When Jesus said, "On these two commandments hang all the Law and the prophets" (Matthew 22:40), what did he mean by the "Law and the prophets"?
Understanding that the proper time had arrived in God’s plan, Matthew chapter 21 chronicles how Jesus arranged his entry into Jerusalem in a manner which identified him as the Messiah prophesied in Scripture (Zechariah 9:9, Matthew 21:1-9). Once in the city, Jesus began publicly interacting with the people. These actions quickly drew the attention of [...]
Who are the beasts of Revelation 13?
To understand the book of Revelation, it is important to compare it with the Book of Daniel. Taken together, the symbolism comes to life.Daniel shows us that empires, or civil powers, are pictured as beasts. Daniel 7:17, “These great beasts, which are four, are four kings, which shall arise out of the earth.” This type [...]
What happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman?
What happened with Jesus, Simon the Pharisee and the sinful woman? This is a wonderful lesson about the importance of faith, humility and forgiveness. Jesus' mercy and compassion is contrasted by the self-righteous, judgmental attitude of the Pharisees.The Pharisees were the religious teachers of the Jewish Law. Many of them were prideful, thinking they [...]
Where is Jesus now?
Shortly after his resurrection, Jesus was elevated to a new, glorified level of existence. After he had disappeared from their sight, the apostles who had witnessed Jesus’ elevation were told by two angels that Jesus was “taken up…into heaven” (Acts 1:8-11). Later, Stephen, a member of the early Christian church, was granted a vision of [...]
"For we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men" (1 Corinthians 4:9). How were the apostles made a "spectacle" to the angels?
Paul was aware that some members of the early Christian church had begun to regard him, the other Apostles, and other early Christians such as Apollos and Cephas as “spectacles” (“spectacle…to men” in 1 Corinthians 4:9), but unlike the angels, they had begun to identify themselves as followers of these individual men, and not as [...]
Why did an angel appear to shepherds to announce the birth of Jesus? Why choose shepherds? (Christmas)
These were lowly shepherds being rewarded for their humility with this incredible message. The humble shepherds out tending their sheep were given the gift of being able to observe and participate in this world-changing event. Luke 2:8: (NASB) “In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their [...]