Category: Bible

March 2, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

For today we read one chapter of Mark and three chapters in Numbers.

March 2: Mark 2, Numbers 18 , Numbers 19, Numbers 20, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

In Mark 2 Jesus healed a paralytic man, but he also forgave the man his sins. This caused quite a stir, since nobody can forgive sins but God alone. Then he called Levi, the tax collector, also called Matthew. This was also controversial, since tax collectors were held in disregard, but Jesus assured them he came to save sinners. Then Jesus was questioned about why he and the disciples did not fast, as they should, and worse yet, they picked food from the head of the grain on a Sabbath! Jesus assured all that he is also Lord of the Sabbath.

Numbers 18 describes the duties of Priests and Levites, offerings for Supporting the Priests, tithes Supporting the Levites and the tithe of the Levites. As representatives of the LORD they were entitled to get the best part.

Numbers 19 details the laws and procedures of Purification.

In Numbers 20 Moses committed a major error in Kadesh. Thy were short on water, so God told Moses to speak to the rock. Water sprung forth but God punished Moses and his people so severely that that generation was not allowed to enter the promised land. Why did God give them this harsh punishment? The rock was to be smitten only once,  the second time Moses was to speak to the rock, a foreshadowing of Jesus, who was smitten once for our sins. At the end of the chapter Aaron died.

March 1, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today we start reading one chapter of the gospel of Mark and continue with two chapters of Numbers.

March 1: Mark 1,  Numbers 16, Numbers 17, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Mark 1 starts, not with the birth of Jesus, but with the beginning of Jesus’ ministry. John the Baptist prepared the way for Jesus, and Baptized Jesus. Immediately Jesus was tested in the wilderness for forty days. After that Jesus began calling his disciples. Jesus drove out an evil spirit while teaching in a synagogue. As had become his habit, Jesus healed many and many people started following him, and as always Jesus prayed in a solitary place, but continued to teach and heal many, including a man with leprosy. This is a chapter full of action.

In Numbers 16 Korah, Dathan and Abiram as well as 250 other men rose up in opposition to Moses. Things did not turn out well for them.

Numbers 17 tells of the budding of Aaron’s rod, a really short chapter.

February 29, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today is leap day, February 29, and we could take the day off, but the Holy Bible is the most important book ever written and too important to ignore, even for a day. It is the word of God.

May I suggest we go back to the beginning.

The three chapters chosen for today are   Genesis 1 ,John 1 and  1 John 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Both Genesis 1 and John 1 start with the words “In the beginning”. , Genesis 1 deals with the physical creation, but with a spiritual emphasis, laying the groundwork for spiritual understanding of how and why we exist. The gospel of John then deals with creation spiritually.

We are existing in time and space. The question is: What was there before time and space existed, before the beginning?

Answer: God, existing in three persons, God the Father, God the Son (the Word) and God’s Spirit, (the Holy Ghost).

They alone are eternal, everything else, including time and space, is created.

1 John 1 then starts from the beginning and deals with how we should live today, in time and space, with an eternal perspective.

February 28, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark we enjoy reading one short Psalm and two chapters of Numbers.

February 28: Psalm 15, Numbers 14,Numbers 15, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 15 is only 5 verses long but full of truth that carries on into the New Testament. For that reason there are five 5 references from the New Testament added.

In Numbers 14 the people rebelled and refused to go into the promised land. As a punishment the people had to continue wandering for forty years in the desert until that generation, with the exception of Caleb and Joshua had passed away. Meanwhile the people tried to take on the Amalekites in their own strength, but failed miserably.

Numbers 15 deals with Laws of Grain and Drink Offerings, Laws Concerning Unintentional Sin, Laws concerning Presumptuous Sin, Penalty for Violating the Sabbath, and specifies how to make Tassels on Garments, all good stuff if you are an orthodox Jew.

February 27, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Relaxing between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark we read two short Psalms and two chapters  out of Exodus.

February 27: Psalm 13, Psalm 14, Numbers 12, Numbers 13, (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 13 is only 6 verses, but there is a moving Anglican Chant written and sung. Enjoy.

Psalm 14 is also short. It begins “The fool has said in his heart, there is NO GOD.”

In Numbers 12 Miriam and Aaron opposed Moses and Miriam suffered the consequences.

In Numbers 13 God prepared His people to take the land He had promised them, so they were sending out scouts to survey the land and how best to take it. They came back with a discouraging report; it is a good land flowing with milk and honey, but the people are too strong for them, they felt like grasshoppers in their sight. Only Caleb dissented. (Joshua joined Caleb in the next chapter)

February 26, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

As we are taking a pause between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark we enjoy reading one chapter of Proverbs and two chapters of Numbers.

