound to her husband as long as he lives. But if her husband dies, she is free to marry anyone she wishes, but he must belong to the Lord.40 In my judgment, she is happier if she stays as she is—and I think that I too have the Spirit of God.
Revelation 21
Revelation 21 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 21
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth,"[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death'[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
Revelation 21
A New Heaven and a New Earth
1 Then I saw "a new heaven and a new earth,"[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. 2 I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. 3 And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Look! God's dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. 4 'He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death'[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away."
5 He who was seated on the throne said, "I am making everything new!" Then he said, "Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true."
6 He said to me: "It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. To the thirsty I will give water without cost from the spring of the water of life. 7 Those who are victorious will inherit all this, and I will be their God and they will be my children. 8 But the cowardly, the unbelieving, the vile, the murderers, the sexually immoral, those who practice magic arts, the idolaters and all liars—they will be consigned to the fiery lake of burning sulfur. This is the second death."
The New Jerusalem, the Bride of the Lamb
9 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the bride, the wife of the Lamb." 10 And he carried me away in the Spirit to a mountain great and high, and showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God. 11 It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal. 12 It had a great, high wall with twelve gates, and with twelve angels at the gates. On the gates were written the names of the twelve tribes of Israel. 13 There were three gates on the east, three on the north, three on the south and three on the west. 14 The wall of the city had twelve foundations, and on them were the names of the twelve apostles of the Lamb.
15 The angel who talked with me had a measuring rod of gold to measure the city, its gates and its walls. 16 The city was laid out like a square, as long as it was wide. He measured the city with the rod and found it to be 12,000 stadia[c] in length, and as wide and high as it is long. 17 The angel measured the wall using human measurement, and it was 144 cubits[d] thick.[e] 18 The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass. 19 The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone. The first foundation was jasper, the second sapphire, the third agate, the fourth emerald, 20 the fifth onyx, the sixth ruby, the seventh chrysolite, the eighth beryl, the ninth topaz, the tenth turquoise, the eleventh jacinth, and the twelfth amethyst.[f] 21 The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.
22 I did not see a temple in the city, because the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. 23 The city does not need the sun or the moon to shine on it, for the glory of God gives it light, and the Lamb is its lamp. 24 The nations will walk by its light, and the kings of the earth will bring their splendor into it. 25 On no day will its gates ever be shut, for there will be no night there. 26 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into it. 27 Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful or deceitful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb's book of life.
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