The phrase born again is found in John 3:3: Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born again he cannot see the kingdom of God. A more accurate translation for born again here is "begotten from above.” It does not describe a second birth; rather, it refers to the changed [...]
Jesus was a masterful teacher. He often used stories, known as parables, to convey concepts and lessons in a way that his audience could relate to and apply to their lives. Some parables have multiple levels of meaning depending on the listener’s level of [...]
James 5:1-6: (KJV) “5 Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. 2 Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are motheaten. 3 Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall [...]
Jesus used this opportunity to tell the Parable of the Good Samaritan.One of the traditional ways to communicate with the learned men of Israel was by asking questions. First, one would ask a question, and then the other man would respond to the question [...]
In a large sense the whole universe is God’s house, and the different planes and of life are the different “rooms.” My Father’s house: Again, in a large sense the whole universe is God’s house, and God Himself abides in the height of the heavens. [...]
John 2:1-11 records the account of Jesus, his mother Mary, and his disciples attending a wedding in Cana. During the wedding, Mary became aware that the hosts had run out of wine. Although the scriptures do not indicate Mary’s relationship with the hosts, she [...]
(Excerpted from the Herald Magazine)The Vine and Branches (John 15:1-11)The lesson of faith taught by the Apostle Paul (Hebrews 11:1) was to make the invisible things more tangible with their eye of faith. Jesus accomplished this with the Parable of the Vine and Branches. He [...]
Hebrews 5:7 does refer to Jesus’ prayers in Gethsemane, as recorded in Matthew 26:36-39. This can be inferred from the surrounding verses. In verses 1-4, the Apostle Paul describes the role and characteristics of the Jewish high priests. Starting in verse 5, Paul shifts [...]
There are only three instances where speaking in tongues is recorded in the New Testament - Acts 2:1-11, 10:38-48 and 19:1-8. In each instance, those who spoke were apostles who had been given the gift of the holy spirit, done for very specific purposes [...]
In Old Testament times, the man, or father, was considered the head of the household. He had the responsibility for ensuring all within his care were provided for, including his wife and all of his children. The head of the household was meant to [...]
This incident, recorded both in Mark 12:41-44 and Luke 21:1-4, is an example in practical terms of the way Jesus (and God) looks at giving. The world tends to be impressed with large gifts and grand gestures; the Lord looks at the heart. When [...]
Several texts can be cross read to interpret Paul’s meaning here. First, let’s address the “chief cornerstone.” There is only one kind of building that has only one cornerstone: a pyramid. The top stone itself is a perfect pyramid, and all other stones have [...]
Jesus knew his time on earth was coming to an end. Beginning in John 13:30 one of the last conversations between Jesus and his disciples is recorded. Jesus was preparing for both his death and his resurrection that would follow. He knew that having [...]
The need for self-discipline is as old as mankind itself. God created the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, with free will. Free will is the capability of choosing right or wrong. In Genesis 2:16-17, God commanded Adam not to eat the fruit [...]
Naaman was a pagan army captain. 2 Kings 5:1: "Now Naaman, captain of the army of the king of Aram, was a great man with his master, and highly respected, because by him the LORD had given victory to Aram. The man was also [...]
To set the context, on the night before Jesus’ crucifixion, he prophetically explained what God’s spirit would do when it came to the disciples: John 16:7–11: "...it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the advocate ("comforter" in [...]
Revelation chapter 19 follows the judgments of God on the fallen systems of man explained in the previous chapter. Chapter 19 then describes the beginning of His righteous reign and the marriage of Jesus and his bride (verses 6-9). In verse 10, the Apostle [...]
2 Corinthians 2:14-16: But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are [...]
Jesus understood that part of his ministry was to teach those around him about pleasing God. To accomplish this, Jesus often used parables as a teaching tool. Parables are stories whose characters and events convey a greater lesson to their audience. Jesus’ use of parables [...]
Matthew 6:3 is part of a much larger sermon, spanning Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7 that Jesus delivered to his disciples (see Matthew 5:1 for the start of the sermon). In these words, Jesus taught many lessons on the types of behaviors that are [...]
