Thursday, June 25, 2015
Chronological New Testament Study Day 36
Matthew 23; Luke 20;
Luke 21
1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 "The
teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses' seat. 3 So
you must obey them and do everything they tell you. But do not do what they do,
for they do not practice what they preach. 4 They tie up heavy
loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to
lift a finger to move them. 5 "Everything they do is done
for men to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their
garments long; 6 they love the place of honor at banquets and
the most important seats in the synagogues; 7 they love to be
greeted in the marketplaces and to have men call them 'Rabbi.' 8 "But
you are not to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Master and you are all
brothers. 9 And do not call anyone on earth 'father,' for you
have one Father, and he is in heaven. 10 Nor are you to be
called 'teacher,' for you have one Teacher, the Christ.11 The
greatest among you will be your servant. 12 For whoever exalts
himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. 13 "Woe
to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom
of heaven in men's faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let those
enter who are trying to. 15 "Woe to you, teachers of the
law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You travel over land and sea to win a single
convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as
you are. 16 "Woe to you, blind guides! You say, 'If
anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold
of the temple, he is bound by his oath.' 17 You blind fools!
Which is greater: the gold, or the temple that makes the gold sacred? 18 You
also say, 'If anyone swears by the altar, it means nothing; but if anyone
swears by the gift on it, he is bound by his oath.' 19You blind
men! Which is greater: the gift, or the altar that makes the gift sacred? 20 Therefore,
he who swears by the altar swears by it and by everything on it. 21 And
he who swears by the temple swears by it and by the one who dwells in it. 22 And
he who swears by heaven swears by God's throne and by the one who sits on
it. 23 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees,
you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices--mint, dill and cummin. But you
have neglected the more important matters of the law--justice, mercy and
faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the
former. 24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow
a camel. 25 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but
inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. 26 Blind
Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also
will be clean. 27 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful
on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men's bones and everything
unclean. 28 In the same way, on the outside you appear to
people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and
wickedness. 29 "Woe to you, teachers of the law and
Pharisees, you hypocrites! You build tombs for the prophets and decorate the
graves of the righteous.30 And you say, 'If we had lived in the
days of our forefathers, we would not have taken part with them in shedding the
blood of the prophets.' 31 So you testify against yourselves
that you are the descendants of those who murdered the prophets. 32 Fill
up, then, the measure of the sin of your forefathers! 33 "You
snakes! You brood of vipers! How will you escape being condemned to hell? 34Therefore
I am sending you prophets and wise men and teachers. Some of them you will kill
and crucify; others you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to
town. 35 And so upon you will come all the righteous blood
that has been shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of
Zechariah son of Berekiah, whom you murdered between the temple and the
altar. 36 I tell you the truth, all this will come upon this
generation. 37 "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you, how often I have longed to gather your
children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were
not willing. 38 Look, your house is left to you
desolate. 39 For I tell you, you will not see me again until
you say, 'Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.' "
1 One day as he was teaching the people in the temple courts
and preaching the gospel, the chief priests and the teachers of the law,
together with the elders, came up to him. 2 "Tell us by
what authority you are doing these things," they said. "Who gave you
this authority?" 3 He replied, "I will also ask you
a question. Tell me, 4 John's baptism--was it from heaven, or
from men?" 5 They discussed it among themselves and said,
"If we say, 'From heaven,' he will ask, 'Why didn't you believe
him?' 6 But if we say, 'From men,' all the people will stone
us, because they are persuaded that John was a prophet."7 So
they answered, "We don't know where it was from." 8 Jesus
said, "Neither will I tell you by what authority I am doing these
things." 9 He went on to tell the people this parable:
"A man planted a vineyard, rented it to some farmers and went away for a
long time. 10 At harvest time he sent a servant to the tenants
so they would give him some of the fruit of the vineyard. But the tenants beat
him and sent him away empty-handed. 11 He sent another
servant, but that one also they beat and treated shamefully and sent away
empty-handed. 12 He sent still a third, and they wounded him
and threw him out. 13 "Then the owner of the vineyard
said, 'What shall I do? I will send my son, whom I love; perhaps they will
respect him.' 14 "But when the tenants saw him, they
talked the matter over. 'This is the heir,' they said. 'Let's kill him, and the