February 26: Proverbs 3, Numbers 10, Numbers 11 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Proverbs 3 continues to tell of the benefits of wisdom. The verses most often quoted are ”Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will direct your paths.”

Numbers 10 tells of making two silver trumpets and with the blasts from them they finally leave Sinai, still in formation , tribe by tribe.

In Numbers 11 the people complained about eating manna every day, so God put His spirit on seventy elders to prophecy, but He also sent them quail , a delicious game bird, but after eating quail for a whole month until it came out their nostrils they got sick, and God punished the gluttons.

February 25, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Taking a rest between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark by reading two short Psalms and three chapters of Numbers that only appear long.

February 25: Psalm 11, Psalm 12, Numbers 7, Numbers 8, Numbers 9 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 11 has the phrase “flee as a bird to the mountain”, which bring back memories of songs we used to sing in choir.

With all the double speak today, Psalm 12 is especially valid. The Lord has something to say about that.

Numbers 7 has 89 verses, but the chapter only seems long since the same offerings for the dedication of the tabernacle are repeated for each of the twelve tribes.

Numbers 8 deals with setting the Levites apart for their duties.

Numbers 9 defines how the Passover shall be celebrated from that time on. It also describes the cloud over the tabernacle, if it lifted they moved on, if it stayed, they stayed.

February 24, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

In between the gospel of Matthew and the gospel of Mark we take time out to read two Psalms and two chapters in Numbers.

February 24: Psalm 9, Psalm 10, Numbers 5, Numbers 6 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Psalm 9 and Psalm 10 may belong together as they do in the Septuagint. They speak of God’s faithfulness and the only temporary victories of the wicked one.

Numbers 5 deals with purity, how to deal with leprosy or dead bodies, restitution for wrongdoings and how to deal with marital unfaithfulness, especially for women.

Numbers 6 tells of the vow of the Nazarite, how he (or she!) must separate themselves totally to the LORD, not shave the hair, not eat anything from the grape, not even the dry skin, not touch any dead bodies and so on. When the separation is over an offering must be given. Thankfully the chapter ends with the priestly blessing: “ The Lord bless thee, and keep thee:  The Lord make his face shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee: The Lord lift up his countenance upon thee, and give thee peace.“

February 23, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

Today there are four chapters to read, ponder the significance of the resurrection in Matthew 28. The three first chapters in Numbers are interesting for historians.

February 23: Matthew 28, Numbers 2, Numbers 3, Numbers 4 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 28 begins with Jesus being in the grave for the two adjoining sabbaths, the first day of unleavened bread followed by the normal sabbath, then there was an earthquake and the stone was rolled away. Jesus was no longer in the grave. The guards were bribed to tell the story that the disciples took the body, but two  women, the two Marys met the resurrected Jesus. He told them to tell the remaining disciples that he was risen from the dead. The Gospel of Matthew ends with Jesus giving the great commission: “All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.  Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:  Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”

Numbers 2 tells how the tribes are to be arranged around the tabernacle, three to the east, three to the south, three to the west and three to the north and the Levites in the middle.

Numbers 3 lists the sons of Aaron and the Levites by clan.

Numbers 4 tells of the duties of the Kohathites, the Gershonites and the Merarites. Then these Levite clans are numbered.

February 22, read through the Holy Bible in a year in Power-point, with comments.

February 22: Matthew 27, Numbers 1 (click on the chapter to begin reading)

Matthew 27 depicts the longest day, beginning with Jesus being handed over to Pilate, the Roman governor; since the Jews did not have right to execute capital punishment. Judas hanged himself and the thirty pieces of silver given him in exchange for the betrayal of Jesus was used to buy the Potter’s field. Pilate tried to wiggle out of his role as a judge, his wife had warned him, so he came up with the idea to release one prisoner at Passover which was the custom. Pilate chose Jesus or Barabbas to be released and of the two the people chose Barabbas to be released and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate acquiesced to the mob and so Jesus was flogged by the soldiers for a public spectacle and then he was led away, but after the flogging Jesus was too weak to carry his own cross, so they forced Simon from Cyrene to carry Jesus cross all the way to the place of the skull, and there Jesus was crucified together  with two criminals. To identify Jesus they put an  inscription on the top of the cross “This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.” A number of prophecies were fulfilled during the crucifixion, and Jesus finally died on the cross. At that very moment the Temple veil was torn in two, from bottom to top and for the first time the holy of holiest was revealed. Jesus, now being dead was taken down from the cross and put in a tomb, a stone was rolled in front of the entrance and the tomb was sealed, and – this is important, they put up a guard to secure the tomb. Why did they do that? Think about that.

Numbers 1 consists of a listing of the heads of the people that left Egypt, the first census.