Category: Matthew

February 16, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In today’s reading, the chapter of Matthew contains many events, beginning with the triumphal entry. The two chapters of Leviticus deal with blood and sexual immorality.

February 16: Matthew 21, Leviticus 17, Leviticus 18 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 21 starts with the triumphal entry, and that event begins what is called the “holy week” Jesus rode in to Jerusalem on an unbroken colt. In Jerusalem Jesus cleansed the temple and threw out the money changers. The spiritual leaders were offended that people sang “Hosanna in the highest” at the triumphal entry, even that little children sang it. As an object lesson Jesus cursed a fig tree, the symbol of Israel, and it withered. The spiritual leaders also questioned Jesus authority. Instead of giving an answer Jesus gave two parables, the one about the two sons and the parable about the wicked tenants. Moving on, Jesus quoted scripture by saying :The stone  the builders rejected has become the cornerstone” meaning that the kingdom of God will be inherited by another people.

Leviticus 17 deals with the sanctity of blood and why eating of blood is forbidden in the Mosaic Law.

Leviticus 18 defines the laws of sexual morality, and especially to stay away from Molech,  a Pagan god who enticed the people through sexual orgies, made them pass through the fire and offer child sacrifices (the result of those sexual orgies.)

February 15, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In the three chapters for today Jesus explained further the kingdom of heaven in the gospel of Matthew. The two chapters of Leviticus deal with bodily discharges and the Day of Atonement.

February 15: Matthew 20, Leviticus 15, Leviticus 16 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 20 Jesus told the parable of the workers in the vineyard, that God is always fair even when we don’t think so. Then he predicted his death. After that the mother of Zebedee’s sons asked Jesus to have her sons be the seated with Jesus in the kingdom of heaven, but Jesus answer was that is only for the Father to decide. The other disciples got angry, but Jesus admonished them all that the kingdom of heaven means to be a servant. The chapter ends with Jesus, out of compassion healed two blind men.

Leviticus 15 deals with bodily discharges.

Leviticus 16 is the apex of Leviticus and  tells of all the things Aaron must do on the day of Atonement to atone for his own sins and for the sins of the people during the year that was past.

February 14, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The three chapters for today are: First a fantastic chapter in Matthew, often quoted, and then two chapters in Leviticus that deal with leprosy and mildew, and the actions necessary for the person and the Priest to perform the cleansing.

February 14: Matthew 19, Leviticus 13, Leviticus 14 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 19 is relatively short but contains some of the most important aspects of life, such as marriage and divorce. “What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder.” Another jewel: “Let the little children come to me…” After Jesus gave that lesson, a rich young ruler asked what good thing he must do to get eternal life. Jesus answered: “If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me.” This he could not do, so he sighed and walked away. Jesus then commented “It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God,” in other words, impossible. But cheer up, “with God all things are possible.” And God’s pecking order is not economic or based on power. Instead, sometimes “the first shall be last, and the last shall be first.” There are many idioms in the English language taken from the Bible. Yet the origin of these quotations are not allowed to be mentioned in public schools. Ponder that.

Leviticus 13 and Leviticus 14 deal with leprosy and mildew and what to do with both. Things like that are complicated.

February 13, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In the four chapters chosen for today, the one from the gospel of Matthew is full of promises, forgiveness and reconciliation, but also warning. The three chapters of Leviticus are more Mosaic law and regulations.

February 13: Matthew 18, Leviticus 10, Leviticus 11, Leviticus 12 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 18. To the question: “Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?” Jesus called a little child. Then he expanded the question and elaborated on the subject of sin. This chapter also contains the parable of the lost sheep, which leads naturally into the subject of forgiveness, reconciliation and church discipline. Jesus also promised that “where two or three come together in my name, there am I with them”. The chapter ends with the parable of the unmerciful servant.

In Leviticus 10 two of Aaron’s sons were killed by fire for violating the command of God. But Aaron’s uncle had two sons and together with two other sons of Aaron they became the new priests and the rest of the chapter deals with how they should behave.

Leviticus 11 deals with clean (kosher) and unclean food and clean and unclean animals. (Locusts and grasshoppers are o.k.)

Finally Leviticus 12 is a short chapter and deals with purification after childbirth.

February 12, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today’s reading starts with the transfiguration from the gospel of Matthew. It continues with the fact that healing is associated with faith, and finally deals with tax matters. The three chapters from Leviticus deal with offerings and the duties of priests.

February 12: Matthew 17, Leviticus 7, Leviticus 8, Leviticus 9 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 17 begins with telling of the transfiguration. Then the disciples tried to heal a boy with epilepsy but failed. Jesus healed him immediately. The disciples could not do it because they had so little faith. Jesus also predicted his death, and the tax collectors came to Peter to collect the poll tax. Jesus solved this by telling Peter to go fishing and from the first fish he caught he would take the four drachma coin  swallowed by the fish. That did take care of the tax for both Peter and Jesus.

Leviticus 7 defines the guilt offering and the peace(fellowship) offering. It furthermore forbids the people to eat fat or blood. In a fellowship offering the priest must get his share, and the share is specified.

Leviticus 8 goes into some length on how  the ordination of Aaron and his sons was done.

In Leviticus 9 the priestly ministry begins.