inheritance will be ours.' 15 So they threw him out of the
vineyard and killed him. "What then will the owner of the vineyard do to
them? 16 He will come and kill those tenants and give the
vineyard to others." When the people heard this, they said, "May this
never be!" 17 Jesus looked directly at them and asked,
"Then what is the meaning of that which is written: " 'The stone the
builders rejected has become the capstone ' ? 18 Everyone who
falls on that stone will be broken to pieces, but he on whom it falls will be
crushed." 19 The teachers of the law and the chief
priests looked for a way to arrest him immediately, because they knew he had
spoken this parable against them. But they were afraid of the people. 20 Keeping
a close watch on him, they sent spies, who pretended to be honest. They hoped
to catch Jesus in something he said so that they might hand him over to the
power and authority of the governor. 21 So the spies
questioned him: "Teacher, we know that you speak and teach what is right,
and that you do not show partiality but teach the way of God in accordance with
the truth. 22 Is it right for us to pay taxes to Caesar or
not?" 23 He saw through their duplicity and said to
them, 24 "Show me a denarius. Whose portrait and
inscription are on it?" 25 "Caesar's," they
replied. He said to them, "Then give to Caesar what is Caesar's, and to
God what is God's." 26 They were unable to trap him in
what he had said there in public. And astonished by his answer, they became
silent. 27 Some of the Sadducees, who say there is no
resurrection, came to Jesus with a question. 28 "Teacher,"
they said, "Moses wrote for us that if a man's brother dies and leaves a
wife but no children, the man must marry the widow and have children for his
brother. 29Now there were seven brothers. The first one married a
woman and died childless. 30 The second 31and then
the third married her, and in the same way the seven died, leaving no
children. 32 Finally, the woman died too. 33 Now
then, at the resurrection whose wife will she be, since the seven were married
to her?" 34 Jesus replied, "The people of this age
marry and are given in marriage. 35 But those who are
considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the
dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, 36 and they
can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God's children, since
they are children of the resurrection. 37 But in the account
of the bush, even Moses showed that the dead rise, for he calls the Lord 'the
God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.' 38 He
is not the God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are
alive." 39 Some of the teachers of the law responded,
"Well said, teacher!" 40 And no one dared to ask him
any more questions. 41 Then Jesus said to them, "How is
it that they say the Christ is the Son of David? 42David himself
declares in the Book of Psalms: " 'The Lord said to my Lord: "Sit at
my right hand 43 until I make your enemies a footstool for
your feet." ' 44 David calls him 'Lord.' How then can he
be his son?" 45 While all the people were listening,
Jesus said to his disciples, 46 "Beware of the teachers
of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted in
the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the
places of honor at banquets. 47 They devour widows' houses and
for a show make lengthy prayers. Such men will be punished most severely."
1 As he looked up, Jesus saw the rich putting their gifts
into the temple treasury. 2 He also saw a poor widow put in
two very small copper coins. 3 "I tell you the
truth," he said, "this poor widow has put in more than all the
others. 4 All these people gave their gifts out of their
wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on." 5 Some
of his disciples were remarking about how the temple was adorned with beautiful
stones and with gifts dedicated to God. But Jesus said, 6 "As
for what you see here, the time will come when not one stone will be left on
another; every one of them will be thrown down." 7 "Teacher,"
they asked, "when will these things happen? And what will be the sign that
they are about to take place?" 8 He replied: "Watch
out that you are not deceived. For many will come in my name, claiming, 'I am
he,' and, 'The time is near.' Do not follow them. 9 When you
hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened. These things must happen
first, but the end will not come right away." 10 Then he
said to them: "Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against
kingdom. 11There will be great earthquakes, famines and pestilences
in various places, and fearful events and great signs from heaven. 12 "But
before all this, they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will
deliver you to synagogues and prisons, and you will be brought before kings and
governors, and all on account of my name. 13 This will result
in your being witnesses to them. 14 But make up your mind not
to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. 15 For I
will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to
resist or contradict. 16 You will be betrayed even by parents,
brothers, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 All
men will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your
head will perish. 19 By standing firm you will gain
life. 20"When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies,
you will know that its desolation is near. 21Then let those who are
in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in
the country not enter the city. 22 For this is the time of
punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. 23 How
dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There
will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. 24 They
will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations.
Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles
are fulfilled. 25 "There will be signs in the sun, moon
and stars. On the earth, nations will be in anguish and perplexity at the
roaring and tossing of the sea. 26 Men will faint from terror,
apprehensive of what is coming on the world, for the heavenly bodies will be
shaken. 27 At that time they will see the Son of Man coming in
a cloud with power and great glory. 28 When these things begin
to take place, stand up and lift up your heads, because your redemption is
drawing near." 29 He told them this parable: "Look
at the fig tree and all the trees. 30 When they sprout leaves,
you can see for yourselves and know that summer is near. 31 Even
so, when you see these things happening, you know that the kingdom of God is
near. 32 "I tell you the truth, this generation will
certainly not pass away until all these things have happened. 33 Heaven
and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. 34 "Be
careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with dissipation, drunkenness and
the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you unexpectedly like a
trap. 35 For it will come upon all those who live on the face
of the whole earth. 36 Be always on the watch, and pray that
you may be able to escape all that is about to happen, and that you may be able
to stand before the Son of Man." 37 Each day Jesus was
teaching at the temple, and each evening he went out to spend the night on the
hill called the Mount of Olives, 38 and all the people came
early in the morning to hear him at the temple.
Ephesians 2
Ephesians 2 (New International Version, ©2010)
Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Footnotes:
Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Ephesians 2
Made Alive in Christ
1 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
Jew and Gentile Reconciled Through Christ
11 Therefore, remember that formerly you who are Gentiles by birth and called "uncircumcised" by those who call themselves "the circumcision" (which is done in the body by human hands)— 12 remember that at that time you were separate from Christ, excluded from citizenship in Israel and foreigners to the covenants of the promise, without hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
14 For he himself is our peace, who has made the two groups one and has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility, 15 by setting aside in his flesh the law with its commands and regulations. His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace, 16 and in one body to reconcile both of them to God through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility. 17 He came and preached peace to you who were far away and peace to those who were near. 18 For through him we both have access to the Father by one Spirit.
19 Consequently, you are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God's people and also members of his household, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone. 21 In him the whole building is joined together and rises to become a holy temple in the Lord. 22 And in him you too are being built together to become a dwelling in which God lives by his Spirit.
Footnotes:
Ephesians 2:3 In contexts like this, the Greek word for flesh (sarx) refers to the sinful state of human beings, often presented as a power in opposition to the Spirit.
Revelation 17
Revelation 17 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 17
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
Revelation 17
Babylon, the Prostitute on the Beast
1 One of the seven angels who had the seven bowls came and said to me, "Come, I will show you the punishment of the great prostitute, who sits by many waters. 2 With her the kings of the earth committed adultery, and the inhabitants of the earth were intoxicated with the wine of her adulteries."
3 Then the angel carried me away in the Spirit into a wilderness. There I saw a woman sitting on a scarlet beast that was covered with blasphemous names and had seven heads and ten horns. 4 The woman was dressed in purple and scarlet, and was glittering with gold, precious stones and pearls. She held a golden cup in her hand, filled with abominable things and the filth of her adulteries. 5 The name written on her forehead was a mystery: BABYLON THE GREAT THE MOTHER OF PROSTITUTES AND OF THE ABOMINATIONS OF THE EARTH.
6 I saw that the woman was drunk with the blood of God's holy people, the blood of those who bore testimony to Jesus. When I saw her, I was greatly astonished. 7 Then the angel said to me: "Why are you astonished? I will explain to you the mystery of the woman and of the beast she rides, which has the seven heads and ten horns. 8 The beast, which you saw, once was, now is not, and yet will come up out of the Abyss and go to its destruction. The inhabitants of the earth whose names have not been written in the book of life from the creation of the world will be astonished when they see the beast, because it once was, now is not, and yet will come.
9 "This calls for a mind with wisdom. The seven heads are seven hills on which the woman sits. 10 They are also seven kings. Five have fallen, one is, the other has not yet come; but when he does come, he must remain for only a little while. 11 The beast who once was, and now is not, is an eighth king. He belongs to the seven and is going to his destruction.
