Saturday, October 31, 2015
Revelation 10
Revelation 10 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but 'in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.'[a]" 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
Revelation 10
The Angel and the Little Scroll
1 Then I saw another mighty angel coming down from heaven. He was robed in a cloud, with a rainbow above his head; his face was like the sun, and his legs were like fiery pillars. 2 He was holding a little scroll, which lay open in his hand. He planted his right foot on the sea and his left foot on the land, 3 and he gave a loud shout like the roar of a lion. When he shouted, the voices of the seven thunders spoke. 4 And when the seven thunders spoke, I was about to write; but I heard a voice from heaven say, "Seal up what the seven thunders have said and do not write it down."
5 Then the angel I had seen standing on the sea and on the land raised his right hand to heaven. 6 And he swore by him who lives for ever and ever, who created the heavens and all that is in them, the earth and all that is in it, and the sea and all that is in it, and said, "There will be no more delay! 7 But in the days when the seventh angel is about to sound his trumpet, the mystery of God will be accomplished, just as he announced to his servants the prophets."
8 Then the voice that I had heard from heaven spoke to me once more: "Go, take the scroll that lies open in the hand of the angel who is standing on the sea and on the land."
9 So I went to the angel and asked him to give me the little scroll. He said to me, "Take it and eat it. It will turn your stomach sour, but 'in your mouth it will be as sweet as honey.'[a]" 10 I took the little scroll from the angel's hand and ate it. It tasted as sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach turned sour. 11 Then I was told, "You must prophesy again about many peoples, nations, languages and kings."
Galatians 5
Galatians 5 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Galatians 5
Freedom in Christ
1 It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
2 Mark my words! I, Paul, tell you that if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. 3 Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law. 4 You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace. 5 For through the Spirit we eagerly await by faith the righteousness for which we hope. 6 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision has any value. The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.
7 You were running a good race. Who cut in on you to keep you from obeying the truth? 8 That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you. 9 "A little yeast works through the whole batch of dough." 10 I am confident in the Lord that you will take no other view. The one who is throwing you into confusion, whoever that may be, will have to pay the penalty. 11 Brothers and sisters, if I am still preaching circumcision, why am I still being persecuted? In that case the offense of the cross has been abolished. 12 As for those agitators, I wish they would go the whole way and emasculate themselves!
Life by the Spirit
13 You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh[a]; rather, serve one another humbly in love. 14 For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: "Love your neighbor as yourself."[b] 15 If you bite and devour each other, watch out or you will be destroyed by each other.
16 So I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. 17 For the flesh desires what is contrary to the Spirit, and the Spirit what is contrary to the flesh. They are in conflict with each other, so that you are not to do whatever[c] you want. 18 But if you are led by the Spirit, you are not under the law.
19 The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; 20 idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions 21 and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. 25 Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. 26 Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying each other.
Friday, October 30, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 35
Matthew 22; Mark 12
1 Jesus spoke to them again in parables, saying: 2 "The
kingdom of heaven is like a king who prepared a wedding banquet for his
son. 3 He sent his servants to those who had been invited to
the banquet to tell them to come, but they refused to come. 4 "Then
he sent some more servants and said, 'Tell those who have been invited that I
have prepared my dinner: My oxen and fattened cattle have been butchered, and
everything is ready. Come to the wedding banquet.' 5 "But
they paid no attention and went off--one to his field, another to his
business. 6 The rest seized his servants, mistreated them and
killed them. 7 The king was enraged. He sent his army and
destroyed those murderers and burned their city. 8 "Then
he said to his servants, 'The wedding banquet is ready, but those I invited did
not deserve to come. 9 Go to the street corners and invite to
the banquet anyone you find.' 10 So the servants went out into
the streets and gathered all the people they could find, both good and bad, and
the wedding hall was filled with guests. 11 "But when the
king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing
wedding clothes. 12 'Friend,' he asked, 'how did you get in
here without wedding clothes?' The man was speechless. 13 "Then
the king told the attendants, 'Tie him hand and foot, and throw him outside,
into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.' 14 "For
many are invited, but few are chosen." 15 Then the
Pharisees went out and laid plans to trap him in his words. 16 They
sent their disciples to him along with the Herodians. "Teacher," they
said, "we know you are a man of integrity and that you teach the way of
God in accordance with the truth. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no
attention to who they are. 17 Tell us then, what is your
opinion? Is it right to pay taxes to Caesar or not?" 18 But
Jesus, knowing their evil intent, said, "You hypocrites, why are you
trying to trap me? 19 Show me the coin used for paying the
tax." They brought him a denarius, 20 and he asked them,
"Whose portrait is this? And whose inscription?" 21"Caesar's,"
they replied. Then he said to them, "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and
to God what is God's." 22 When they heard this, they were
amazed. So they left him and went away. 23 That same day the
Sadducees, who say there is no resurrection, came to him with a question. 24 "Teacher,"
they said, "Moses told us that if a man dies without having children, his
brother must marry the widow and have children for him. 25 Now
there were seven brothers among us. The first one married and died, and since
he had no children, he left his wife to his brother. 26 The
same thing happened to the second and third brother, right on down to the
seventh. 27 Finally, the woman died. 28 Now
then, at the resurrection, whose wife will she be of the seven, since all of
them were married to her?" 29 Jesus replied, "You
are in error because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God. 30 At
the resurrection people will neither marry nor be given in marriage; they will
be like the angels in heaven.31 But about the resurrection of the
dead--have you not read what God said to you, 32 'I am the God
of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob' ? He is not the God of the
dead but of the living."33 When the crowds heard this, they
were astonished at his teaching. 34 Hearing that Jesus had
silenced the Sadducees, the Pharisees got together. 35 One of
them, an expert in the law, tested him with this question: 36 "Teacher,
which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus
replied: " 'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your
soul and with all your mind.' 38 This is the first and
greatest commandment. 39 And the second is like it: 'Love your
neighbor as yourself.' 40 All the Law and the Prophets hang on
these two commandments." 41 While the Pharisees were
gathered together, Jesus asked them, 42 "What do you
think about the Christ ? Whose son is he?" "The son of David,"
they replied. 43 He said to them, "How is it then that
David, speaking by the Spirit, calls him 'Lord'? For he says, 44 "
'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at my right hand until I put your enemies
under your feet." ' 45 If then David calls him 'Lord,'
how can he be his son?" 46 No one could say a word in
reply, and from that day on no one dared to ask him any more questions.
