Tag Archives: Matthew 26:47-68

February 10, 2015 Bible Study

For today, One Year Bible Online links here.

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Proverbs 8:27-32

    Wisdom was there when God set up the heavens and laid out the oceans. The reason we can figure out the science of how the universe works is because God used wisdom and reason to create it in the first place.

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Psalm 32:1-11

    We have all sinned by disobeying God. If we stop trying to hide our guilt and instead confess our sins, God will forgive us and clear our record. I cannot do this psalm justice. Read it for yourself and meditate on its truth.

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Matthew 26:47-68

    When the armed men who accompanied Judas arrested Jesus, one of the disciples(John tells us it was Peter) fought back with his sword. This lends credence to what I said yesterday about the disciples anticipating joining in battle to defend Jesus against the authorities. Jesus responded to this effort in His defense by telling His disciples that it was unnecessary and unwanted.
    When Jesus was before the Council, the high priest asked Him if He was the Messiah. I have always felt the phrasing of the question and answer in the English translations did not quite match up. It seems to me that the high priest’s question to Jesus would have likely come across as, “You are the Messiah, aren’t you?” I perceive Jesus’ answer as being more along the lines of, “See, even you admit that it is so.” I am not phrasing this quite right. It seems to me that to those who spoke the language, the high priest’s question would have been an unintentional acknowledgement that Jesus was the Messiah.

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Exodus 30:11-31:18

    The tax described in this passage is significant in several ways. First, it is clearly stated that it is the same for everyone, rich or poor. It is not in any way a progressive tax. Every person has an equal share in the Tabernacle. Another interesting aspect of it is that it is to be collected when the leaders of Israel conduct a census so as to avoid plague. This suggests that the census is totaled by counting the coins rather than by people traveling from town to town counting people. There is an element of respecting the honour and honesty of the people when collecting the tax and counting the people.

February 10, 2014 Bible Study — There Is Joy In Being Forgiven

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. In order to make that possible I read the passages and write my thoughts a day, or more. in advance. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them.

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Proverbs 8:27-32

     Wisdom has been with God from the creation of the universe. In addition, God built wisdom into the design of the universe. If you seek wisdom and follow the path that truly leads to it you will find God. In addition, you will only completely find wisdom when you come to God.

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Psalm 32:1-11

     This psalm gives us some great lessons for life. We will experience great joy when we accept the forgiveness which God offers to us. It is only when we confess our sins and admit our guilt that we can begin to heal from the damage our own sins have done to us. I will obey the Lord because He instructs me and guides me in the best path for my life. I will rejoice in the Lord and be glad.

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Matthew 26:47-68

     When Judas came with a crowd of armed men to arrest Jesus, one of the disciples (the Gospel of John tells us that it was Peter) drew his sword and began defending Him. Jesus immediately told him to put away his sword. Jesus continued by saying that He could call on thousands of angels for protection, but if He did that the Scriptures which had predicted what would happen would not be fulfilled. Jesus then turned and confronted those arresting Him, asking them why they waited to arrest Him in secret. Jesus was making it clear to those arresting Him that His arrest was irregular (I am using the term “irregular” here to indicates something that while not necessarily illegal is done to get around legal barriers to doing it).
     As I was reading this several thoughts crossed my mind about what to write, but as I began to write I realized something that I had never noticed before. Jesus’ response to the court is a model we should follow when people are tossing out various accusations against us because of our faith in Him. His opponents brought many witnesses out against Him, but their accusations were not consistent one to another. They finally found two whose testimony agreed, but it was not really much of an indictment. The point is that to all of these accusations, Jesus did not make a defense. He remained silent.
When the high priest finally pushed to where He had to answer, Jesus did not address the charges brought against Him. He, also, does not directly answer the question as to whether or not He is the Messiah. Rather, He tells them that they have said that He is (in a manner that the context suggests He is saying, “and you are right” without actually saying that). Then He goes on to tell them that certain distinctly Messianic Scriptures are about to be fulfilled. This should be our model. As long as our opponents are bringing inconsistent accusations against us, we should not dignify those accusations with an answer. When we finally need to offer an answer, let our answer be the Gospel.

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Exodus 30:11-31:18

     The passage lays out various preparations and regulations for the people of Israel. Each man is to pay a small tax each time they take a census of the people. This tax will prevent plague from spreading among them during the census and the revenue generated is to pay for the upkeep of the Tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting. The passage then explains how the priests must wash their hands and feet before they approach the altar. Followed by the formula for making an oil of anointing for priests and an incense for priests to use during worship.
     In the middle of this (well, not exactly in the middle, since it changes direction after this, but what comes before and after have more in common than they do with this next bit), the passage tells us that God has specifically chosen and appointed two men to head up the craftsmen making the items for the Tabernacle. God tells Moses that He has given these men special gifts and talents for the explicit purpose of making or directing the making of all of the items required to make the Tabernacle according to His plans. Furthermore, God tells Moses that He has given special skill to all of the craftsmen called to this project. The important lesson from this passage is that God has called us to some task and He has given us the gifts necessary to not only accomplish that task, but to accomplish it with excellence.