12 "The ten horns you saw are ten kings who have not yet received a kingdom, but who for one hour will receive authority as kings along with the beast. 13 They have one purpose and will give their power and authority to the beast. 14 They will wage war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will triumph over them because he is Lord of lords and King of kings—and with him will be his called, chosen and faithful followers."
15 Then the angel said to me, "The waters you saw, where the prostitute sits, are peoples, multitudes, nations and languages. 16 The beast and the ten horns you saw will hate the prostitute. They will bring her to ruin and leave her naked; they will eat her flesh and burn her with fire. 17 For God has put it into their hearts to accomplish his purpose by agreeing to hand over to the beast their royal authority, until God's words are fulfilled. 18 The woman you saw is the great city that rules over the kings of the earth."
Wednesday, June 24, 2015
Ephesians 1
Ephesians 1 (New International Version, ©2010)
Ephesians 1
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To God's holy people in Ephesus,[a] the faithful in Christ Jesus:
2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Praise for Spiritual Blessings in Christ
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. 4 For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love 5 he[b] predestined us for adoption to sonship[c] through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will— 6 to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. 7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace 8 that he lavished on us. With all wisdom and understanding, 9 he[d] made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, 10 to be put into effect when the times reach their fulfillment—to bring unity to all things in heaven and on earth under Christ.
11 In him we were also chosen,[e] having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, 12 in order that we, who were the first to put our hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. 13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession—to the praise of his glory.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
15 For this reason, ever since I heard about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all God's people, 16 I have not stopped giving thanks for you, remembering you in my prayers. 17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit[f] of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in his holy people, 19 and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength 20 he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is invoked, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.
Revelation 16
Revelation 16 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 16
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
7 And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Revelation 16
The Seven Bowls of God's Wrath
1 Then I heard a loud voice from the temple saying to the seven angels, "Go, pour out the seven bowls of God's wrath on the earth."
2 The first angel went and poured out his bowl on the land, and ugly, festering sores broke out on the people who had the mark of the beast and worshiped its image.
3 The second angel poured out his bowl on the sea, and it turned into blood like that of a dead person, and every living thing in the sea died.
4 The third angel poured out his bowl on the rivers and springs of water, and they became blood. 5 Then I heard the angel in charge of the waters say: "You are just in these judgments, O Holy One, you who are and who were;
6 for they have shed the blood of your holy people and your prophets, and you have given them blood to drink as they deserve."
7 And I heard the altar respond: "Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are your judgments."
8 The fourth angel poured out his bowl on the sun, and the sun was allowed to scorch people with fire. 9 They were seared by the intense heat and they cursed the name of God, who had control over these plagues, but they refused to repent and glorify him.
10 The fifth angel poured out his bowl on the throne of the beast, and its kingdom was plunged into darkness. People gnawed their tongues in agony 11 and cursed the God of heaven because of their pains and their sores, but they refused to repent of what they had done.
12 The sixth angel poured out his bowl on the great river Euphrates, and its water was dried up to prepare the way for the kings from the East. 13 Then I saw three impure spirits that looked like frogs; they came out of the mouth of the dragon, out of the mouth of the beast and out of the mouth of the false prophet. 14 They are demonic spirits that perform signs, and they go out to the kings of the whole world, to gather them for the battle on the great day of God Almighty. 15 "Look, I come like a thief! Blessed is the one who stays awake and remains clothed, so as not to go naked and be shamefully exposed."
16 Then they gathered the kings together to the place that in Hebrew is called Armageddon.
17 The seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air, and out of the temple came a loud voice from the throne, saying, "It is done!" 18 Then there came flashes of lightning, rumblings, peals of thunder and a severe earthquake. No earthquake like it has ever occurred since mankind has been on earth, so tremendous was the quake. 19 The great city split into three parts, and the cities of the nations collapsed. God remembered Babylon the Great and gave her the cup filled with the wine of the fury of his wrath. 20 Every island fled away and the mountains could not be found. 21 From the sky huge hailstones, each weighing about a hundred pounds,[a] fell on people. And they cursed God on account of the plague of hail, because the plague was so terrible.
Jun 24: India, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir | Operation World
Jun 24: India, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir | Operation World
Click on the link to get more information.
Click on the link to get more information.
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.