Revelation 9
Revelation 9 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 9
1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Revelation 9
1 The fifth angel sounded his trumpet, and I saw a star that had fallen from the sky to the earth. The star was given the key to the shaft of the Abyss. 2 When he opened the Abyss, smoke rose from it like the smoke from a gigantic furnace. The sun and sky were darkened by the smoke from the Abyss. 3 And out of the smoke locusts came down on the earth and were given power like that of scorpions of the earth. 4 They were told not to harm the grass of the earth or any plant or tree, but only those people who did not have the seal of God on their foreheads. 5 They were not allowed to kill them but only to torture them for five months. And the agony they suffered was like that of the sting of a scorpion when it strikes. 6 During those days people will seek death but will not find it; they will long to die, but death will elude them.
7 The locusts looked like horses prepared for battle. On their heads they wore something like crowns of gold, and their faces resembled human faces. 8 Their hair was like women's hair, and their teeth were like lions' teeth. 9 They had breastplates like breastplates of iron, and the sound of their wings was like the thundering of many horses and chariots rushing into battle. 10 They had tails with stingers, like scorpions, and in their tails they had power to torment people for five months. 11 They had as king over them the angel of the Abyss, whose name in Hebrew is Abaddon and in Greek is Apollyon (that is, Destroyer).
12 The first woe is past; two other woes are yet to come.
13 The sixth angel sounded his trumpet, and I heard a voice coming from the four horns of the golden altar that is before God. 14 It said to the sixth angel who had the trumpet, "Release the four angels who are bound at the great river Euphrates." 15 And the four angels who had been kept ready for this very hour and day and month and year were released to kill a third of mankind. 16 The number of the mounted troops was twice ten thousand times ten thousand. I heard their number.
17 The horses and riders I saw in my vision looked like this: Their breastplates were fiery red, dark blue, and yellow as sulfur. The heads of the horses resembled the heads of lions, and out of their mouths came fire, smoke and sulfur. 18 A third of mankind was killed by the three plagues of fire, smoke and sulfur that came out of their mouths. 19 The power of the horses was in their mouths and in their tails; for their tails were like snakes, having heads with which they inflict injury.
20 The rest of mankind who were not killed by these plagues still did not repent of the work of their hands; they did not stop worshiping demons, and idols of gold, silver, bronze, stone and wood—idols that cannot see or hear or walk. 21 Nor did they repent of their murders, their magic arts, their sexual immorality or their thefts.
Galatians 4
Galatians 4 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[c] Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."[e]
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[f] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Galatians 4
1 What I am saying is that as long as an heir is underage, he is no different from a slave, although he owns the whole estate. 2 The heir is subject to guardians and trustees until the time set by his father. 3 So also, when we were underage, we were in slavery under the elemental spiritual forces[a] of the world. 4 But when the set time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, 5 to redeem those under the law, that we might receive adoption to sonship.[b] 6 Because you are his sons, God sent the Spirit of his Son into our hearts, the Spirit who calls out, "Abba,[c] Father." 7 So you are no longer a slave, but God's child; and since you are his child, God has made you also an heir.
Paul's Concern for the Galatians
8 Formerly, when you did not know God, you were slaves to those who by nature are not gods. 9 But now that you know God—or rather are known by God—how is it that you are turning back to those weak and miserable forces[d]? Do you wish to be enslaved by them all over again? 10 You are observing special days and months and seasons and years! 11 I fear for you, that somehow I have wasted my efforts on you.