February 10, 2013 Bible Study

     I am using One Year Bible Online for my daily Bible study. For today, One Year Bible Online links here. I have found that by writing this daily blog of what I see when I read these scriptures, I get more out of them. I hope that by posting these ruminations others may get some benefit as well. If you have any thoughts or comments regarding these verses or what I have written about them, please post them. I hope that the Spirit is moving in others through these posts as the Spirit has definitely been convicting me.

Magrat seeks a high spot
Magrat seeks a high spot

Exodus 30:11-31:18

     God instructed Moses that whenever a census of the people was taken each man who was counted was to pay a ransom to God for himself. The ransom was to be a fixed amount with no difference if the person was rich or if the person was poor. The money was to be an atonement for the people and it was to be used for the service of the tent of meeting. It is worth noting that all were worth the same to God.
     God then gave instructions for the priests to wash their hands and feet before they brought a food offering to the altar. It is worth noting that the priests ate a portion of the food offerings, so the comment that they were to do this so they would not die makes perfectly good sense. The passage then goes on to give the recipe for the anointing oil they were to use and the recipe for the incense they were to burn. Both of these formulas were to be used only by the priests in the service of God. The passage goes on to tell us that God had chosen two men to oversee the craftsmen building the Tabernacle. God had given these two men the skills to oversee the skilled workers who would construct the various elements of the Tabernacle. These workers had been gifted by God with the skills necessary to make the various elements of the Tabernacle.
     Today’s passage concludes with a strict command that the people of Israel are to abstain from all forms of work on one day out of seven. They are to keep that day holy to God. That seventh day is to be a day of rest.

Snow on the wood pile
Snow on the wood pile

Matthew 26:47-68

     Yesterday’s passage ended with Jesus telling His disciples that the hour had come. As He said this, Judas arrived leading a crowd armed with clubs and swords. Judas immediately approached Jesus greeted Him as Rabbi and kissed him, thus identifying Jesus for the armed crowd sent with him by the chief priests. These men seized Jesus and arrested Him. One of the disciples drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest. Jesus told him to put away his sword, telling them all that He could call on God to provide Him with an army of angels. In particular, Jesus said that he could call upon twelve legions of angels. I am not sure of the significance of that number, but I believe that it was based on the number of tribes of Israel and would have been perceived to be sufficient to take on Rome. Jesus tells His disciples that if He summoned those angels, the Scriptures which said it must happen as it was about to would not be fulfilled. Jesus then confronted the crown arresting Him, asking why they were coming out at night to arrest Him when He was in the Temple courts each day? At this point all of Jesus’ disciples fled.
     Jesus was brought before Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin for trial. The Sanhedrin called for witnesses against Jesus and many came forward. However, they were unable to get any two to agree on the charges they made against Him. The best they could manage was two who testified that Jesus has said that He would destroy the Temple and rebuild it in three days. At this point the high priest turned to Jesus and demanded that He answer the charges. Jesus remained silent. The high priest then demanded that Jesus answer as to whether He was the Messiah. When Jesus answered the high priest interpreted His answer as blasphemy and demanded that the Sanhedrin call for Jesus’ death. The Sanhedrin agreed and passed out a sentence calling for Jesus’ death.

Flowers during the worship service
Flowers during the worship service

Psalm 32:1-11

     How wonderful it is to know that God will forgive our sins. All that we need to do is admit to them. I marvel at how often I have experienced what the psalmist talks about, how I struggle when I try to hide my sins. What an amazing relief it is when I admit that I have sinned and done wrong. I will strive to admit when I do wrong and change my behavior so that I do not repeat those failings. I will seek out those things in my life which I try to justify that God has said are sin. I will not try to pretend that they are not sin…OK, I will strive to not pretend that they are not sin. I know that there are things in my life that I still deny are sin that God is waiting to convict me on (generally waiting until I yield to Him on other things that He has already called me to address). I will strive to no longer require God to use the bit and bridle to direct me in His paths. All too often I have not responded to God’s prompting until I feel the pain.

Unloading firewood
Unloading firewood

Proverbs 8:27-32

     The proverb writer tells us that wisdom was there when God created the universe. There are many ways to interpret what this passage means. I take it to mean that wisdom is inherent in the design of the universe and that if we wish to lead a fulfilling and happy life we need to follow the path of wisdom. I remember role playing with a young man who, when the rest of us told him to think after he did something especially foolish in game terms told us that he did not want to think, he just wanted to have fun. Eventually we were able to show him that, at least when it came to role playing games, one had more fun when one thought things through before acting. Unfortunately at least one of the men who helped impart that lesson never learned to apply it to his life outside of the game and, last I heard, is in jail.