Tag: jesus
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Light in the Dwellings – Exodus 10:23
Exodus 10:23 They saw not one another, neither rose any from his place for three days… but all the children of Israel had light in their dwellings. What a striking contrast. Egypt sat in a darkness so thick that no one could see another person, and no one even moved from his place for three…
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Bought and Given Seed – Genesis 47:23-24
Genesis 47:23-24 Then Joseph said unto the people, Behold, I have bought you this day and your land for Pharaoh: lo, here is seed for you, and ye shall sow the land. And it shall come to pass in the increase, that ye shall give the fifth part unto Pharaoh, and four parts shall be…
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In the Flow of the Throne – Genesis 47:22
Genesis 47:22 Only the land of the priests bought he not; for the priests had a portion assigned them of Pharaoh, and did eat their portion which Pharaoh gave them: wherefore they sold not their lands. This verse is interesting because it shows an exception. Everyone else was being brought under Joseph’s administration in deeper…
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Presented by Grace – Genesis 47:1-2
Genesis 47:1-2 Then Joseph came and told Pharaoh, and said, My father and my brethren, and their flocks, and their herds, and all that they have, are come out of the land of Canaan; and, behold, they are in the land of Goshen. And he took some of his brethren, even five men, and presented…
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Marked on Purpose – Genesis 46:33-34
Genesis 46:33-34 And it shall come to pass, when Pharaoh shall call you, and shall say, What is your occupation? That ye shall say, Thy servants’ trade hath been about cattle from our youth even until now, both we, and also our fathers: that ye may dwell in the land of Goshen; for every shepherd…
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He Went Before Them – Genesis 46:31-32
Genesis 46:31-32 And Joseph said unto his brethren, and unto his father’s house, I will go up, and shew Pharaoh, and say unto him, My brethren, and my father’s house, which were in the land of Canaan, are come unto me; And the men are shepherds, for their trade hath been to feed cattle; and…
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Face to Face at Last – Genesis 46:29-30
Genesis 46:29-30 And Joseph made ready his chariot, and went up to meet Israel his father, to Goshen, and presented himself unto him; and he fell on his neck, and wept on his neck a good while. And Israel said unto Joseph, Now let me die, since I have seen thy face, because thou art…
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The Whole House Comes – Genesis 46:5-7
Genesis 46:5-7 And Jacob rose up from Beer-sheba: and the sons of Israel carried Jacob their father, and their little ones, and their wives, in the wagons which Pharaoh had sent to carry him. And they took their cattle, and their goods, which they had gotten in the land of Canaan, and came into Egypt,…
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The Wagons Are On Their Way – Genesis 45:25-28
Genesis 45:25, 28 And they went up out of Egypt, and came into the land of Canaan unto Jacob their father, And told him, saying, Joseph is yet alive, and he is governor over all the land of Egypt. And Jacob’s heart fainted, for he believed them not. And they told him all the words…
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Do Not Fall Out by the Way – Genesis 45:23-24
Genesis 45:23, 24 And to his father he sent after this manner; ten asses laden with the good things of Egypt, and ten she asses laden with corn and bread and meat for his father by the way. So he sent his brethren away, and they departed: and he said unto them, See that ye…
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No Room for Envy – Genesis 45:21-22
Genesis 45:21, 22 And the children of Israel did so: and Joseph gave them wagons, according to the commandment of Pharaoh, and gave them provision for the way. To all of them he gave each man changes of raiment; but to Benjamin he gave three hundred pieces of silver, and five changes of raiment. This…
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The Good of the Land – Genesis 45:16-20
Genesis 45:16-20 And the fame thereof was heard in Pharaoh’s house, saying, Joseph’s brethren are come: and it pleased Pharaoh well, and his servants. And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Say unto thy brethren, This do ye; lade your beasts, and go, get you unto the land of Canaan; And take your father and your households,…
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Brought Near – Genesis 45:14-15
Genesis 45:14, 15 And he fell upon his brother Benjamin’s neck, and wept; and Benjamin wept upon his neck. Moreover he kissed all his brethren, and wept upon them: and after that his brethren talked with him. The fourth purpose of Joseph’s position is proximity. I like that, because Joseph did not rise to power…
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Tell Dad About the Son – Genesis 45:12-13
Genesis 45:12, 13 And, behold, your eyes see, and the eyes of my brother Benjamin, that it is my mouth that speaketh unto you. And ye shall tell my father of all my glory in Egypt, and of all that ye have seen; and ye shall haste and bring down my father hither. Joseph now…
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Near Enough to Hear Grace – Genesis 45:4-5
Genesis 45:4, 5 “And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to…
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When Joseph Spoke His Name – Genesis 45:2-3
Genesis 45:2-3 “And he wept aloud: and the Egyptians and the house of Pharaoh heard. And Joseph said unto his brethren, I am Joseph; doth my father yet live? And his brethren could not answer him; for they were troubled at his presence.” There are moments in Scripture when a scene turns so suddenly, so…
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Compassion That Waited for Confession – Genesis 45:1
Genesis 45:1 Then Joseph could not refrain himself before all them that stood by him; and he cried, Cause every man to go out from me. And there stood no man with him, while Joseph made himself known unto his brethren. Joseph had listened to everything. He had heard Judah say, in effect, “Take me…
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The Man Who Stayed Behind – Genesis 44:32-34
Genesis 44:32-34 For thy servant became surety for the lad unto my father, saying, If I bring him not unto thee, then I shall bear the blame to my father for ever. Now therefore, I pray thee, let thy servant abide instead of the lad a bondman to my lord; and let the lad go…
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Bound Up Together – Genesis 44:24-31
Genesis 44:24-31 And it came to pass when we came up unto thy servant my father, we told him the words of my lord. And our father said, Go again, and buy us a little food. And we said, We cannot go down: if our youngest brother be with us, then will we go down:…
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Standing With the Guilty – Genesis 44:13-23
Genesis 44:13-16 Then they rent their clothes, and laded every man his ass, and returned to the city. And Judah and his brethren came to Joseph’s house; for he was yet there: and they fell before him on the ground. And Joseph said unto them, What deed is this that ye have done? wot ye…
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The Cup Found at the End – Genesis 44:9-12
Genesis 44:9-12 With whomsoever of thy servants it be found, both let him die, and we also will be my lord’s bondmen. And he said, Now also let it be according unto your words: he with whom it is found shall be my servant; and ye shall be blameless. Then they speedily took down every…
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The Cup in the Sack – Genesis 44:1-5
Genesis 44:1-5 And he commanded the steward of his house, saying, Fill the men’s sacks with food, as much as they can carry, and put every man’s money in his sack’s mouth. And put my cup, the silver cup, in the sack’s mouth of the youngest, and his corn money. And he did according to…
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The Hidden Brother at a Separate Table – Genesis 43:31-33
Genesis 43:31-32 And he washed his face, and went out, and refrained himself, and said, Set on bread. And they set on for him by himself, and for them by themselves, and for the Egyptians, which did eat with him, by themselves: because the Egyptians might not eat bread with the Hebrews; for that is…
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The Tears Before the Revealing – Genesis 43:27-30