12 I plead with you, brothers and sisters, become like me, for I became like you. You did me no wrong. 13 As you know, it was because of an illness that I first preached the gospel to you, 14 and even though my illness was a trial to you, you did not treat me with contempt or scorn. Instead, you welcomed me as if I were an angel of God, as if I were Christ Jesus himself. 15 Where, then, is your blessing of me now? I can testify that, if you could have done so, you would have torn out your eyes and given them to me. 16 Have I now become your enemy by telling you the truth?
17 Those people are zealous to win you over, but for no good. What they want is to alienate you from us, so that you may have zeal for them. 18 It is fine to be zealous, provided the purpose is good, and to be so always, not just when I am with you. 19 My dear children, for whom I am again in the pains of childbirth until Christ is formed in you, 20 how I wish I could be with you now and change my tone, because I am perplexed about you!
Hagar and Sarah
21 Tell me, you who want to be under the law, are you not aware of what the law says? 22 For it is written that Abraham had two sons, one by the slave woman and the other by the free woman. 23 His son by the slave woman was born according to the flesh, but his son by the free woman was born as the result of a divine promise.
24 These things are being taken figuratively: The women represent two covenants. One covenant is from Mount Sinai and bears children who are to be slaves: This is Hagar. 25 Now Hagar stands for Mount Sinai in Arabia and corresponds to the present city of Jerusalem, because she is in slavery with her children. 26 But the Jerusalem that is above is free, and she is our mother. 27 For it is written: "Be glad, barren woman, you who never bore a child;
shout for joy and cry aloud, you who were never in labor;
because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband."[e]
28 Now you, brothers and sisters, like Isaac, are children of promise. 29 At that time the son born according to the flesh persecuted the son born by the power of the Spirit. It is the same now. 30 But what does Scripture say? "Get rid of the slave woman and her son, for the slave woman's son will never share in the inheritance with the free woman's son."[f] 31 Therefore, brothers and sisters, we are not children of the slave woman, but of the free woman.
Thursday, October 29, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 34
Mark 11; John 12
·
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and
Bethany at the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying
to them, "Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you
will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring
it here. 3 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you doing this?' tell
him, 'The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.' " 4 They
went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied
it, 5 some people standing there asked, "What are you
doing, untying that colt?" 6 They answered as Jesus had
told them to, and the people let them go. 7 When they brought
the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it, he sat on it. 8 Many
people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had
cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who
followed shouted, "Hosanna! " "Blessed is he who comes in the
name of the Lord!" 10 "Blessed is the coming kingdom
of our father David!" "Hosanna in the highest!" 11 Jesus
entered Jerusalem and went to the temple. He looked around at everything, but
since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. 12 The
next day as they were leaving Bethany, Jesus was hungry. 13 Seeing
in the distance a fig tree in leaf, he went to find out if it had any fruit.
When he reached it, he found nothing but leaves, because it was not the season
for figs. 14 Then he said to the tree, "May no one ever
eat fruit from you again." And his disciples heard him say it. 15On
reaching Jerusalem, Jesus entered the temple area and began driving out those
who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money
changers and the benches of those selling doves, 16 and would
not allow anyone to carry merchandise through the temple courts. 17 And
as he taught them, he said, "Is it not written: " 'My house will be
called a house of prayer for all nations' ? But you have made it 'a den of
robbers.' " 18 The chief priests and the teachers of the
law heard this and began looking for a way to kill him, for they feared him,
because the whole crowd was amazed at his teaching. 19 When
evening came, they went out of the city. 20 In the morning, as
they went along, they saw the fig tree withered from the roots. 21 Peter
remembered and said to Jesus, "Rabbi, look! The fig tree you cursed has
withered!" 22 "Have faith in God," Jesus
answered. 23 "I tell you the truth, if anyone says to
this mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and does not doubt in his
heart but believes that what he says will happen, it will be done for
him. 24 Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer,
believe that you have received it, and it will be yours. 25 And
when you stand praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive him, so
that your Father in heaven may forgive you your sins. " 27 They
arrived again in Jerusalem, and while Jesus was walking in the temple courts,
the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the elders came to him. 28 "By
what authority are you doing these things?" they asked. "And who gave
you authority to do this?" 29 Jesus replied, "I will
ask you one question. Answer me, and I will tell you by what authority I am
doing these things. 30 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or
from men? Tell me!" 31 They discussed it among themselves
and said, "If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you
believe him?' 32 But if we say, 'From men' . . ." (They
feared the people, for everyone held that John really was a prophet.) 33 So
they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Jesus said, "Neither will
I tell you by what authority I am doing these things."
1 Six days before the Passover, Jesus arrived at Bethany,
where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. 2 Here
a dinner was given in Jesus' honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among
those reclining at the table with him. 3 Then Mary took about
a pint of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus' feet and
wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of
the perfume. 4 But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who
was later to betray him, objected, 5 "Why wasn't this
perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year's wages.
