Tuesday, May 26, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 14
Matthew 13:1-58; Luke 8:1-56 (New
International Version)
1 That same day Jesus went out of the house and
sat by the lake. 2 Such large crowds gathered around him that
he got into a boat and sat in it, while all the people stood on the
shore. 3 Then he told them many things in parables,
saying: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. 4 As he
was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate
it up. 5 Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much
soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. 6 But
when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they
had no root. 7Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and
choked the plants. 8 Still other seed fell on good soil, where
it produced a crop--a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown. 9 He
who has ears, let him hear." 10 The disciples came to him
and asked, "Why do you speak to the people in parables?"11 He
replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has
been given to you, but not to them. 12 Whoever has will be
given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he
has will be taken from him. 13 This is why I speak to them in
parables: "Though seeing, they do not see; though hearing, they do not
hear or understand. 14 In them is fulfilled the prophecy of
Isaiah: " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be
ever seeing but never perceiving. 15 For this people's heart
has become calloused; they hardly hear with their ears, and they have closed
their eyes. Otherwise they might see with their eyes, hear with their ears,
understand with their hearts and turn, and I would heal them.' 16 But
blessed are your eyes because they see, and your ears because they hear. 17 For
I tell you the truth, many prophets and righteous men longed to see what you
see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it. 18"Listen
then to what the parable of the sower means: 19 When anyone
hears the message about the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one
comes and snatches away what was sown in his heart. This is the seed sown along
the path. 20 The one who received the seed that fell on rocky
places is the man who hears the word and at once receives it with joy. 21 But
since he has no root, he lasts only a short time. When trouble or persecution
comes because of the word, he quickly falls away. 22 The one
who received the seed that fell among the thorns is the man who hears the word,
but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke it, making
it unfruitful. 23 But the one who received the seed that fell
on good soil is the man who hears the word and understands it. He produces a
crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown."
24 Jesus told them another
parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in
his field. 25 But while everyone was sleeping, his enemy came
and sowed weeds among the wheat, and went away. 26 When the
wheat sprouted and formed heads, then the weeds also appeared. 27"The
owner's servants came to him and said, 'Sir, didn't you sow good seed in your
field? Where then did the weeds come from?' 28 " 'An
enemy did this,' he replied. "The servants asked him, 'Do you want us to
go and pull them up?' 29 " 'No,' he answered, 'because
while you are pulling the weeds, you may root up the wheat with them. 30 Let
both grow together until the harvest. At that time I will tell the harvesters:
First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles to be burned; then gather the
wheat and bring it into my barn.' "
31 He told them another parable: "The
kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his
field. 32 Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet
when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that
the birds of the air come and perch in its branches." 33 He
told them still another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast
that a woman took and mixed into a large amount of flour until it worked all
through the dough." 34 Jesus spoke all these things to
the crowd in parables; he did not say anything to them without using a parable. 35 So
was fulfilled what was spoken through the prophet: "I will open my mouth
in parables, I will utter things hidden since the creation of the world."
36 Then he left the crowd and went into the
house. His disciples came to him and said, "Explain to us the parable of
the weeds in the field." 37 He answered, "The
one who sowed the good seed is the Son of Man. 38 The field is
the world, and the good seed stands for the sons of the kingdom. The weeds are
the sons of the evil one, 39 and the enemy who sows them is
the devil. The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are
angels. 40 "As the weeds are pulled up and burned in the fire,
so it will be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will
send out his angels, and they will weed out of his kingdom everything that
causes sin and all who do evil. 42 They will throw them into
the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 43 Then
the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. He who
has ears, let him hear.
44 "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure
hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy
went and sold all he had and bought that field. 45 "Again,
the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 When
he found one of great value, he went away and sold everything he had and bought
it.
47 "Once again, the kingdom of heaven is
like a net that was let down into the lake and caught all kinds of fish. 48 When
it was full, the fishermen pulled it up on the shore. Then they sat down and
collected the good fish in baskets, but threw the bad away. 49 This
is how it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come and separate the
wicked from the righteous 50 and throw them into the fiery
furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. 51 "Have
you understood all these things?" Jesus asked. "Yes," they
replied. 52 He said to them, "Therefore every
teacher of the law who has been instructed about the kingdom of heaven is like
the owner of a house who brings out of his storeroom new treasures as well as
old."
53 When Jesus had finished these parables, he
moved on from there. 54 Coming to his hometown, he began
teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. "Where did
this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?" they asked. 55 "Isn't
this the carpenter's son? Isn't his mother's name Mary, and aren't his brothers
James, Joseph, Simon and Judas? 56 Aren't all his sisters with
us? Where then did this man get all these things?" 57 And
they took offense at him. But Jesus said to them, "Only in his
hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor." 58 And
he did not do many miracles there because of their lack of faith.