Tuesday, June 23, 2015
Revelation 15
Revelation 15 (New International Version, ©2010)
Revelation 15
Seven Angels With Seven Plagues
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb:
"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."[b]
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
Revelation 15
Seven Angels With Seven Plagues
1 I saw in heaven another great and marvelous sign: seven angels with the seven last plagues—last, because with them God's wrath is completed. 2 And I saw what looked like a sea of glass glowing with fire and, standing beside the sea, those who had been victorious over the beast and its image and over the number of its name. They held harps given them by God 3 and sang the song of God's servant Moses and of the Lamb:
"Great and marvelous are your deeds, Lord God Almighty.
Just and true are your ways, King of the nations.[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord, and bring glory to your name?
For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
for your righteous acts have been revealed."[b]
5 After this I looked, and I saw in heaven the temple—that is, the tabernacle of the covenant law—and it was opened. 6 Out of the temple came the seven angels with the seven plagues. They were dressed in clean, shining linen and wore golden sashes around their chests. 7 Then one of the four living creatures gave to the seven angels seven golden bowls filled with the wrath of God, who lives for ever and ever. 8 And the temple was filled with smoke from the glory of God and from his power, and no one could enter the temple until the seven plagues of the seven angels were completed.
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."
Acts 28
Acts 28 (New International Version)
Acts 28
Paul Ashore on Malta
1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul's Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
21 They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 "'Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
27 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.'[a]
28 "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" [29] [b]
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
Acts 28
Paul Ashore on Malta
1 Once safely on shore, we found out that the island was called Malta. 2 The islanders showed us unusual kindness. They built a fire and welcomed us all because it was raining and cold. 3 Paul gathered a pile of brushwood and, as he put it on the fire, a viper, driven out by the heat, fastened itself on his hand. 4 When the islanders saw the snake hanging from his hand, they said to each other, "This man must be a murderer; for though he escaped from the sea, the goddess Justice has not allowed him to live." 5 But Paul shook the snake off into the fire and suffered no ill effects. 6 The people expected him to swell up or suddenly fall dead; but after waiting a long time and seeing nothing unusual happen to him, they changed their minds and said he was a god.
7 There was an estate nearby that belonged to Publius, the chief official of the island. He welcomed us to his home and showed us generous hospitality for three days. 8 His father was sick in bed, suffering from fever and dysentery. Paul went in to see him and, after prayer, placed his hands on him and healed him. 9 When this had happened, the rest of the sick on the island came and were cured. 10 They honored us in many ways; and when we were ready to sail, they furnished us with the supplies we needed.
Paul's Arrival at Rome
11 After three months we put out to sea in a ship that had wintered in the island—it was an Alexandrian ship with the figurehead of the twin gods Castor and Pollux. 12 We put in at Syracuse and stayed there three days. 13 From there we set sail and arrived at Rhegium. The next day the south wind came up, and on the following day we reached Puteoli. 14 There we found some brothers and sisters who invited us to spend a week with them. And so we came to Rome. 15 The brothers and sisters there had heard that we were coming, and they traveled as far as the Forum of Appius and the Three Taverns to meet us. At the sight of these people Paul thanked God and was encouraged. 16 When we got to Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with a soldier to guard him.
Paul Preaches at Rome Under Guard
17 Three days later he called together the local Jewish leaders. When they had assembled, Paul said to them: "My brothers, although I have done nothing against our people or against the customs of our ancestors, I was arrested in Jerusalem and handed over to the Romans. 18 They examined me and wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of any crime deserving death. 19 The Jews objected, so I was compelled to make an appeal to Caesar. I certainly did not intend to bring any charge against my own people. 20 For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."
21 They replied, "We have not received any letters from Judea concerning you, and none of our people who have come from there has reported or said anything bad about you. 22 But we want to hear what your views are, for we know that people everywhere are talking against this sect."
23 They arranged to meet Paul on a certain day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them about Jesus. 24 Some were convinced by what he said, but others would not believe. 25 They disagreed among themselves and began to leave after Paul had made this final statement: "The Holy Spirit spoke the truth to your ancestors when he said through Isaiah the prophet:
26 "'Go to this people and say,
"You will be ever hearing but never understanding; you will be ever seeing but never perceiving."
27 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.'[a]
28 "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!" [29] [b]
30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!
Monday, June 22, 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.
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