" 6 He did not say this because he cared about the poor
but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself
to what was put into it. 7 "Leave her alone," Jesus
replied. "[It was intended] that she should save this perfume for the day
of my burial. 8 You will always have the poor among you, but
you will not always have me." 9 Meanwhile a large crowd
of Jews found out that Jesus was there and came, not only because of him but
also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. 10 So
the chief priests made plans to kill Lazarus as well, 11 for
on account of him many of the Jews were going over to Jesus and putting their
faith in him. 12 The next day the great crowd that had come
for the Feast heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem. 13 They
took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting, "Hosanna! "
"Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!" "Blessed is
the King of Israel!" 14 Jesus found a young donkey and
sat upon it, as it is written, 15 "Do not be afraid, O
Daughter of Zion; see, your king is coming, seated on a donkey's
colt." 16 At first his disciples did not understand all
this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had
been written about him and that they had done these things to him. 17 Now
the crowd that was with him when he called Lazarus from the tomb and raised him
from the dead continued to spread the word. 18 Many people,
because they had heard that he had given this miraculous sign, went out to meet
him. 19 So the Pharisees said to one another, "See, this
is getting us nowhere. Look how the whole world has gone after him!" 20 Now
there were some Greeks among those who went up to worship at the Feast. 21 They
came to Philip, who was from Bethsaida in Galilee, with a request.
"Sir," they said, "we would like to see Jesus." 22 Philip
went to tell Andrew; Andrew and Philip in turn told Jesus. 23 Jesus
replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. 24 I
tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it
remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds. 25 The
man who loves his life will lose it, while the man who hates his life in this
world will keep it for eternal life. 26 Whoever serves me must
follow me; and where I am, my servant also will be. My Father will honor the
one who serves me. 27 "Now my heart is troubled, and what
shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason
I came to this hour.28 Father, glorify your name!" Then a
voice came from heaven, "I have glorified it, and will glorify it
again." 29 The crowd that was there and heard it said it
had thundered; others said an angel had spoken to him. 30 Jesus
said, "This voice was for your benefit, not mine. 31 Now
is the time for judgment on this world; now the prince of this world will be
driven out. 32 But I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will
draw all men to myself." 33 He said this to show the kind
of death he was going to die. 34 The crowd spoke up, "We
have heard from the Law that the Christ will remain forever, so how can you
say, 'The Son of Man must be lifted up'? Who is this 'Son of Man'?" 35 Then
Jesus told them, "You are going to have the light just a little while
longer. Walk while you have the light, before darkness overtakes you. The man
who walks in the dark does not know where he is going. 36 Put
your trust in the light while you have it, so that you may become sons of
light." When he had finished speaking, Jesus left and hid himself from
them. 37 Even after Jesus had done all these miraculous signs
in their presence, they still would not believe in him. 38 This
was to fulfill the word of Isaiah the prophet: "Lord, who has believed our
message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?" 39 For
this reason they could not believe, because, as Isaiah says elsewhere: 40 "He
has blinded their eyes and deadened their hearts, so they can neither see with
their eyes, nor understand with their hearts, nor turn--and I would heal
them." 41 Isaiah said this because he saw Jesus' glory
and spoke about him.42 Yet at the same time many even among the
leaders believed in him. But because of the Pharisees they would not confess
their faith for fear they would be put out of the synagogue; 43 for
they loved praise from men more than praise from God. 44 Then
Jesus cried out, "When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me
only, but in the one who sent me. 45 When he looks at me, he
sees the one who sent me. 46 I have come into the world as a
light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness. 47 "As
for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him.
For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. 48 There
is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very
word which I spoke will condemn him at the last day. 49 For I
did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to
say and how to say it. 50 I know that his command leads to
eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to
say."
Revelation 8
Revelation 8 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Revelation 8
The Seventh Seal and the Golden Censer
1 When he opened the seventh seal, there was silence in heaven for about half an hour.
2 And I saw the seven angels who stand before God, and seven trumpets were given to them.
3 Another angel, who had a golden censer, came and stood at the altar. He was given much incense to offer, with the prayers of all God's people, on the golden altar in front of the throne. 4 The smoke of the incense, together with the prayers of God's people, went up before God from the angel's hand. 5 Then the angel took the censer, filled it with fire from the altar, and hurled it on the earth; and there came peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning and an earthquake.
The Trumpets
6 Then the seven angels who had the seven trumpets prepared to sound them.
7 The first angel sounded his trumpet, and there came hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the earth. A third of the earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.
8 The second angel sounded his trumpet, and something like a huge mountain, all ablaze, was thrown into the sea. A third of the sea turned into blood, 9 a third of the living creatures in the sea died, and a third of the ships were destroyed.
10 The third angel sounded his trumpet, and a great star, blazing like a torch, fell from the sky on a third of the rivers and on the springs of water— 11 the name of the star is Wormwood.[a] A third of the waters turned bitter, and many people died from the waters that had become bitter.
12 The fourth angel sounded his trumpet, and a third of the sun was struck, a third of the moon, and a third of the stars, so that a third of them turned dark. A third of the day was without light, and also a third of the night.
