Matthew 2:1,2, 9-11 - Kings at the Manger? 1Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, 2saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His...
Luke 2:12, 15-17, 20 – Impossible, Improbable, but True
Luke 2:12, 15-17, 20 - Impossible, Improbable, but True 12And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger. 15So it was, when the angels had gone away from them into heaven, that the shepherds said to one another,...
Luke 2:8-14 – Promised Peace
Luke 2:8-14 - Promised Peace 8Now there were in the same country shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. 9And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. 10Then...
Romans 11:36 – It’s All His
Romans 11:36 - It's All His For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen. Truth to Learn God deserves all our praise for only He is worthy. Behind the Words There is a three-fold expression that Paul uses in the...
Romans 11:35 – Who’s In Charge?
Romans 11:35 - Who's In Charge? "or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to him?" Truth to Learn God does not owe you a thing, nor is He obligated to do what you want Him to do. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “has...
Romans 11:34 – The Greatest Mind
Romans 11:34 - The Greatest Mind "For who has known the mind of the Lord? or who has become His counselor?" Truth to Learn God is infinitely more intelligent and wise than we are; therefore, we have no reason to question his actions or plans. Behind the Words “Known” is...
Romans 11:33 – Immeasurable Riches
Romans 11:33 - Immeasurable Riches Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out! Truth to Learn God has given us a gift of immeasurable worth. Behind the Words The word translated “depth” is...
Romans 11:32 – Freed Prisoners
Romans 11:32 - Freed Prisoners For God has committed them all to disobedience, that He might have mercy on all. Truth to Learn We were once imprisoned by sin, but God has set us free. Behind the Words The word translated “has committed them all” is the Greek word sugkleiō....
Romans 11:31 – Give Away the Treasure
Romans 11:31 - Give Away the Treasure even so these also have now been disobedient, that through the mercy shown you they also may obtain mercy. Truth to Learn We can hoard the truth and be poor, or we can give it away and enjoy spiritual riches together with all...
Romans 11:30 – Believe It or Not
Romans 11:30 - Believe It or Not For as you were once disobedient to God, yet have now obtained mercy through their disobedience, Truth to Learn We can obtain mercy from God when we believe Him. Behind the Words The grammatical construction that ties this verse with the following one...
Romans 11:29 – Irrevocable Gifts
Romans 11:29 - Irrevocable Gifts For the gifts and the calling of God are irrevocable. Truth to Learn God’s choosing is final and unchangeable. Behind the Words “Gifts” is from charisma, which means “a gift of grace” or “an undeserved benefit.” In the New Testament it is used only of...
Romans 11:28 – Not Your Enemies
Romans 11:28 - Not Your Enemies Concerning the gospel they are enemies for your sake, but concerning the election they are beloved for the sake of the fathers. Truth to Learn The descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob are God’s beloved people whom He will rescue one day. Behind the...
Romans 11:27 – God’s Covenant
Romans 11:27 - God's Covenant For this is My covenant with them, when I take away their sins." Truth to Learn If God has graciously taken away your sins, you should be humbly and thankfully producing fruit. Behind the Words The word “covenant” is from the Greek word diathēkē, which...
Romans 11:26 – Our God, Our Deliverer
Romans 11:26 - Our God, Our Deliverer And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written: "The Deliverer will come out of Zion, and he will turn away ungodliness from Jacob; Truth to Learn Our God and Savior is deserving of all praise and glory. Behind the Words...
Romans 11:25 – The Wondrous Mystery
Romans 11:25 - The Wondrous Mystery For I do not desire, brethren, that you should be ignorant of this mystery, lest you should be wise in your own opinion, that blindness in part has happened to Israel until the fullness of the Gentiles has come in. Truth to Learn God...
Romans 11:24 – Comfort or Zeal?
Romans 11:24 - Comfort or Zeal? For if you were cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and were grafted contrary to nature into a cultivated olive tree, how much more will these, who are natural branches, be grafted into their own olive tree? Truth to...
Romans 11:23 – The Returning Remnant
Romans 11:23 - The Returning Remnant And they also, if they do not continue in unbelief, will be grafted in, for God is able to graft them in again. Truth to Learn The Jews will return to faith in Jehovah and His Messiah. Behind the Words The word translated “continue”...
Romans 11:22 – Goodness and Severity
Romans 11:22 - Goodness and Severity Therefore consider the goodness and severity of God: on those who fell, severity; but toward you, goodness, if you continue in His goodness. Otherwise you also will be cut off. Truth to Learn God demonstrates both His goodness and His severity! Behind the Words...
Romans 11:21 – The Almighty Gardner
Romans 11:21 - The Almighty Gardner For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either. Truth to Learn God rejected the Jewish people because they refused to believe that Jesus was their Messiah. Since He was willing to do this, He is just as...
Romans 11:20 – Faith and Fear
Romans 11:20 - Faith and Fear Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. Truth to Learn Salvation should not produce pride, but reverential fear. Behind the Words “Well said” is translated from the Greek word kalōs, meaning...
Romans 11:19 – Pride or Humility
Romans 11:19 - Pride or Humility You will say then, "Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in." Truth to Learn When we read Scripture we need to receive God’s truth in humility, being careful not to filter it through our pride. Behind the Words The words “You...
Romans 11:18 – No Proud Branches
Romans 11:18 - No Proud Branches do not boast against the branches. But if you do boast, remember that you do not support the root, but the root supports you. Truth to Learn We should not boast about ourselves or our position, because it is God who is responsible for...
Romans 11:17 – God’s Holy Fruit
Romans 11:17 - God's Holy Fruit And if some of the branches were broken off, and you, being a wild olive tree, were grafted in among them, and with them became a partaker of the root and fatness of the olive tree, Truth to Learn God works contrary to the...
Romans 11:16 – Set-apart by Him
Romans 11:16 - Set-apart by Him For if the firstfruit is holy, the lump is also holy; and if the root is holy, so are the branches. Truth to Learn Like the believing Jews, we are set-apart by God for His use. Behind the Words The word “firstfruit” is from...
Romans 11:15 – Again, God’s Choice
Romans 11:15 - Again, God's Choice For if their being cast away is the reconciling of the world, what will their acceptance be but life from the dead? Truth to Learn God decides whom He will chose and whom He will reject. Behind the Words “Being cast away” is a...
Romans 11:14 – It May be a Way
Romans 11:14 - It May be a Way if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them. Truth to Learn Preaching the Gospel message may evoke an emotional response in others, but it also might provoke them to salvation. Behind...
Romans 11:13 – Service Honors
Romans 11:13 - Service Honors For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles, I magnify my ministry, Truth to Learn Service to God is a great privilege and an honor, which should humble us now and forever. Behind the Words This verse starts...
Romans 11:12 – How Rich We Are!
Romans 11:12 - How Rich We Are! Now if their fall is riches for the world, and their failure riches for the Gentiles, how much more their fullness! Truth to Learn Because of the failure of the Jews to listen to and follow God, the offer of salvation has come...
Romans 11:11 – Share the Treasure!
Romans 11:11 - Share the Treasure! I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles. Truth to Learn The Jews lost their “most favored” position so we could receive it. We need...
Romans 11:10 – Blind Disobedience
Romans 11:10 - Blind Disobedience Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see, and bow down their back always." Truth to Learn Whether blinded or obedient, we will all bow before Him. Behind the Words “Eyes” is translated from ophthalmos, which refers to the eyes either literally...
Romans 11:9 – Ensnared by Blessings
Romans 11:9 - Ensnared by Blessings And David says: "Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them. Truth to Learn Blessings can become a trap if taken for granted. Behind the Words The word “let” is translated from a form of...