Having seen the star, they rejoiced with exceedingly great joy. Truth to Learn Faith in anything other than Jesus Christ is futile. Behind the Words “Having seen” is translated from the verb horaō, which means “to see” or “to stare at.” It is expressed here as an aorist participle,...
Daily Verse
Matthew 2:9 – Diligently Seek Him
And having heard the king, they departed; and behold, the star which they saw in the East went before them, until it came and stood over where the child was. Truth to Learn Let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. (1Chronicles 16:10) Behind the Words The...
Matthew 2:2 – Worship The True King
saying, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the East and came to worship Him." Truth to Learn On this Christmas Day, let’s truly worship the true King. Behind the Words “has been born” is translated from the verb...
Matthew 2:1 – Learn the Truth
And Jesus having been born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, behold, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, Truth to Learn We need to believe what the Bible says, not what tradition has taught us, no matter how interesting they might make the...
Luke 2:13, 14 – Singing Angels?
And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace on men with whom He is pleased." Truth to Learn We need to believe what the Bible says, not what tradition has taught...
Luke 2:12 – Poor Messiah
And this is the sign to you: You will find a Baby wrapped up, lying in the manger." Truth to Learn The conquering Messiah arrived as a very poor baby. Behind the Words Sēmeion is the Greek word translated “sign.” This is based on the verb sēmainō, which means...
Luke 2:10, 11 – Born To Die
And the angel said to them, Do not fear. Look, I proclaim good news to you, a great joy, which will be to all people. Because today a Savior, who is Christ the Lord, was born to you in the city of David. Truth to Learn Jesus Christ came forth...
Luke 2:9 – Full of Fear
And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were greatly afraid. Truth to Learn The shepherds were afraid when the angel appeared to them. Behind the Words The words “stood before” are translated from the Greek...
Luke 2:8 – Celebrating Whom?
As has been our tradition for the past several years, for the week preceeding Christmas, we will pause our verse studies in the current book to focus on a few Christmas verses. We will return to our verse studies after the first of the year. Now there were in...
Ephesians 5:7 – Saved? Really?
Therefore do not become partakers with them. Truth to Learn You can’t be a child of God and still live like the Devil. Behind the Words The word “become” is translated from the Greek verb ginomai, which means “to begin to be” or “to become.” “Partakers” is from summetochos,...
Ephesians 5:6 – Don’t Be Deceived
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Truth to Learn Don’t believe everything you hear being taught about the Bible. Behind the Words The Greek word translated “deceive” is apataō, which means “to...
Ephesians 5:5 – How’s Your Behavior?
For know this, recognizing that no fornicator, unclean person, nor covetous person, who is an idolater, has any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God. Truth to Learn Christians should act like Christians, not heathens. Behind the Words The words “know this, recognizing” are translated from the two...
Ephesians 5:4 – Not Sin, Thanks
and obscenity, and foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks. Truth to Learn Don’t do these sins. Instead, give thanks to God. Behind the Words “Obscenity” is from the Greek word aischrotēs, which is from aischros, meaning “indecent.” Aischrotēs refers to any...
Ephesians 5:3 – Do What Fits
But let not fornication and all uncleanness or greediness not be named among you, as is fitting for saints; Truth to Learn We are saints, so we need to learn to live like saints. Behind the Words The word “fornication” is translated from the Greek word porneia. This word...
Ephesians 5:2 – The Love Offering
And walk in love, as Christ also loved you and gave Himself for you, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling fragrance. Truth to Learn God gave us a sacrifice of love. We should give Him the same. Behind the Words Peripateō is the Greek word...
Ephesians 5:1 – Imitators, Not Actors
Then become imitators of God as beloved children. Truth to Learn We need to live the part that God has given us. Behind the Words “Then” is translated from oun, which indicates a connection of two thoughts, sometimes indicating an affect from the previous thought, but often just a...