1 After this, Jesus traveled about from one town
and village to another, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom of God. The
Twelve were with him, 2 and also some women who had been cured
of evil spirits and diseases: Mary (called Magdalene) from whom seven demons
had come out; 3 Joanna the wife of Cuza, the manager of
Herod's household; Susanna; and many others. These women were helping to
support them out of their own means. 4 While a large crowd was
gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this
parable: 5 "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was
scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the
birds of the air ate it up. 6 Some fell on rock, and when it
came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. 7 Other
seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. 8 Still
other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times
more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He
who has ears to hear, let him hear." 9 His disciples
asked him what this parable meant. 10 He said, "The
knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to
others I speak in parables, so that, " 'though seeing, they may not see;
though hearing, they may not understand.' 11 "This is the
meaning of the parable: The seed is the word of God. 12 Those
along the path are the ones who hear, and then the devil comes and takes away
the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. 13 Those
on the rock are the ones who receive the word with joy when they hear it, but
they have no root. They believe for a while, but in the time of testing they
fall away. 14 The seed that fell among thorns stands for those
who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by life's worries, riches
and pleasures, and they do not mature. 15 But the seed on good
soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain
it, and by persevering produce a crop.
16 "No one lights a lamp and hides it in a
jar or puts it under a bed. Instead, he puts it on a stand, so that those who
come in can see the light. 17 For there is nothing hidden that
will not be disclosed, and nothing concealed that will not be known or brought
out into the open. 18 Therefore consider carefully how you
listen. Whoever has will be given more; whoever does not have, even what he
thinks he has will be taken from him."
19 Now Jesus' mother and brothers came to see
him, but they were not able to get near him because of the crowd. 20 Someone
told him, "Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to see
you." 21 He replied, "My mother and brothers
are those who hear God's word and put it into practice."
22 One day Jesus said to his
disciples, "Let's go over to the other side of the
lake." So they got into a boat and set out. 23 As
they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat
was being swamped, and they were in great danger. 24 The
disciples went and woke him, saying, "Master, Master, we're going to
drown!" He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm
subsided, and all was calm. 25 "Where is your
faith?" he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one
another, "Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they
obey him."
26 They sailed to the region of the Gerasenes,
which is across the lake from Galilee. 27 When Jesus stepped
ashore, he was met by a demon-possessed man from the town. For a long time this
man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs. 28 When
he saw Jesus, he cried out and fell at his feet, shouting at the top of his
voice, "What do you want with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I beg
you, don't torture me!" 29 For Jesus had commanded the
evil spirit to come out of the man. Many times it had seized him, and though he
was chained hand and foot and kept under guard, he had broken his chains and
had been driven by the demon into solitary places.30 Jesus asked
him, "What is your name?" "Legion," he replied,
because many demons had gone into him. 31 And they begged him
repeatedly not to order them to go into the Abyss. 32 A large
herd of pigs was feeding there on the hillside. The demons begged Jesus to let
them go into them, and he gave them permission. 33 When the
demons came out of the man, they went into the pigs, and the herd rushed down
the steep bank into the lake and was drowned. 34 When those tending
the pigs saw what had happened, they ran off and reported this in the town and
countryside, 35 and the people went out to see what had
happened. When they came to Jesus, they found the man from whom the demons had
gone out, sitting at Jesus' feet, dressed and in his right mind; and they were
afraid. 36 Those who had seen it told the people how the
demon-possessed man had been cured.37 Then all the people of the
region of the Gerasenes asked Jesus to leave them, because they were overcome
with fear. So he got into the boat and left. 38 The man from
whom the demons had gone out begged to go with him, but Jesus sent him away,
saying, 39 "Return home and tell how much God has done
for you." So the man went away and told all over town how much Jesus
had done for him.
40 Now when Jesus returned, a crowd welcomed
him, for they were all expecting him. 41 Then a man named
Jairus, a ruler of the synagogue, came and fell at Jesus' feet, pleading with
him to come to his house 42 because his only daughter, a girl
of about twelve, was dying. As Jesus was on his way, the crowds almost crushed
him. 43 And a woman was there who had been subject to bleeding
for twelve years, but no one could heal her. 44 She came up
behind him and touched the edge of his cloak, and immediately her bleeding
stopped. 45 "Who touched me?" Jesus asked. When
they all denied it, Peter said, "Master, the people are crowding and
pressing against you." 46 But Jesus said,"Someone
touched me; I know that power has gone out from me." 47 Then
the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at
his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him
and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to
her,"Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace." 49 While
Jesus was still speaking, someone came from the house of Jairus, the synagogue
ruler. "Your daughter is dead," he said. "Don't bother the
teacher any more." 50 Hearing this, Jesus said to
Jairus, "Don't be afraid; just believe, and she will be
healed." 51 When he arrived at the house of Jairus, he
did not let anyone go in with him except Peter, John and James, and the child's
father and mother. 52 Meanwhile, all the people were wailing
and mourning for her. "Stop wailing," Jesus
said. "She is not dead but asleep." 53 They
laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. 54 But he took her
by the hand and said, "My child, get up!" 55 Her
spirit returned, and at once she stood up. Then Jesus told them to give her something
to eat. 56 Her parents were astonished, but he ordered them
not to tell anyone what had happened.