Genesis 43:27-30 And he asked them of their welfare, and said, Is your father well, the old man of whom ye spake? Is he yet alive? And they answered, Thy servant our father is in good health, he is yet alive. And they bowed down their heads, and made obeisance. And he lifted up his…
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Refreshed in the House – Genesis 43:24-26
Genesis 43:24-25 And the man brought the men into Joseph’s house, and gave them water, and they washed their feet; and he gave their asses provender. And they made ready the present against Joseph came at noon: for they heard that they should eat bread there. What they feared did not happen. They thought Joseph’s…
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Afraid of the House, Invited to the Table – Genesis 43:17-18
Genesis 43:17-18 And the man did as Joseph bade; and the man brought the men into Joseph’s house. And the men were afraid, because they were brought into Joseph’s house; and they said, Because of the money that was returned in our sacks at the first time are we brought in; that he may seek…
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A Table Prepared Before They Knew Him – Genesis 43:15-16
Genesis 43:15-16 And the men took that present, and they took double money in their hand, and Benjamin; and rose up, and went down to Egypt, and stood before Joseph. And when Joseph saw Benjamin with them, he said to the ruler of his house, Bring these men home, and slay, and make ready; for…
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The Surety Steps Forward – Genesis 43:7-10
Genesis 43:7-9 And they said, The man asked us straitly of our state, and of our kindred, saying, Is your father yet alive? have ye another brother? and we told him according to the tenor of these words: could we certainly know that he would say, Bring your brother down? And Judah said unto Israel…
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The King Who Still Wept – Genesis 42:24
Genesis 42:24 And he turned himself about from them, and wept… That gets me every time. Joseph is standing there before the very men who betrayed him, sold him, and acted like his pain meant nothing, and now he has to turn away because the emotion is too much. He wept. Under all the testing,…
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The One Listening All Along – Genesis 42:22-23
Genesis 42:22 And Reuben answered them, saying, Spake I not unto you, saying, Do not sin against the child; and ye would not hear? therefore, behold, also his blood is required. Reuben finally says what had been hanging in the air all along. “His blood is required.” That is the language of guilt. Not inconvenience.…
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We are guilty – Genesis 42:19–21
If ye be true men, let one of your brethren be bound in the house of your prison: go ye, carry corn for the famine of your houses: But bring your youngest brother unto me; so shall your words be verified, and ye shall not die. And they did so. And they said one to…
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The Brother They Did Not Recognize – Genesis 42:7-9
Genesis 42:7-9 And Joseph saw his brethren, and he knew them, but made himself strange unto them, and spake roughly unto them and he said unto them, Whence come ye? And they said, From the land of Canaan to buy food. And Joseph knew his brethren, but they knew not him. And Joseph remembered the…
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Unlimited Riches, Certain Fulfillment – Genesis 42:4-6
Genesis 42:4 But Benjamin, Joseph’s brother, Jacob sent not with his brethren; for he said, Lest peradventure mischief befall him. Benjamin was Joseph’s full brother, and Jacob would not let him go. That says a lot without saying everything. It makes me think Jacob never fully settled the story he had been told years earlier.…
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Come Buy Without Money – Genesis 42:1-3
Genesis 42:1-3 Now when Jacob saw that there was corn in Egypt, Jacob said unto his sons, Why do ye look one upon another? And he said, Behold, I have heard that there is corn in Egypt: get you down thither, and buy for us from thence; that we may live, and not die. And…
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All Countries Came to Joseph – Genesis 41:56-57
Genesis 41:56, 57 And the famine was over all the face of the earth: and Joseph opened all the storehouses, and sold unto the Egyptians; and the famine waxed sore in the land of Egypt. And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in…
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Go to Jesus, the Greater than Joseph – Genesis 41:55
Genesis 41:55 And when all the land of Egypt was famished, the people cried to Pharaoh for bread: and Pharaoh said unto all the Egyptians, Go unto Joseph; what he saith to you, do. When the famine got real, the people cried out. That is usually when people start looking for answers. As long as…
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Fruitful in the Land of Affliction – Genesis 41:45-52
Genesis 41:45-46 And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt: That little detail matters. Joseph was thirty when he stepped into public ministry over Egypt. Jesus was about thirty years old when He began His public ministry as well.…
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A Name Beyond Knowing – Genesis 41:45
Genesis 41:45 And Pharaoh called Joseph’s name Zaphnathpaaneah; and he gave him to wife Asenath the daughter of Poti pherah priest of On. And Joseph went out over all the land of Egypt. Joseph is given a new name here, and like a lot of things in this story, it carries more depth than first…
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From the Dungeon to the Chariot – Genesis 41:39-44
Genesis 41:39-40 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, Forasmuch as God hath shewed thee all this, there is none so discreet and wise as thou art: Thou shalt be over my house, and according unto thy word shall all my people be ruled: only in the throne will I be greater than thou. One hour Joseph…
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The Plenty That Cannot Last – Genesis 41:17-31
Genesis 41:17-31 And Pharaoh said unto Joseph, In my dream, behold, I stood upon the bank of the river: And, behold, there came up out of the river seven kine, fatfleshed and well favoured; and they fed in a meadow: And, behold, seven other kine came up after them, poor and very ill favoured and…
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Out of the Dungeon, Free of Self – Genesis 41:9-16
Genesis 41:9-16 Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh, saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker: And we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; we dreamed each…
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Remembered at the Table – Genesis 40:14-19
Genesis 40:14-19 But think on me when it shall be well with thee, and shew kindness, I pray thee, unto me, and make mention of me unto Pharaoh, and bring me out of this house:For indeed I was stolen away out of the land of the Hebrews: and here also have I done nothing that…
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The Cup Returned – Genesis 40:5-13
Genesis 40:5-13 And they dreamed a dream both of them, each man his dream in one night, each man according to the interpretation of his dream, the butler and the baker of the king of Egypt, which were bound in the prison. And Joseph came in unto them in the morning, and looked upon them,…
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Two Men Beside Him – Genesis 40:1-4
Genesis 40:1-4 And it came to pass after these things, that the butler of the king of Egypt and his baker had offended their lord the king of Egypt. And Pharaoh was wroth against two of his officers, against the chief of the butlers, and against the chief of the bakers. And he put them…
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The Scarlet Thread and Amazing Grace – Genesis 38:27–30
Genesis 38:27–30 And it came to pass in the time of her travail, that, behold, twins were in her womb. And it came to pass, when she travailed, that the one put out his hand: and the midwife took and bound upon his hand a scarlet thread, saying, This came out first. And it came…
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Joseph Like Lives – Genesis 37:36
Genesis 37:36 And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard. Joseph is now in Egypt. Sold.Removed from home.Placed in a foreign land.And yet the story is not over. Not even close. Following the break in chapter 38, Joseph’s story will continue, and as it does,…
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When Jacob Could Not See It – Genesis 37:33-35
Genesis 37:33-35 And he knew it, and said, It is my son’s coat; an evil beast hath devoured him; Joseph is without doubt rent in pieces.And Jacob rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his loins, and mourned for his son many days.And all his sons and all his daughters rose up to comfort him;…