13 As I watched, I heard an eagle that was flying in midair call out in a loud voice: "Woe! Woe! Woe to the inhabitants of the earth, because of the trumpet blasts about to be sounded by the other three angels!"
Galatians 3
Galatians 3 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 3
Faith or Works of the Law
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[c]
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."[d] 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[e] 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because "the righteous will live by faith."[f] 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, "The person who does these things will live by them."[g] 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole."[h] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Law and the Promise
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"[i] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Galatians 3
Faith or Works of the Law
1 You foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you? Before your very eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed as crucified. 2 I would like to learn just one thing from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by believing what you heard? 3 Are you so foolish? After beginning by means of the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by means of the flesh?[a] 4 Have you experienced[b] so much in vain—if it really was in vain? 5 So again I ask, does God give you his Spirit and work miracles among you by the works of the law, or by your believing what you heard? 6 So also Abraham "believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness."[c]
7 Understand, then, that those who have faith are children of Abraham. 8 Scripture foresaw that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, and announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: "All nations will be blessed through you."[d] 9 So those who rely on faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith.
10 For all who rely on the works of the law are under a curse, as it is written: "Cursed is everyone who does not continue to do everything written in the Book of the Law."[e] 11 Clearly no one who relies on the law is justified before God, because "the righteous will live by faith."[f] 12 The law is not based on faith; on the contrary, it says, "The person who does these things will live by them."[g] 13 Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written: "Cursed is everyone who is hung on a pole."[h] 14 He redeemed us in order that the blessing given to Abraham might come to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that by faith we might receive the promise of the Spirit.
The Law and the Promise
15 Brothers and sisters, let me take an example from everyday life. Just as no one can set aside or add to a human covenant that has been duly established, so it is in this case. 16 The promises were spoken to Abraham and to his seed. Scripture does not say "and to seeds," meaning many people, but "and to your seed,"[i] meaning one person, who is Christ. 17 What I mean is this: The law, introduced 430 years later, does not set aside the covenant previously established by God and thus do away with the promise. 18 For if the inheritance depends on the law, then it no longer depends on the promise; but God in his grace gave it to Abraham through a promise.
19 Why, then, was the law given at all? It was added because of transgressions until the Seed to whom the promise referred had come. The law was given through angels and entrusted to a mediator. 20 A mediator, however, implies more than one party; but God is one.
21 Is the law, therefore, opposed to the promises of God? Absolutely not! For if a law had been given that could impart life, then righteousness would certainly have come by the law. 22 But Scripture has locked up everything under the control of sin, so that what was promised, being given through faith in Jesus Christ, might be given to those who believe.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 33
Luke 18:15-43; Luke 19
15 People were also bringing babies to Jesus to have him
touch them. When the disciples saw this, they rebuked them. 16 But
Jesus called the children to him and said, "Let the little children come
to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as
these. 17 I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive
the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." 18 A
certain ruler asked him, "Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal
life?" 19 "Why do you call me good?" Jesus
answered. "No one is good--except God alone. 20 You know
the commandments: 'Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not
give false testimony, honor your father and mother.' " 21"All
these I have kept since I was a boy," he said. 22 When
Jesus heard this, he said to him, "You still lack one thing. Sell
everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven.
Then come, follow me." 23 When he heard this, he became
very sad, because he was a man of great wealth.24 Jesus looked at
him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of
God! 25 Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye
of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."26 Those
who heard this asked, "Who then can be saved?" 27 Jesus
replied, "What is impossible with men is possible with God." 28 Peter
said to him, "We have left all we had to follow you!" 29 "I
tell you the truth," Jesus said to them, "no one who has left home or
wife or brothers or parents or children for the sake of the kingdom of
God 30 will fail to receive many times as much in this age
and, in the age to come, eternal life." 31 Jesus took the
Twelve aside and told them, "We are going up to Jerusalem, and everything
that is written by the prophets about the Son of Man will be fulfilled. 32 He
will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will mock him, insult him, spit on
him, flog him and kill him. 33 On the third day he will rise
again." 34 The disciples did not understand any of this.
Its meaning was hidden from them, and they did not know what he was talking
about. 35 As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting
by the roadside begging. 36 When he heard the crowd going by,
he asked what was happening. 37 They told him, "Jesus of
Nazareth is passing by." 38 He called out, "Jesus,
Son of David, have mercy on me!" 39 Those who led the way
rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted all the more, "Son of
David, have mercy on me!" 40 Jesus stopped and ordered
the man to be brought to him. When he came near, Jesus asked him, 41 "What
do you want me to do for you?" "Lord, I want to see," he
replied. 42 Jesus said to him, "Receive your sight; your
faith has healed you." 43Immediately he received his sight and
followed Jesus, praising God. When all the people saw it, they also praised
God.