February 11, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In the reading for today Jesus via Matthew told of the final offering; himself, and in three chapters of Leviticus are a telling of the offering system performed in the Old Testament.

February 11: Matthew 16, Leviticus 4, Leviticus 5, Leviticus 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 16 the Jews demanded a sign. Jesus ttold them the there will be no sign other than the sign of Jonah: Three days and three nights in the belly of a great fish. The disciples had forgotten to bring bread and Jesus coincidentally told them : Beware if the yeast of the Pharisees and the Sadducees. Huh? Jesus had to explain to them he meant the doctrine, not the literal yeast. Then Peter made his famous confession: “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Right after that Jesus predicted his death, unto which Peter said “Never” and Jesus answered  “Get behind me, Satan.” Strong words. And then Jesus said “Whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it.” Finally Jesus predicted his transfiguration.

Leviticus 4 defines the sin offering.

Leviticus 5 completes the sin offering and continues with the guilt offering.

And Leviticus 6 tells of the restitution necessary in the burnt offering, the grain offering and the sin offering.

 

February 10, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are four chapters.

February 10: Matthew 15, Leviticus 1, Leviticus 2, Leviticus 3 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 15 Jesus defined what defiles a person; it is not what he eats, but what comes out of his mouth. Ceremonial cleansing is just for show. Jesus then went to Canaanite territory, the region of Tyre and Sidon where he met a Canaanite woman with a sick daughter. She had such great a faith that Jesus healed her daughter from afar. Jesus went back to the sea of Galilee and did many other miracles. Large crowds followed him, and after having been without food for three days he fed the crowd of 4000 (plus women and children). This time they had seven loaves of bread and a few fishes. After eating to everybody’s satisfaction the disciples picked up seven baskets of leftovers. (No waste here).

Leviticus 1 tells of how the burnt offering shall be performed.

Leviticus 2 specifies the grain offering, and

Leviticus 3 deals with the peace or fellowship offering.

February 9, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The reading for today is one very interesting chapter in Matthew and the three last chapters of Exodus.

February 9: Matthew 14, Exodus 38, Exodus 39, Exodus 40 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 14 tells about John the Baptist being beheaded. It is interesting that most people know the name of the daughter of Herodias, but it is not in the Bible. There is another Salome in the Bible, but she was a follower of Jesus. After learning of the beheading of John the Baptist Jesus tried to withdraw from the people by boat to a solitary place, but there he found a large crowd, so he decided to feed the gathering of 5000 plus women and children with five loaves of bread and two small fishes. After all were satisfied the disciples picked up twelve baskets of leftovers. Jesus dismissed the crowd, made the disciples go in a boat to travel to the other side of Lake Genesareth, and then after Jesus had prayed alone he joined them by walking on the water. A very interesting read.

Exodus 38 retells of how the altar of burnt offerings and the basin for washing was made, finishing with the courtyard around the tabernacle and all the materials used.

Exodus 39 retells how the priestly garments were to be made, the ephod, the breastplate, the bells and pomegranates, the mitre and undergarments and finally the words “Holy to the LORD” to be fastened to the priest’s turban.

And in Exodus 40 the tabernacle was finished, the Priests installed and finally God blessed the tabernacle with His presence when the Glory of the LORD filled it. That ends the book of Exodus.

February 8, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In the three chapters for today Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew described what the Kingdom of Heaven is like via parables , then in two chapters of Exodus there is a detailed description of the Tabernacle.

February 8: Matthew 13, Exodus 36, Exodus 37 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 13 Jesus told many parables on the Kingdom of heaven: The sower, the wheat and tares, the mustard seed and the yeast, the hidden treasure, the pearl of great price and the fishermen and the net. Then Jesus explained what the parables meant to his disciples. The parables were well received, except in his own hometown, about which Jesus said: ” Only in his hometown and in his own house is a prophet without honor”.

Exodus 36 describes in detail how the tabernacle was built.

Exodus 37 continues describing how the Ark was built with its cherubim,( by necessity very sketchy since nobody would be allowed to see them once they were made,)   the table, the lampstand and the altar of incense.

February 7, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

The three chapters for today are Jesus continuing his healing ministry in Matthew, and two chapters in Exodus.

February 7: Matthew 12, Exodus 34, Exodus 35 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Matthew 12 Jesus proclaimed he  is the Lord of the Sabbath and healed a man with a withered hand. Since this was on a Sabbath it was considered blasphemy. Jesus continued to heal in secret, but the Pharisees said he did it by Beelzebub (lord of the flies). What did Jesus answer? “A Kingdom divided against itself will not stand.”  Jesus also said “he that is not with me is against me.” There is no middle ground, and there is a sin that cannot be forgiven: Blasphemy against the Holy Spirit. Continuing on Jesus said that the only sign given will be the sign of Jonah. Finally Jesus in a way rejected his own mother and brothers by pointing to his disciples, saying: “Here are my mother and brothers, for whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother”.

After breaking the two stone tablets, Moses in Exodus 34 had to go back up the mountain and write the words of God on two new stone tablets. Then God repeated much of what was said in previous chapters, even reiterating the Covenant, but the chapter ends with the radiant face of Moses because Moses had spoken with God.

Exodus 35 is a more detailed repeat of Sabbath regulations, materials for the tabernacle and who were the leaders of building of the tabernacle.