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The Coat and the Cover Up – Genesis 37:30-32
Genesis 37:30-32 And he returned unto his brethren, and said, The child is not; and I, whither shall I go? And they took Joseph’s coat, and killed a kid of the goats, and dipped the coat in the blood;And they sent the coat of many colours, and they brought it to their father; and said,…
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Sold for Silver – Genesis 37:28-29
Genesis 37:28-29 Then there passed by Midianites merchantmen; and they drew and lifted up Joseph out of the pit, and sold Joseph to the Ishmeelites for twenty pieces of silver: and they brought Joseph into Egypt. And Reuben returned unto the pit; and, behold, Joseph was not in the pit; and he rent his clothes.…
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The Empty Pit and the Gentile Hands – Genesis 37:24-27
Genesis 37:24-27 And they took him, and cast him into a pit: and the pit was empty, there was no water in it.And they sat down to eat bread: and they lifted up their eyes and looked, and, behold, a company of Ishmeelites came from Gilead with their camels bearing spicery and balm and myrrh,…
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The Stripped Robe – Genesis 37:23
Genesis 37:23 And it came to pass, when Joseph was come unto his brethren, that they stript Joseph out of his coat, his coat of many colours that was on him; There is more happening here than brothers roughing up Joseph. That coat was not just clothing. It was the mark of his father’s love.…
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The Pit Instead of the Knife – Genesis 37:22
Genesis 37:22And Reuben said unto them, Shed no blood, but cast him into this pit that is in the wilderness, and lay no hand upon him; that he might rid him out of their hands, to deliver him to his father again. Reuben is doing what weak men do. He is trying to find a…
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Behold, This Dreamer Cometh – Genesis 37:19-21
Genesis 37:19-21And they said one to another, Behold, this dreamer cometh. Come now therefore, and let us slay him, and cast him into some pit, and we will say, Some evil beast hath devoured him: and we shall see what will become of his dreams. And Reuben heard it, and he delivered him out of…
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I Seek My Brethren – Genesis 37:15-18
Genesis 37:15-18And a certain man found him, and, behold, he was wandering in the field: and the man asked him, saying, What seekest thou? And he said, I seek my brethren: tell me, I pray thee, where they feed their flocks. And the man said, They are departed hence; for I heard them say, Let…
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Sent from Hebron to Shechem – Genesis 37:14
Genesis 37:14And he said to him, Go, I pray thee, see whether it be well with thy brethren, and well with the flocks; and bring me word again. So he sent him out of the vale of Hebron, and he came to Shechem. Joseph is sent as a messenger. That is the scene. Jacob says,…
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Here Am I – Genesis 37:12-13
Genesis 37:12-13And his brethren went to feed their father’s flock in Shechem. And Israel said unto Joseph, Do not thy brethren feed the flock in Shechem? come, and I will send thee unto them. And he said to him, Here am I. Shechem was not just another place on the map. It was a loaded…
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The Dream Had to Be Told – Genesis 37:5-11
Genesis 37:5–7And Joseph dreamed a dream, and he told it his brethren: and they hated him yet the more. And he said unto them, Hear, I pray you, this dream which I have dreamed: For, behold, we were binding sheaves in the field, and, lo, my sheaf arose, and also stood upright; and, behold, your…
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The Coat of Favor – Genesis 37:3-4
Genesis 37:3Now Israel loved Joseph more than all his children, because he was the son of his old age: and he made him a coat of many colours. Genesis 37:4And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him. Joseph…
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What Really Matters to the Father – Genesis 37:1-2
Genesis 37:1, 2And Jacob dwelt in the land wherein his father was a stranger, in the land of Canaan. These are the generations of Jacob. Joseph, being seventeen years old, was feeding the flock with his brethren; and the lad was with the sons of Bilhah, and with the sons of Zilpah, his father’s wives:…
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The Son of Sorrow, the Son of the Right Hand – Genesis 35:16-18
Genesis 35:16-18“And they journeyed from Bethel; and there was but a little way to come to Ephrath: and Rachel travailed, and she had hard labour. And it came to pass, when she was in hard labour, that the midwife said unto her, Fear not; thou shalt have this son also. And it came to pass,…
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The Ladder and the Promise – Genesis 28:13-15
Genesis 28:13-15 And, behold, the Lord stood above it, and said, I am the Lord God of Abraham thy father, and the God of Isaac… … the land whereon thou liest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed; And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt…
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One Son at the Center – Genesis 25:6
Genesis 25:6 But unto the sons of the concubines, which Abraham had, Abraham gave gifts, and sent them away from Isaac his son, while he yet lived, eastward, unto the east country. This is a strong picture. Abraham blesses the other sons, but he sends them away. Why? Because Isaac is the son of promise.…
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I Will Go – Genesis 24:56-58
Genesis 24:56-58 And he said unto them, Hinder me not, seeing the Lord hath prospered my way; send me away that I may go to my master.And they said, We will call the damsel, and inquire at her mouth.And they called Rebekah, and said unto her, Wilt thou go with this man? And she said,…
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Led While Walking – Genesis 24:26-28
Genesis 24:26-28 And the man bowed down his head, and worshipped the Lord.And he said, Blessed be the Lord God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the way, the Lord led me to the house of my master’s brethren.And the damsel…
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The Bride in View – Genesis 22:20-24
Genesis 22:20-24 And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor; Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah…
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The Son Returns on the Third Day – Genesis 22:19
Genesis 22:19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. This is a brief verse, but it carries a quiet weight. Abraham comes back down the mountain and returns to the young men. The journey continues. They rise up and head back…
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The Son Set Free – Genesis 22:19
Genesis 22:19 So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beer-sheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beer-sheba. This is one of those quiet verses that says more than it first appears to say. Abraham comes back down the mountain to the young men. The journey resumes. Life moves on.…
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Blessed Through Another’s Obedience – Genesis 22:15-18
Genesis 22:15-18 And the angel of the Lord called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the Lord, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy…
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Stop, Abraham – Genesis 22:10-12
Genesis 22:10-12 And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son. And the angel of the Lord called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for…
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God Will Provide Himself the Lamb – Genesis 22:7-9
Genesis 22:7-9 And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they…
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Together to the Place of Sacrifice – Genesis 22:6
Genesis 22:6 And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son, and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together. This verse is loaded. Abraham takes the wood and lays it on Isaac. That alone is enough to stop…
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The Father and the Son – Genesis 22:1-2
Genesis 22:1-2 And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am. And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah… … and offer him there for…
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What Aileth Thee – Genesis 21:16-17