1 Jesus entered Jericho and was passing through. 2 A
man was there by the name of Zacchaeus; he was a chief tax collector and was
wealthy. 3 He wanted to see who Jesus was, but being a short
man he could not, because of the crowd. 4 So he ran ahead and
climbed a sycamore-fig tree to see him, since Jesus was coming that way. 5 When
Jesus reached the spot, he looked up and said to him, "Zacchaeus, come
down immediately. I must stay at your house today." 6 So
he came down at once and welcomed him gladly. 7 All the people
saw this and began to mutter, "He has gone to be the guest of a 'sinner.'
" 8 But Zacchaeus stood up and said to the Lord,
"Look, Lord! Here and now I give half of my possessions to the poor, and
if I have cheated anybody out of anything, I will pay back four times the
amount." 9 Jesus said to him, "Today salvation has
come to this house, because this man, too, is a son of Abraham. 10 For
the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost." 11 While
they were listening to this, he went on to tell them a parable, because he was
near Jerusalem and the people thought that the kingdom of God was going to
appear at once. 12 He said: "A man of noble birth went to
a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. 13 So
he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. 'Put this money to
work,' he said, 'until I come back.' 14 "But his subjects
hated him and sent a delegation after him to say, 'We don't want this man to be
our king.' 15"He was made king, however, and returned home.
Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find
out what they had gained with it. 16 "The first one came
and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned ten more.' 17 " 'Well
done, my good servant!' his master replied. 'Because you have been trustworthy
in a very small matter, take charge of ten cities.' 18 "The
second came and said, 'Sir, your mina has earned five more.' 19 "His
master answered, 'You take charge of five cities.' 20 "Then
another servant came and said, 'Sir, here is your mina; I have kept it laid
away in a piece of cloth. 21 I was afraid of you, because you
are a hard man. You take out what you did not put in and reap what you did not
sow.' 22 "His master replied, 'I will judge you by your
own words, you wicked servant! You knew, did you, that I am a hard man, taking
out what I did not put in, and reaping what I did not sow?23 Why
then didn't you put my money on deposit, so that when I came back, I could have
collected it with interest?' 24 "Then he said to those
standing by, 'Take his mina away from him and give it to the one who has ten
minas.' 25 " 'Sir,' they said, 'he already has
ten!' 26 "He replied, 'I tell you that to everyone who
has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what he has
will be taken away. 27 But those enemies of mine who did not
want me to be king over them--bring them here and kill them in front of me.'
" 28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going
up to Jerusalem.29 As he approached Bethphage and Bethany at the
hill called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of his disciples, saying to
them, 30 "Go to the village ahead of you, and as you
enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie
it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, 'Why are you
untying it?' tell him, 'The Lord needs it.' " 32 Those
who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As
they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, "Why are you untying
the colt?" 34 They replied, "The Lord needs
it." 35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on
the colt and put Jesus on it. 36 As he went along, people
spread their cloaks on the road. 37 When he came near the
place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of
disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they
had seen: 38 "Blessed is the king who comes in the name
of the Lord!" "Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!" 39 Some
of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, "Teacher, rebuke your
disciples!" 40 "I tell you," he replied,
"if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out." 41 As
he approached Jerusalem and saw the city, he wept over it 42and
said, "If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you
peace--but now it is hidden from your eyes. 43 The days will
come upon you when your enemies will build an embankment against you and
encircle you and hem you in on every side. 44 They will dash
you to the ground, you and the children within your walls. They will not leave
one stone on another, because you did not recognize the time of God's coming to
you." 45 Then he entered the temple area and began
driving out those who were selling. 46 "It is
written," he said to them, " 'My house will be a house of prayer';
but you have made it 'a den of robbers.' " 47 Every day
he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law
and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. 48 Yet
they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.
Revelation 7
Revelation 7 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Revelation 7
144,000 Sealed
1 After this I saw four angels standing at the four corners of the earth, holding back the four winds of the earth to prevent any wind from blowing on the land or on the sea or on any tree. 2 Then I saw another angel coming up from the east, having the seal of the living God. He called out in a loud voice to the four angels who had been given power to harm the land and the sea: 3 "Do not harm the land or the sea or the trees until we put a seal on the foreheads of the servants of our God." 4 Then I heard the number of those who were sealed: 144,000 from all the tribes of Israel.
5 From the tribe of Judah 12,000 were sealed, from the tribe of Reuben 12,000, from the tribe of Gad 12,000,
6 from the tribe of Asher 12,000, from the tribe of Naphtali 12,000, from the tribe of Manasseh 12,000,
7 from the tribe of Simeon 12,000, from the tribe of Levi 12,000, from the tribe of Issachar 12,000,
8 from the tribe of Zebulun 12,000, from the tribe of Joseph 12,000, from the tribe of Benjamin 12,000.
The Great Multitude in White Robes
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice:
"Salvation belongs to our God,
who sits on the throne,
and to the Lamb."
11 All the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures. They fell down on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: "Amen!
Praise and glory
and wisdom and thanks and honor
and power and strength
be to our God for ever and ever.
Amen!"