Ephesians 4:32 – Kindness, Compassion, and Forgiveness
And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you. Truth to Learn Kindness, compassion, and forgiveness are of vital importance within the church. Behind the Words The verb “be” is translated from ginomai, meaning “to cause to be” or “to become.”...
Ephesians 4:31 – Grieving Actions
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and evil speaking be put away from you, along with all malice. Truth to Learn These are things which make God sad. Let’s not do them! Behind the Words The word “Bitterness” is the translation of pikria, from pikros which...
Ephesians 4:30 – Signed, Sealed, and Deliverable
And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption. Truth to Learn All Christians are sealed with the Holy Spirit of God. Behind the Words “Grieve” is translated from the Greek verb lupeō, which is derived from the noun...
Ephesians 4:29 – Constructive Words
Let no rotten word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for needed edification, that it may give grace to the hearers. Truth to Learn Our speech should build up, not tear down. Behind the Words “Let … proceed” is translated from the verb ekporeuomai, which is...
Ephesians 4:28 – Give or Take
The one stealing, let him steal no more, but rather let him labor, working what is good with his own hands, that he may have something to give him who has need. Truth to Learn Overcome the problem of stealing by giving to others. Behind the Words The words...
Ephesians 4:27 – Accusation and Defense
nor give place to the devil. Truth to Learn Satan accuses us of wrongdoing. Don’t give him more to say. Behind the Words The word “nor” is from mēde, which is made up of mē (implying qualitative negation) and de, meaning “but” or “and.” There is another Greek word...
Ephesians 4:26 – Sinless Anger
"Be angry, and do not sin": do not let the sun go down on your wrath, Truth to Learn It’s God-like to get angry without sinning. Behind the Words “Angry” is translated from the Greek verb orgidzō. It is based on orgē which refers to “excitement of the mind,”...
Ephesians 4:25 – A Body of Truth
Therefore, putting away lying, "Let each one of you speak truth with his neighbor," because we are members of one another. Truth to Learn Honesty is critically important within the body of Christ. Behind the Words “Therefore” is translated from the Greek word dio, which is made up of...
Ephesians 4:24 – It’s Your Choice
and that you put on the new man which, according to God, was created in true righteousness and holiness. Truth to Learn We have a choice in how we live our lives. Behind the Words The words “put on” are the translation of the Greek verb enduō, which is...
Ephesians 4:23 – Christians Growing Young
and to be renewed in the spirit of your mind, Truth to Learn God expects us to use our mind to become more like Christ. Behind the Words “Be renewed” is translated from the Greek verb ananeoō, which appears nowhere else in the New Testament. It is made up...
Ephesians 4:22 – Lose the Old Man
that you put off, concerning your former behavior, the old man which grows corrupt according to the deceitful lusts, Truth to Learn Christians need to deny the desires of their sin nature. Behind the Words The words “put off” are translated from apotithēmi, which is made up of apo,...
Ephesians 4:21 – Living The Truth
if indeed you heard Him and you were taught by Him, as truth is in Jesus: Truth to Learn Christians know the truth and should live as such. Behind the Words “If indeed” is the translation of the Greek word eige, which is made up of ei, meaning “if”...
Ephesians 4:20 – Learn By Faith
But you have not so learned Christ, Truth to Learn We can only know Christ by faith. Behind the Words “So” is translated from houtōs, which literally means “in this manner.” It is a comparative word which, when used with the negative article ou as it is here, indicates...
Ephesians 4:19 – Numb, Uncontrolled, and Unclean
who, being past feeling, have surrendered themselves to lewdness, to the working of all uncleanness with greediness. Truth to Learn The unsaved are in a hopeless state. Offer them hope! Behind the Words The words “being past feeling” are from the Greek verb apalgeō, which is made up of...
Ephesians 4:18 – Darkened, Alienated, and Ignorant
having their intellect obscured, being alienated from the life of God, through the ignorance that is in them, because of the hardness of their heart; Truth to Learn The unsaved are the way they are because of unbelief caused by a lack of spiritual enlightenment. Behind the Words “Intellect”...