Genesis 21:16, 17And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept. And God heard the voice of the lad; and…
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He Found Her – Genesis 16:7
Genesis 16:7 And the angel of the LORD found her by a fountain of water in the wilderness, by the fountain in the way to Shur. This is the first time the phrase the angel of the Lord appears in Scripture. The word angel simply means messenger. But this is no ordinary angel. Angels in…
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He Walked It Alone – Genesis 15:17
Genesis 15:17 And it came to pass, that, when the sun went down, and it was dark, behold a smoking furnace, and a burning lamp that passed between those pieces. Abram had prepared the pieces. Abram had fought off the birds. Abram had done what he could do. But when the moment came for the…
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Life Matters Because God Says So – Genesis 9:5-7
Genesis 9:5-7 And surely your blood of your lives will I require; at the hand of every beast will I require it, and at the hand of man; at the hand of every man’s brother will I require the life of man. Whoso sheddeth man’s blood, by man shall his blood be shed: for in…
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The Sweetness of Sacrifice – Genesis 8:21-22
Genesis 8:21-22 And the Lord smelled a sweet savour; and the Lord said in his heart, I will not again curse the ground any more for man’s sake; for the imagination of man’s heart is evil from his youth; neither will I again smite any more every thing living, as I have done. While the…
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Resting on Resurrection – Genesis 8:2-4
Genesis 8:2-4 The fountains also of the deep and the windows of heaven were stopped, and the rain from heaven was restrained; And the waters returned from off the earth continually: and after the end of the hundred and fifty days the waters were abated. And the ark rested in the seventh month, on the…
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The Finished Work – Genesis 6:22
Genesis 6:22 Thus did Noah; according to all that God commanded him, so did he. There is something deeply powerful in that simple line. Noah did not partially obey. He did not build most of the ark and then shrug his shoulders. He did not get tired halfway through and decide that near enough was…
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Safe Through the Storm – Genesis 6:17-18
Genesis 6:17-18 And, behold, I, even I, do bring a flood of waters upon the earth, to destroy all flesh, wherein is the breath of life, from under heaven; and every thing that is in the earth shall die. But with thee will I establish my covenant; and thou shalt come into the ark, thou,…
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One Window, One Door, One Journey – Genesis 6:16
Genesis 6:16 A window shalt thou make to the ark, and in a cubit shalt thou finish it above; and the door of the ark shalt thou set in the side thereof; with lower, second, and third stories shalt thou make it. This verse is rich. First, there was a window in the ark. Noah…
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The Gospel in the Genealogy – Genesis 5:28-31
Genesis 5:28, 29, 30, 31 And Lamech lived an hundred eighty and two years, and begat a son: And he called his name Noah, saying, This same shall comfort us concerning our work and toil of our hands, because of the ground which the Lord hath cursed. And Lamech lived after he begat Noah five…
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When Heaven Comes Down – Genesis 5:15-17
Genesis 5:15-17 And Mahalaleel lived sixty and five years, and begat Jared: And Mahalaleel lived after he begat Jared eight hundred and thirty years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Mahalaleel were eight hundred ninety and five years: and he died. Mahalaleel points us to the presence of God. Then comes…
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From Death to Sorrow – Genesis 5:9-11
Genesis 5:9-11 And Enos lived ninety years, and begat Cainan: And Enos lived after he begat Cainan eight hundred and fifteen years, and begat sons and daughters: And all the days of Enos were nine hundred and five years: and he died. The names keep preaching. Enos speaks of man as frail, weak, and subject…
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Empty Arms, Greater Promise – Genesis 4:2
Genesis 4:2 And she again bare his brother Abel. That is a very short verse, but it carries a lot of sadness behind it. By now Eve has already learned something every parent eventually learns. Children do not come into the world innocent in the deepest sense. They come into the world needing grace. However…
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Acquired, But Not Yet – Genesis 4:1
Genesis 4:1 And Adam knew Eve his wife; and she conceived, and bare Cain, and said, I have gotten a man from the Lord. You can almost hear the hope in Eve’s voice. She has heard the promise of Genesis 3:15. She knows that through her seed would come the One who would deal the…
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The Guarded Way and the Open Way – Genesis 3:24
Genesis 3:24 So he drove out the man; and he placed at the east of the garden of Eden Cherubims, and a flaming sword which turned every way, to keep the way of the tree of life. Genesis 3 closes with a guarded way. Man is outside. The garden is shut. Cherubim stand watch. The…
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Covered – Genesis 3:21
Genesis 3:21 Unto Adam also and to his wife did the Lord God make coats of skins, and clothed them. This is such a quiet verse, but it carries tremendous weight. Adam and Eve had already tried to deal with their shame on their own. They sewed fig leaves together. They reached for the best…
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The New Name – Genesis 3:20
Genesis 3:20 And Adam called his wife’s name Eve; because she was the mother of all living. There is more happening in this verse than a simple name change. Back in chapter 2, Adam called her Isha, woman, because she was taken out of man. The emphasis there was origin. She came from his side.…
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The First Gospel – Genesis 3:15
Genesis 3:15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel. This verse is one of the most remarkable in all of Scripture because right in the middle of ruin, God speaks hope. Adam and Eve…
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Life on the Third Day – Genesis 1:9-13
Genesis 1:9-13 And God said, Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear: and it was so. And God called the dry land Earth; and the gathering together of the waters called he Seas: and God saw that it was good. And God said, Let…
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Grace Gets the Last Word – Revelation 22:19-21
Revelation 22:19-21 And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly.…
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Still Saying Come – Revelation 22:17
Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. What a way for the Bible to close. After all the thunder, all the warnings, all the visions, all the…
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Before David, After David – Revelation 22:16
Revelation 22:16 I Jesus have sent mine angel to testify unto you these things in the churches. I am the root and the offspring of David, and the bright and morning star. This is a beautiful way for Revelation to keep our eyes on who Jesus really is. He is not merely a teacher finishing…
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The Door Is Still Open – Revelation 22:12-14
Revelation 22:12-14 And, behold, I come quickly; and my reward is with me, to give every man according as his work shall be. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last. Blessed are they that do his commandments, that they may have right to the tree of life,…
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No Neutral Ground – Revelation 22:11
Revelation 22:11He that is unjust, let him be unjust still: and he which is filthy, let him be filthy still: and he that is righteous, let him be righteous still: and he that is holy, let him be holy still. This is one of the sobering lines in the whole book. The Lord brings everything…
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Keep the Book Open – Revelation 22:10
Revelation 22:10And he saith unto me, Seal not the sayings of the prophecy of this book: for the time is at hand. This is a direct command from heaven. Do not seal the book. Do not shut it. Do not set it aside as though it were too difficult, too mysterious, or too controversial to…
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No More Night – Revelation 22:5