Acts 1
Acts 1 (New International Version)
Acts 1
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit."
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk[c] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers and sisters,[d] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry."
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 "For," said Peter, "it is written in the Book of Psalms: "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,'[e] and, "'May another take his place of leadership.'[f]
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Acts 1
Jesus Taken Up Into Heaven
1 In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach 2 until the day he was taken up to heaven, after giving instructions through the Holy Spirit to the apostles he had chosen. 3 After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. He appeared to them over a period of forty days and spoke about the kingdom of God. 4 On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: "Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. 5 For John baptized with[a] water, but in a few days you will be baptized with[b] the Holy Spirit."
6 Then they gathered around him and asked him, "Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?"
7 He said to them: "It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by his own authority. 8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
9 After he said this, he was taken up before their very eyes, and a cloud hid him from their sight.
10 They were looking intently up into the sky as he was going, when suddenly two men dressed in white stood beside them. 11 "Men of Galilee," they said, "why do you stand here looking into the sky? This same Jesus, who has been taken from you into heaven, will come back in the same way you have seen him go into heaven."
Matthias Chosen to Replace Judas
12 Then the apostles returned to Jerusalem from the hill called the Mount of Olives, a Sabbath day's walk[c] from the city. 13 When they arrived, they went upstairs to the room where they were staying. Those present were Peter, John, James and Andrew; Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew; James son of Alphaeus and Simon the Zealot, and Judas son of James. 14 They all joined together constantly in prayer, along with the women and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brothers.
15 In those days Peter stood up among the believers (a group numbering about a hundred and twenty) 16 and said, "Brothers and sisters,[d] the Scripture had to be fulfilled in which the Holy Spirit spoke long ago through David concerning Judas, who served as guide for those who arrested Jesus. 17 He was one of our number and shared in our ministry."
18 (With the payment he received for his wickedness, Judas bought a field; there he fell headlong, his body burst open and all his intestines spilled out. 19 Everyone in Jerusalem heard about this, so they called that field in their language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.)
20 "For," said Peter, "it is written in the Book of Psalms: "'May his place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in it,'[e] and, "'May another take his place of leadership.'[f]
21 Therefore it is necessary to choose one of the men who have been with us the whole time the Lord Jesus was living among us, 22 beginning from John's baptism to the time when Jesus was taken up from us. For one of these must become a witness with us of his resurrection."
23 So they nominated two men: Joseph called Barsabbas (also known as Justus) and Matthias. 24 Then they prayed, "Lord, you know everyone's heart. Show us which of these two you have chosen 25 to take over this apostolic ministry, which Judas left to go where he belongs." 26 Then they cast lots, and the lot fell to Matthias; so he was added to the eleven apostles.
Revelation 11
Revelation 11 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name, both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
Revelation 11
The Two Witnesses
1 I was given a reed like a measuring rod and was told, "Go and measure the temple of God and the altar, with its worshipers. 2 But exclude the outer court; do not measure it, because it has been given to the Gentiles. They will trample on the holy city for 42 months. 3 And I will appoint my two witnesses, and they will prophesy for 1,260 days, clothed in sackcloth." 4 They are "the two olive trees" and the two lampstands, and "they stand before the Lord of the earth."[a] 5 If anyone tries to harm them, fire comes from their mouths and devours their enemies. This is how anyone who wants to harm them must die. 6 They have power to shut up the heavens so that it will not rain during the time they are prophesying; and they have power to turn the waters into blood and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they want.
7 Now when they have finished their testimony, the beast that comes up from the Abyss will attack them, and overpower and kill them. 8 Their bodies will lie in the public square of the great city—which is figuratively called Sodom and Egypt—where also their Lord was crucified. 9 For three and a half days some from every people, tribe, language and nation will gaze on their bodies and refuse them burial. 10 The inhabitants of the earth will gloat over them and will celebrate by sending each other gifts, because these two prophets had tormented those who live on the earth.
11 But after the three and a half days the breath[b] of life from God entered them, and they stood on their feet, and terror struck those who saw them. 12 Then they heard a loud voice from heaven saying to them, "Come up here." And they went up to heaven in a cloud, while their enemies looked on.
13 At that very hour there was a severe earthquake and a tenth of the city collapsed. Seven thousand people were killed in the earthquake, and the survivors were terrified and gave glory to the God of heaven.
14 The second woe has passed; the third woe is coming soon.
The Seventh Trumpet
15 The seventh angel sounded his trumpet, and there were loud voices in heaven, which said:
"The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Messiah, and he will reign for ever and ever."
16 And the twenty-four elders, who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying: "We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was,
because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.
18 The nations were angry, and your wrath has come.
The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants the prophets
and your people who revere your name, both great and small—
and for destroying those who destroy the earth."
19 Then God's temple in heaven was opened, and within his temple was seen the ark of his covenant. And there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder, an earthquake and a severe hailstorm.
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