Jesus himself was about thirty years old when he began his ministry. He was (so it was thought) the son of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat, the son of Levi, the son of Melchi, the son of Jannai, the son of Joseph, …
Midrash Gems
Bible Gem 1260 – If this happens when the Tree is Green, what will happen when it is Dry? (Luke 23:31)
Last Gem I gave you some quotes from the Bible and some idioms in English which involve “green” and “dry”. It is to do with the points of comparison. As I have been teaching Deeper Bible students, when you encounter a word picture or comparative …
Bible Gem 1044 – What’s Yours is Mine and What’s Mine is My Own (Luke 15:31)
But he said to him, Child, you are always with me, and all of my things are yours. But to be merry and to rejoice was right, for this brother of yours was dead, and lived again; he was lost and he was found. Luke …
Bible Gem 1043 – Links to the Right and to Left (Luke 15:11-32)
and he said, “A certain man had two sons. The younger son told his father, ‘I want my share of your estate now before you die.’ So his father agreed to divide his wealth between his sons. “A few days later this younger son packed …
Bible Gem 1041 – A Certain Man had Two Sons (Luke 15:11)
And He said, A certain man had two sons. And the younger of them said to the father, Father give me that part of the inheritance falling to me. And he divided the inheritance between them. And not many days after, gathering up all things, …
Bible Gem 466 – Closing Thoughts on a Difficult Section (1 Cor 14:20-25)
Dear brothers and sisters, don’t be childish in your understanding of these things. Be innocent as babies when it comes to evil, but be mature in understanding matters of this kind. It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to My own people through …
Bible Gem 465 – Tongues – A Sign for Unbelievers (1 Cor 14:22-25)
So you see that speaking in tongues is a sign, not for believers, but for unbelievers. Prophecy, however, is for the benefit of believers, not unbelievers. Even so, if unbelievers or people who don’t understand these things come into your church meeting and hear everyone …
Bible Gem 464 – Why Paul Quotes Isaiah 28:11-12 (1 Cor 14:21)
“It is written in the Scriptures: “I will speak to My own people through strange languages and through the lips of foreigners. But even then, they will not listen to Me,” says the LORD.” 1 Corinthians 14:21 Why does Paul refer to the passage in …
Bible Gem 463 – Babbling Childish Nonsense or Deep Pithy Sayings? (1 Cor 14:21 // Isaiah 28:10-11)
He tells us everything over and over—one line at a time, one line at a time, a little here, and a little there!” So now God will have to speak to His people through foreign oppressors who speak a strange language! Isa 28:10-11 The original …
Bible Gem 462 – Drunken Leaders / Stammering Prophet (1 Cor 14:21 // Isaiah 28:11)
This is a very difficult passage and one that has sparked much debate over the centuries. Firstly over what Isaiah meant when he said it. Secondly over what Paul meant when he quoted it. Thirdly it contains some very difficult Hebrew which is the centre …