Revelation 22:5And there shall be no night there; and they need no candle, neither light of the sun; for the Lord God giveth them light: and they shall reign for ever and ever. John ends this section with one more sweeping promise. There will be no night there. No darkness settling in. No fading of…
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Never Closed, Never Dark – Revelation 21:23-25
Revelation 21:23, 24, 25And the city had no need of the sun, neither of the moon, to shine in it: for the glory of God did lighten it, and the Lamb is the light thereof. And the nations of them which are saved shall walk in the light of it:And the kings of the earth…
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No More Leaving – Revelation 21:22
Revelation 21:22And I saw no temple therein: for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are the temple of it. That is a remarkable statement. In a city filled with glory, jewels, gold, gates, and light, John notices something missing. There is no temple. For a Jewish man, that would be striking. The temple had…
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The City Where Nothing Runs Dry – Revelation 21:6
Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. One of the sure signs of a healthy community is this: does it have what people need to…
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Nothing Left Unfinished – Revelation 21:6
Revelation 21:6 And he said unto me, It is done. There is such strength in that short sentence. Not “It has begun.” Not “It is underway.” Not “It is almost there.” He says, “It is done.” That is the voice of the Master who finishes what He starts. Jesus spoke before of going to prepare…
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It’s Not Over Yet – Revelation 20:14-15
Revelation 20:14-15 And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire. These are heavy verses, but they end on a truth every child of God needs to hear. It’s not…
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The Last Circle Around Jerusalem – Revelation 20:9-10
Revelation 20:9-10 And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the…
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Thrones, Rewards, and the First Resurrection – Revelation 20:4-5
Revelation 20:4-5 And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them… and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their…
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The Table Before the Battle – Revelation 19:20-21
Revelation 19:20-21 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. And the remnant were slain…
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The Last War Turns the Wrong Way – Revelation 19:19
Revelation 19:19 And I saw the beast, and the kings of the earth, and their armies, gathered together to make war against him that sat on the horse, and against his army. This is the insanity of sin at full bloom. The beast gathers the kings of the earth and their armies together for war.…
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Two Suppers – Revelation 19:16-18
Revelation 19:16-18 And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS. And I saw an angel standing in the sun; and he cried with a loud voice, saying to all the fowls that fly in the midst of heaven, Come and gather yourselves together…
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The King Wins by His Word – Revelation 19:15
Revelation 19:15 And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. I have seen paintings of this scene where Jesus has a literal sword…
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The Blood on His Robe – Revelation 19:13-14
Revelation 19:13-14 And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and his name is called The Word of God.And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. John sees Jesus riding forth, and one detail catches the eye immediately: He was clothed with…
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Crowned Above Every Camp – Revelation 19:12
Revelation 19:12 …and on his head were many crowns… and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. John sees Jesus wearing many crowns. Not one crown only, but many. He is not the King of one tribe, one stream, one label, or one little corner of the church world. He…
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The Eyes That Burn Away the Flesh – Revelation 19:11-12
Revelation 19:11-12 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire… There is something weighty in that opening line. John says, I saw heaven opened. Earlier…
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Revelation 19:9
And he saith unto me, Write, Blessed are they which are called unto the marriage supper of the Lamb. And he saith unto me, These are the true sayings of God. Revelation 19:10 And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy…
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Water Walkers in Heaven – Revelation 15:2
Revelation 15:2 And I saw as it were a sea of glass mingled with fire and them that had gotten the victory over the beast, and over his image, and over his mark, and over the number of his name, stand on the sea of glass, having the harps of God. John is still in…
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Two Bloods – Revelation 14:19-20
Revelation 14:19-20 And the angel thrust in his sickle into the earth, and gathered the vine of the earth, and cast it into the great winepress of the wrath of God. And the winepress was trodden without the cityAnd blood came out of the winepress, even unto the horse bridles, by the space of a…
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When the Cloud Appears – Revelation 14:14
Revelation 14:14 to 16 And I looked, and behold a white cloud, and upon the cloud one sat like unto the Son of man, having on his head a golden crown, and in his hand a sharp sickle.And another angel came out of the temple, crying with a loud voice to him that sat on…
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Fire Is Not Proof – Revelation 13:13 14
Revelation 13:13 14 And he doeth great wonders, so that he maketh fire come down from heaven on the earth in the sight of men, And deceiveth them that dwell on the earth by the means of those miracles which he had power to do in the sight of the beast saying to them that…
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Kept for the Wilderness – Revelation 12:5-6
Revelation 12:5 And she brought forth a man child, who was to rule all nations with a rod of iron: and her child was caught up unto God, and to his throne. Revelation 12:6 And the woman fled into the wilderness, where she hath a place prepared of God, that they should feed her there…
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The Idols We Still Polish – Revelation 9:20
Revelation 9:20 And the rest of the men which were not killed by these plagues yet repented not of the works of their hands, that they should not worship devils, and idols of gold, and silver, and brass, and stone, and of wood: which neither can see, nor hear, nor walk. This is one of…
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When Mercy Commands Judgment – Revelation 9:12-14
Revelation 9:12-14 One woe is past; and, behold, there come two woes more hereafter. And the sixth angel sounded, and I heard a voice from the four horns of the golden altar which is before God, Saying to the sixth angel which had the trumpet, Loose the four angels… …which are bound in the great…
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Bitter Water and the Tree – Revelation 8:10-11
Revelation 8:10, 11 And the third angel sounded, and there fell a great star from heaven, burning as it were a lamp, and it fell upon the third part of the rivers, and upon the fountains of waters; And the name of the star is called Wormwood: and the third part of the waters became…
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A Song Too Big to Count – Revelation 7:9-11
Revelation 7:9-11 After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;And cried with a loud voice, saying, Salvation to our God which sitteth upon…
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The Silence Before the Wind – Revelation 7:1
Revelation 7:1 And after these things I saw four angels standing on the four corners of the earth, holding the four winds of the earth, that the wind should not blow on the earth, nor on the sea, nor on any tree. After the terror at the end of chapter 6, this verse almost feels…
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Who Shall Be Able to Stand? – Revelation 6:17
Revelation 6:17 For the great day of his wrath is come; and who shall be able to stand? That is the question hanging in the air when chapter 6 closes. The earth is shaking. The heavens are rolled back. Kings and captains are hiding in caves. Men are crying to the rocks. And then comes…
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No Place Left to Hide – Revelation 6:15-16
