But a natural man does not accept the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; and he cannot understand them, because they are spiritually appraised. 1 Corinthians 2:14 NASB Natural man – The psychikós ánthrōpos (natural man). The man who does not accept the things of the spirit of God. Who is this natural…
The heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick; Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 NASB Desperately sick – You probably thought this verse was about the propensity of human beings to sin. You might have been taught that we have this terrible, fatal illness called disobedience. It really doesn’t matter at this point whether…
“Truly, truly, I say to you, if anyone keeps My word he will never see death.” John 8:51 NASB Never see death – How can these words of Yeshua possibly be true, especially 2000 years later? He died. Everyone who heard the words died. Everyone ever since has died. Was he just a deluded apocalyptic prophet who…
but we preach Christ crucified, to Jews a stumbling block and to Gentiles foolishness, 1 Corinthians 1:23 NASB Stumbling Block – You certainly know that Paul’s choice of the Greek is a bit more outrageous than the typical translation, “stumbling block.” The Greek is skándalon. You can immediately see the English derivative, “scandal.” We choose “stumbling block” because…
To do righteousness and justice is desired by the Lord more than sacrifice. Proverbs 21:3 NASB Righteousness and justice – Jewish religion in the Old Testament (yes, I know that’s a Christian denotation) is all about sacrifice, right? At least that’s what most of us were taught (along with the classification “Old” Testament). And sacrifices—all that killing and blood…
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Genesis 32:24 NASB Man – In one of the strangest verses in Scripture, no clue is provided about the identity of the “man” who wrestles with Jacob. He suddenly appears. No history. No motivation. No name. We are immediately cast into the world…
Then Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him until daybreak. Genesis 32:24 NASB Left alone – “Man is meaningless without God,”[1] wrote Abraham Heschel. He could have written, “Man is totally alone without God.” That’s more than just man is alone. We all know we are alone. Yes, of course, we have friends,…
Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?” Genesis 3:9 NASB Where are you? – Hey, it’s Friday. You have some time to actually study this verse. So I’ve collected a few pointers about the importance of God’s question. Can I make a suggestion? Review each of these before you…
For He Himself knows our frame; He is mindful that we are but dust. Psalm 103:14 NASB Frame – God knows we are dust, but I wonder if we do. We read the words. We know the story from Genesis 2, but I don’t think we’ve let the truth sink in. Well, maybe you have. Maybe you’ve really come…