13 Then one of the elders asked me, "These in white robes—who are they, and where did they come from?"
14 I answered, "Sir, you know." And he said, "These are they who have come out of the great tribulation; they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. 15 Therefore, "they are before the throne of God and serve him day and night in his temple;
and he who sits on the throne will shelter them with his presence.
16 'Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst.
The sun will not beat down on them,'[a] nor any scorching heat.
17 For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd;
'he will lead them to springs of living water.'[b] 'And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.'[c]"
Galatians 2
Galatians 2 (New International Version, ©2010)
Galatians 2
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
1 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
6 As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a] just as Peter had been to the circumcised.[b] 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Cephas[c] and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Paul Opposes Cephas
11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
15 "We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
17 "But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
19 "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Galatians 2
Paul Accepted by the Apostles
1 Then after fourteen years, I went up again to Jerusalem, this time with Barnabas. I took Titus along also. 2 I went in response to a revelation and, meeting privately with those esteemed as leaders, I presented to them the gospel that I preach among the Gentiles. I wanted to be sure I was not running and had not been running my race in vain. 3 Yet not even Titus, who was with me, was compelled to be circumcised, even though he was a Greek. 4 This matter arose because some false believers had infiltrated our ranks to spy on the freedom we have in Christ Jesus and to make us slaves. 5 We did not give in to them for a moment, so that the truth of the gospel might be preserved for you.
6 As for those who were held in high esteem—whatever they were makes no difference to me; God does not show favoritism—they added nothing to my message. 7 On the contrary, they recognized that I had been entrusted with the task of preaching the gospel to the uncircumcised,[a] just as Peter had been to the circumcised.[b] 8 For God, who was at work in Peter as an apostle to the circumcised, was also at work in me as an apostle to the Gentiles. 9 James, Cephas[c] and John, those esteemed as pillars, gave me and Barnabas the right hand of fellowship when they recognized the grace given to me. They agreed that we should go to the Gentiles, and they to the circumcised. 10 All they asked was that we should continue to remember the poor, the very thing I had been eager to do all along.
Paul Opposes Cephas
11 When Cephas came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face, because he stood condemned. 12 For before certain men came from James, he used to eat with the Gentiles. But when they arrived, he began to draw back and separate himself from the Gentiles because he was afraid of those who belonged to the circumcision group. 13 The other Jews joined him in his hypocrisy, so that by their hypocrisy even Barnabas was led astray.
14 When I saw that they were not acting in line with the truth of the gospel, I said to Cephas in front of them all, "You are a Jew, yet you live like a Gentile and not like a Jew. How is it, then, that you force Gentiles to follow Jewish customs?
15 "We who are Jews by birth and not sinful Gentiles 16 know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in[d] Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified.
17 "But if, in seeking to be justified in Christ, we Jews find ourselves also among the sinners, doesn't that mean that Christ promotes sin? Absolutely not! 18 If I rebuild what I destroyed, then I really would be a lawbreaker.
19 "For through the law I died to the law so that I might live for God. 20 I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. 21 I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!"
Tuesday, October 27, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 32
Matthew 20; Matthew 21
1 "For the kingdom of heaven is like a landowner who
went out early in the morning to hire men to work in his vineyard. 2 He
agreed to pay them a denarius for the day and sent them into his vineyard.3 "About
the third hour he went out and saw others standing in the marketplace doing
nothing. 4 He told them, 'You also go and work in my vineyard,
and I will pay you whatever is right.' 5 So they went.
"He went out again about the sixth hour and the ninth hour and did the
same thing. 6 About the eleventh hour he went out and found
still others standing around. He asked them, 'Why have you been standing here
all day long doing nothing?' 7 " 'Because no one has
hired us,' they answered. "He said to them, 'You also go and work in my
vineyard.' 8 "When evening came, the owner of the
vineyard said to his foreman, 'Call the workers and pay them their wages,
beginning with the last ones hired and going on to the first.' 9 "The
workers who were hired about the eleventh hour came and each received a
denarius. 10 So when those came who were hired first, they
expected to receive more. But each one of them also received a denarius. 11 When
they received it, they began to grumble against the landowner. 12 'These
men who were hired last worked only one hour,' they said, 'and you have made
them equal to us who have borne the burden of the work and the heat of the
day.' 13 "But he answered one of them, 'Friend, I am not
being unfair to you. Didn't you agree to work for a denarius? 14 Take
your pay and go. I want to give the man who was hired last the same as I gave
you. 15 Don't I have the right to do what I want with my own
money? Or are you envious because I am generous?' 16 "So
the last will be first, and the first will be last." 17 Now
as Jesus was going up to Jerusalem, he took the twelve disciples aside and said
to them, 18 "We are going up to Jerusalem, and the Son of
Man will be betrayed to the chief priests and the teachers of the law. They
will condemn him to death 19 and will turn him over to the
Gentiles to be mocked and flogged and crucified. On the third day he will be
raised to life!" 20 Then the mother of Zebedee's sons
came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him. 21 "What
is it you want?" he asked. She said, "Grant that one of these two
sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your
kingdom." 22 "You don't know what you are
asking," Jesus said to them. "Can you drink the cup I am going to
drink?" "We can," they answered. 23Jesus said to
them, "You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left
is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been
prepared by my Father." 24 When the ten heard about this,
they were indignant with the two brothers. 25 Jesus called
them together and said, "You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it
over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. 26 Not
so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your
servant, 27 and whoever wants to be first must be your
slave-- 28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served,
but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." 29 As
Jesus and his disciples were leaving Jericho, a large crowd followed him. 30 Two
blind men were sitting by the roadside, and when they heard that Jesus was
going by, they shouted, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 31 The
crowd rebuked them and told them to be quiet, but they shouted all the louder,
"Lord, Son of David, have mercy on us!" 32 Jesus
stopped and called them. "What do you want me to do for you?" he
asked. 33 "Lord," they answered, "we want our
sight." 34 Jesus had compassion on them and touched their
eyes. Immediately they received their sight and followed him.