Revelation 6:15-16 And the kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chief captains, and the mighty men, and every bondman, and every free man, hid themselves in the dens and in the rocks of the mountains; And said to the mountains and rocks, Fall on us, and hide…
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When the Sky Rolls Back – Revelation 6:14
Revelation 6:14 And the heaven departed as a scroll when it is rolled together; and every mountain and island were moved out of their places. This is one of those verses that makes you stop and just stare at the page for a minute. John says the heaven departed as a scroll when it is…
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When God Shakes the Earth – Revelation 6:12-13
Revelation 6:12-13 And I beheld when he had opened the sixth seal, and, lo, there was a great earthquake; and the sun became black as sackcloth of hair, and the moon became as blood; And the stars of heaven fell unto the earth, even as a fig tree casteth her untimely figs, when she is…
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When Heaven Says Rest – Revelation 6:9-11
Revelation 6:9-11 And when he had opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of them that were slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held: And they cried with a loud voice, saying, How long, O Lord, holy and true, dost thou not judge and avenge…
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When Sickness Rides Out – Revelation 6:7-8
Revelation 6:7, 8 And when he had opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth beast say, Come and see. And I looked, and behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was Death, and Hell followed with him. And power was given unto them over the fourth part…
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Luxury Untouched – Revelation 6:6
Revelation 6:6 And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine. There is something startling in that last line. Bread is scarce. Barley is rationed. The…
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A Starving World at a Full Table – Revelation 6:5-6
Revelation 6:5-6 And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand. And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A…
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When False Peace Turns Red – Revelation 6:3-4
Revelation 6:3-4 And when he had opened the second seal, I heard the second beast say, Come and see. And there went out another horse that was red: and power was given to him that sat thereon to take peace from the earth, and that they should kill one another: and there was given unto…
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The Imitation King – Revelation 6:2
Revelation 6:2 And I saw, and behold a white horse: and he that sat on him had a bow and a crown was given unto him: and he went forth conquering, and to conquer. At first glance, this rider might seem noble. He rides a white horse. Later in Revelation 19, we will indeed see…
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Every Voice Says Yes – Revelation 5:13-14
Revelation 5:13-14 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and…
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The Lion Revealed as a Lamb – Revelation 5:6
Revelation 5:6“And I beheld, and, lo, in the midst of the throne and of the four beasts, and in the midst of the elders, stood a Lamb as it had been slain, having seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven Spirits of God sent forth into all the earth.” John has just been…
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No One Answered the Cry – Revelation 5:2-4
Revelation 5:2-4“And I saw a strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice, Who is worthy to open the book, and to loose the seals thereof?And no man in heaven, nor in earth, neither under the earth, was able to open the book, neither to look thereon.And I wept much, because no man was found worthy…
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More Than a Mascot – Revelation 3:22
Revelation 3:22 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. That is how the message to Laodicea ends, but it is really the Lord’s appeal to every church and every heart. “He that hath an ear, let him hear.” In other words, do not just listen politely. Do…
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The Knock at the Church Door – Revelation 3:20-21
Revelation 3:20-21 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and…
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When the People Rule – Revelation 3:14
Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God. When we come to Laodicea, we come to a church that is painfully familiar. Laodicea was a wealthy city, a banking center with money to…
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The Open Door and the Little Strength – Revelation 3:7-8
Revelation 3:7-8 And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write; These things saith he that is holy, he that is true, he that hath the key of David, he that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open…
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Keep It Simple – Revelation 2:29
Revelation 2:29 He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches. I believe Thyatira points to the Catholic Church because the very name carries the idea of continual sacrifice. That is significant when you think about the Catholic view of Communion. Traditionally, historically, and still today, the teaching of…
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The Morning Star and the Kingdom – Revelation 2:26-28
Revelation 2:26-27 And he that overcometh, and keepeth my works unto the end, to him will I give power over the nations: And he shall rule them with a rod of iron; as the vessels of a potter shall they be broken to shivers: even as I received of my Father. Revelation 2:28 And I…
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Through the Fire, Through the Noise – Revelation 1:15
Revelation 1:15 And his feet like unto fine brass, as if they burned in a furnace and his voice as the sound of many waters. John says the feet of Jesus were like fine brass, as if they had been burned in a furnace. That image would not have been lost on the persecuted believers…
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Covered and Calm – Revelation 1:13
Revelation 1:13 And in the midst of the seven candlesticks one like unto the Son of man, clothed with a garment down to the foot, and girt about the paps with a golden girdle. John turns and what does he see. He sees Jesus in the midst of the lampstand. Not absent. Not distant. Not…
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Turning to See – Revelation 1:12
Revelation 1:12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me.And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks. When John heard the voice behind him, he turned to see what it meant. He did not shrug it off. He did not say, “That can wait.” He turned. And in that simple response, I…
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The King Is Coming – Revelation 1:6-7
Revelation 1:6-7 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.Behold, he cometh with clouds and every eye shall see him, and they also which pierced him and all kindreds of the earth shall wail because of him. Even so, Amen.…
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Nothing More, Nothing Less – Jude 17-19
Jude 17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; how that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. After all of…
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Grace Is Not Permission – Jude 4
Jude 4 For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. Jude wastes no time telling us what the danger was. Certain men had slipped in…
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God’s Witness Is Greater – 1 John 5:9
1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater: for this is the witness of God which he hath testified of his Son. John makes a very simple argument here. We believe people all day long. We believe the doctor when he reads the scan. We believe the banker…
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Victory Through a Person – 1 John 5:4-5
1 John 5:4, 5 For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith. Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? John now tells us something every believer needs to hear. The world can…
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Born of God, In Love With the Son – 1 John 5:1
1 John 5:1 Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ is born of God: and every one that loveth him that begat loveth him also that is begotten of him. John is bringing his letter in for a landing, and he does it beautifully. In the opening chapters, he talked about walking in the light. Then…
