The Jews, the nation of Israel, have always been important to God because God made an agreement — a covenant — with one of their ancient ancestors, Abraham (Gen. 15:4-6). Because God loves Israel and is bound to her, he has, throughout history, sent prophets and brought saviours to help his people, Israel (e.g. 2 […]
Who can understand parables?
In Matthew 13:1o Jesus’ disciples ask him why he taught in parables. Jesus replied, ‘To you it has been given to know the secrets of the kingdom of heaven…’ (Mat. 13:11). Here Jesus is referring to his disciples, i.e. the people who followed him and learned from him: these people, his disciples, were the ones who […]
In the parable of the wheat and tares, who are the tares? (Matthew 13:24-30;36-43)
Jesus describes who the “tares” (‘weeds’, ESV) are in Matthew 13:41. As the weeds in the parable would be gathered together and destroyed at harvest time, so, at Jesus’ return, ‘all causes of sin and all law-breakers’ will be destroyed: the weeds represent ‘all causes of sin and all law-breakers’. In contrast, the wheat represents […]
Were the Ephesians a portion of the divorced northern kingdom of Israel?
No. In Ephesians 2:11-12 Paul writes the following to the Ephesians: Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands — {12} remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth […]
What stories in the Bible talk about lust?
There are probably a few stories in the Bible that talks about lust. One well known example is from the life of David, when he lusted after Bathsheba, the wife of Uriah (the record is in 2 Samuel 11). At the end of 2 Samuel 11 the following comment is made about David’s actions: …the thing that […]
Why do you think the 12 disciples were all men and what does this tell us about a woman’s role as a Christian?
In many ways the 12 disciples were Jesus’ closest friends. Yet, they were also appointed to do specific tasks, as recorded in Mark 3: 13 And he went up on the mountain and called to him those whom he desired, and they came to him. 14 And he appointed twelve (whom he also named apostles) […]
What do 2 Timothy 3:16-17 and 2 Peter 1:20-21 mean?
2 Tim 3:16-17 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (17) that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work. This means that the Old Testament plus the New Testament (much of which would have been written when […]
What is the meaning of “the first shall be last and last shall be first”?
This was said by Jesus: Matthew 10:29-31 Jesus said, “Truly, I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or lands, for my sake and for the gospel, who will not receive a hundredfold now in this time, houses and brothers and […]
Are UFOs mentioned in the Bible?
No, the Bible never mentions unidentified flying objects, and never discusses life beyond earth. There is, however, an “unusual flying object” in one of Zechariah’s dreams: Zechariah 5:1-2 (NIV) I looked again—and there before me was a flying scroll! He asked me, “What do you see?” I answered, “I see a flying scroll, thirty feet […]
How do we become sanctified?
A short answer to this question, is through faith in Jesus Christ who offered himself as a sacrifice for sin. A more detailed answer: We are sanctified or made holy, by the word of God and through the offering of the body of Jesus (John 17:17-19). How does this happen? God’s seed or gospel takes […]