1 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the
Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them,
"Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied
there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If
anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will
send them right away." 4 This took place to fulfill what
was spoken through the prophet: 5 "Say to the Daughter of
Zion, 'See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt,
the foal of a donkey.' " 6 The disciples went and did as
Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the
colt, placed their cloaks on them, and Jesus sat on them. 8 A
very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches
from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that
went ahead of him and those that followed shouted, "Hosanna to the Son of
David!" "Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!"
"Hosanna in the highest!" 10 When Jesus entered
Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, "Who is this?"11 The
crowds answered, "This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in
Galilee." 12 Jesus entered the temple area and drove out
all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money
changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 "It
is written," he said to them, " 'My house will be called a house of
prayer,' but you are making it a 'den of robbers.' " 14 The
blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But
when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he
did and the children shouting in the temple area, "Hosanna to the Son of
David," they were indignant. 16 "Do you hear what
these children are saying?" they asked him. "Yes," replied Jesus,
"have you never read, " 'From the lips of children and infants you
have ordained praise' ?" 17And he left them and went out of
the city to Bethany, where he spent the night. 18 Early in the
morning, as he was on his way back to the city, he was hungry. 19 Seeing
a fig tree by the road, he went up to it but found nothing on it except leaves.
Then he said to it, "May you never bear fruit again!" Immediately the
tree withered. 20 When the disciples saw this, they were
amazed. "How did the fig tree wither so quickly?" they asked. 21 Jesus
replied, "I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, not
only can you do what was done to the fig tree, but also you can say to this
mountain, 'Go, throw yourself into the sea,' and it will be done. 22 If
you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer." 23Jesus
entered the temple courts, and, while he was teaching, the chief priests and
the elders of the people came to him. "By what authority are you doing
these things?" they asked. "And who gave you this
authority?" 24 Jesus replied, "I will also ask you
one question. If you answer me, I will tell you by what authority I am doing
these things. 25 John's baptism--where did it come from? Was
it from heaven, or from men?" They discussed it among themselves and said,
"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Then why didn't you believe
him?' 26 But if we say, 'From men'--we are afraid of the
people, for they all hold that John was a prophet." 27 So
they answered Jesus, "We don't know." Then he said, "Neither
will I tell you by what authority I am doing these things. 28 "What
do you think? There was a man who had two sons. He went to the first and said,
'Son, go and work today in the vineyard.' 29 " 'I will
not,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. 30 "Then
the father went to the other son and said the same thing. He answered, 'I will,
sir,' but he did not go. 31 "Which of the two did what
his father wanted?" "The first," they answered. Jesus said to
them, "I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are
entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. 32 For John came to
you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the
tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this, you did not
repent and believe him. 33 "Listen to another parable:
There was a landowner who planted a vineyard. He put a wall around it, dug a
winepress in it and built a watchtower. Then he rented the vineyard to some
farmers and went away on a journey. 34 When the harvest time
approached, he sent his servants to the tenants to collect his fruit. 35 "The
tenants seized his servants; they beat one, killed another, and stoned a
third. 36 Then he sent other servants to them, more than the
first time, and the tenants treated them the same way. 37 Last
of all, he sent his son to them. 'They will respect my son,' he said. 38 "But
when the tenants saw the son, they said to each other, 'This is the heir. Come,
let's kill him and take his inheritance.' 39 So they took him
and threw him out of the vineyard and killed him. 40 "Therefore,
when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those
tenants?" 41 "He will bring those wretches to a
wretched end," they replied, "and he will rent the vineyard to other
tenants, who will give him his share of the crop at harvest time."42 Jesus
said to them, "Have you never read in the Scriptures: " 'The stone
the builders rejected has become the capstone; the Lord has done this, and it
is marvelous in our eyes' ? 43 "Therefore I tell you that
the kingdom of God will be taken away from you and given to a people who will
produce its fruit.44 He who falls on this stone will be broken to
pieces, but he on whom it falls will be crushed." 45When the
chief priests and the Pharisees heard Jesus' parables, they knew he was talking
about them.46 They looked for a way to arrest him, but they were
afraid of the crowd because the people held that he was a prophet.
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