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The Confession That Keeps You Safe – 1 John 4:14-15
1 John 4:14, 15 And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God dwelleth in him, and he in God. John keeps bringing us back to solid ground. He knows there are a lot…
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The Seed That Will Not Let Him Rest – 1 John 3:9
1 John 3:9 Whosoever is born of God doth not commit sin; for his seed remaineth in him: and he cannot sin, because he is born of God. John is still driving home the same truth. Because Jesus came to take away sin and to destroy the works of the devil, the man who is…
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Why Jesus Came – 1 John 3:5-8
1 John 3:5-8 And ye know that he was manifested to take away our sins; and in him is no sin. Whosoever abideth in him sinneth not: whosoever sinneth hath not seen him, neither known him.Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous. He that…
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Practicing Sin – 1 John 3:4
1 John 3:4 Whosoever committeth sin transgresseth also the law: for sin is the transgression of the law. John is not talking here about the believer who stumbles, grieves, confesses, and gets back up. He is not describing the man who hates his sin even while struggling against it. The word translated “committeth” carries the…
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Living in the Hope of His Coming – 1 John 3:3
1 John 3:3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. John makes it plain that hope is not just something a believer talks about. It has an effect. The person who truly believes Jesus is coming, the one who lives with the awareness that he may…
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Like Him When He Appears – 1 John 3:2
1 John 3:2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. John says something here that is both comforting and honest at the same…
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Confidence at His Coming – 1 John 2:28-29
1 John 2:28-29 And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming. If ye know that he is righteous, ye know that every one that doeth righteousness is born of him. John brings it down to something very personal.…
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The Danger of Seduction – 1 John 2:26
1 John 2:26 These things have I written unto you concerning them that seduce you. John is not warning about people who are merely confused. He is talking about those who actively seduce, those who pull, charm, flatter, and persuade in order to cloud the truth about Jesus. That is what makes false teaching so…
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The Message That Must Stay – 1 John 2:24-25
1 John 2:24-25 Let that therefore abide in you, which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning shall remain in you, ye also shall continue in the Son, and in the Father. And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even eternal life. John keeps…
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The God Who Took the Blow – 1 John 2:21-23
1 John 2:21-23 I have not written unto you because ye know not the truth, but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth. Who is a liar but he that denieth that Jesus is the Christ? He is antichrist, that denieth the Father and the Son. Whosoever denieth the Son,…
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Growing Simpler in Jesus – 1 John 2:12-14
1 John 2:12-14 I write unto you, little children, because your sins are forgiven you for his name’s sake. I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome the wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye…
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The Book That Saw Him Coming 2 Peter 1:21
2 Peter 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. Peter tells us plainly where Scripture came from. It did not rise from man’s ideas, religious creativity, or human ambition. Holy men of God spoke…
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More Sure Than the Mountain – 2 Peter 1:17 to 18
2 Peter 1:17 to 18 For he received from God the Father honour and glory, when there came such a voice to him from the excellent glory, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.And this voice which came from heaven we heard, when we were with him in the holy mount.…
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Lifted Into His Footsteps – 1 Peter 2:21-25
1 Peter 2:21-25 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps: Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth: Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him…
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The Quarry Is Not the Temple – 1 Peter 2:5-8
1 Peter 2:5 (b)-8 …are built up a spiritual house… …an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ. Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief corner stone, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded. Unto you…
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Joy in the Fire – 1 Peter 1:8
1 Peter 1:8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory. Peter says something remarkable here. These believers had never seen Jesus with their physical eyes, yet they loved Him deeply. They did not see Him standing in…
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No Name Dropping – James 1:1
Some people cannot introduce themselves without polishing the brass a little. They find a way to mention who they know, where they have been, what they have done, or why you should be impressed. It is almost an art form. Just enough humility to sound spiritual, but still enough detail to make sure everybody catches…
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A Few Words and a Lot of Grace – Hebrews 13:22–25
Hebrews 13:22–25 And I beseech you, brethren, suffer the word of exhortation: for I have written a letter unto you in few words.Know ye that our brother Timothy is set at liberty; with whom, if he come shortly, I will see you. Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints.…
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The God of Peace Finishes What He Starts – Hebrews 13:20–21
Hebrews 13:20–21 Now the God of peace, that brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom…
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Outside the Camp with Jesus – Hebrews 13:13
A man can stay in the camp his whole life and still never really come to Jesus. He can love the structure, the familiarity, the smell of religion, the visible symbols, the old routines. He can feel safe there because everything is recognizable. The camp has walls. The camp has ceremony. The camp has approval.…
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Outside for Our Sin – Hebrews 13:12
Hebrews 13:12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate. There is a reason Hebrews makes a point of saying Jesus suffered without the gate. At first glance, that can feel like a small detail. A matter of location. Just geography. But it is much more than…
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Outside the Camp – Hebrews 13:10–11
There is something in us that likes visible religion. We like places we can point to, systems we can touch, rituals we can repeat. It feels solid to stand near an altar, watch the smoke rise, and say, “There it is. That is where God meets man.” The Jewish believer reading Hebrews would have understood…
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Grace at the Center – Hebrews 13:9
Sometimes people miss the feel of religion more than the reality of Jesus. They miss the movement, the ceremony, the visible structure. They miss the sense of doing something tangible. It feels spiritual to handle sacred things, to follow a sequence, to smell incense, to keep a rule, to observe a ritual. And because of…
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The Love That Never Changes – Hebrews 13:8
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever. This little verse stands like a rock in the middle of the chapter. Everything around it moves through real life—loving the saints, welcoming strangers, caring for the hurting, honoring marriage, learning contentment, walking in submission. And right here, underneath it all, is…
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The Place of Surrender – Hebrews 12:4
Hebrews 12:4 Ye have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. The writer brings us down close here. Very close. After telling us to consider Jesus, he now says, in essence, “You have not yet come to the place He came to.” You have struggled. You have sweated. You have wrestled. But you have…
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When Your Mind Starts to Give Way – Hebrews 12:3
Hebrews 12:3 For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds. There is a kind of exhaustion that has nothing to do with muscles or sleep. It settles in the mind. It comes when pressure keeps building, when people keep resisting, when the road…
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Joy on the Other Side – Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God. After telling us to run with patience, the writer of Hebrews now tells us where…
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What Pleases God Most – Hebrews 11:5
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death; and was not found, because God had translated him: for before his translation he had this testimony, that he pleased God. Enoch steps onto the page almost quietly, but what is said about him is stunning. He was translated. Taken. Removed before…
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Held by His Faithfulness — Hebrews 10:23
Hebrews 10:23 Let us hold fast the profession of our faith without wavering; (for he is faithful that promised;) At first glance, this verse sounds like a command about our stability. “Hold fast.”“Do not waver.” It almost sounds like the writer is saying the Christian life depends on how tightly we can grip our faith. But…
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A True Heart — Hebrews 10:21–22
Hebrews 10:21–22 And having an high priest over the house of God; Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water. The invitation here is simple, but it is also one of the hardest things for people…
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The Torn Veil — Hebrews 10:20
Hebrews 10:20 …which he hath consecrated for us, through the veil, that is to say, his flesh. That verse is breathtaking when you slow down enough to feel it. The veil in the tabernacle was not just fabric. It was a barrier. It said, “You may come this far, but no farther.” It stood between…
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Perfected Forever — Hebrews 10:13–14
Hebrews 10:13–14 From henceforth expecting till his enemies be made his footstool. For by one offering he hath perfected for ever them that are sanctified. Jesus is seated now, waiting until every enemy is finally put under His feet. That means history is not drifting. It is moving. The King is not worried, not scrambling, not…
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Seated for You — Hebrews 10:12
Hebrews 10:12 But this man, after he had offered one sacrifice for sins for ever, sat down on the right hand of God. That one word changes everything: sat down. Under the old system, the priest never sat down because the work was never finished. There was always another sacrifice, another reminder, another day of ministry,…
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The One Sacrifice — Hebrews 10:7–8
Hebrews 10:7–8 Then said I, Lo, I come (in the volume of the book it is written of me,) to do thy will, O God. Above when he said, Sacrifice and offering and burnt offerings and offering for sin thou wouldest not, neither hadst pleasure therein; which are offered by the law. There is something strong…
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A Body Prepared — Hebrews 10:5–6
Hebrews 10:5–6 Wherefore when he cometh into the world, he saith, Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not, but a body hast thou prepared me: In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin thou hast had no pleasure. There is something holy and tender in these words. They pull the curtain back and let us hear what sounds…
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Crown, Not Cross — Hebrews 9:28
Hebrews 9:28 So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation. The first coming of Jesus and the second coming of Jesus are not for the same purpose. The first time He came, He came to…
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One Life, One Death, One Judgment — Hebrews 9:27
Hebrews 9:27 And as it is appointed unto men once to die, but after this the judgment. This is one of those verses that clears the air fast. We do not move through endless cycles of lives, coming back again and again in different forms, hoping eventually to work our way upward. Scripture does not…
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Forever Enough — Hebrews 7:26–28
Hebrews 7:26–28 For such an high priest became us, who is holy, harmless, undefiled, separate from sinners, and made higher than the heavens;Who needeth not daily, as those high priests, to offer up sacrifice, first for his own sins, and then for the people’s: for this he did once, when he offered up himself.For the…
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Saved All the Way Through — Hebrews 7:25
Hebrews 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them. That is not thin comfort. That is deep water. Jesus does not save halfway. He does not get a man started and then leave him to finish…
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One Priest Who Never Changes — Hebrews 7:24
Hebrews 7:24 But this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood. There is a deep comfort in that verse. Under the old system, priests kept changing because men kept dying. One would serve, then another would take his place, and then another after him. The office remained, but the man did not. So…
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A Better Testament, A Living Priest — Hebrews 7:22–23
Hebrews 7:22–23 By so much was Jesus made a surety of a better testament.And they truly were many priests, because they were not suffered to continue by reason of death. What a contrast this is. Under the old system, there were many priests. Not because the system was overflowing with strength, but because death kept…
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Sworn In Forever — Hebrews 7:20–21
Hebrews 7:20–21 And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:(For those priests were made without an oath;But this with an oath by him that said unto him, The Lord sware and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchisedek:) There is something very weighty here. The…
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A Better Hope — Hebrews 7:18–19
Hebrews 7:18–19 For there is verily a disannulling of the commandment going before for the weakness and unprofitableness thereof.For the law made nothing perfect; but the bringing in of a better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God. That is strong language. The old commandment is set aside, not because God made…
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A Priest from Another Tribe — Hebrews 7:13–17
Hebrews 7:13–17 For he of whom these things are spoken pertaineth to another tribe, of which no man gave attendance at the altar.For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priesthood.And it is yet far more evident: for that after the similitude of Melchisedec there…
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The Rules Changed — Hebrews 7:12
Hebrews 7:12 For the priesthood being changed, there is made of necessity a change also of the law. That verse is brief, but it swings a very big door open. The writer of Hebrews is saying that if God has brought in a different Priest, then the whole arrangement connected to the old priesthood has…
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Why Another Priest? — Hebrews 7:11
Hebrews 7:11 If therefore perfection were by the Levitical priesthood, (for under it the people received the law,) what further need was there that another priest should rise after the order of Melchisedek, and not be called after the order of Aaron? Hebrews asks a very plain question here, and once you hear it, it…
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Greater Than Levi — Hebrews 7:5–10
Hebrews 7:5–10 And verily they that are of the sons of Levi, who receive the office of the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes of the people according to the law, that is, of their brethren, though they come out of the loins of Abraham:But he whose descent is not counted from them received…
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Righteousness Before Peace — Hebrews 7:1–3
Hebrews 7:1–3 For this Melchisedek, king of Salem, priest of the most high God, who met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings, and blessed him;To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace;Without…
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The King Priest — Hebrews 7:1
Hebrews 7:1 (a) For this Melchisedek, king of Salem… Melchizedek first appears as king of Salem, which is understood to be Jerusalem. That matters because Jerusalem is the city of the great King. So right away, this man steps onto the page with unusual weight. He is not a minor background figure. He is a king…