The Mysteries of the Kingdom of God - Parable of the Sower
Volume 3, Number 62Vol 3 - No 62, November 5, 2012The Mysteries or Secrets of God - Part 1, Israel’s fate as revealed to the Disciples & the Apostle Paul:We’re taking a little side trip from the study of Faith to examine the Greek word “musterion,” always translated “mystery or mysteries” in the King James Version. This study is adapted from a presentation at West Valley Grace Fellowship on October 21, 2012. “Musterion” is found 27 times in the New Testament: once each in Matthew, Mark and Luke; 20 times in the Pauline epistles and four in the book of Revelation. Strong’s Greek... Continue reading →
The Hypocritical Belief of the Scribes & Pharasees
Volume 3, Number 61“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 28:Israel’s Chief Priests, Scribes & Pharisees, 2 of 2:Five (5) passages in Matthew, Mark and Luke record the Chief Priests, Scribes and Pharisees as having uttered the word “believe” during two incidents. Both occurred during the third and last Passover week of Jesus’ three-year ministry. Our last study examined the first incident and today we go to the second. Briefly reviewing the first incident from our last study: Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey while being acclaimed by throngs of people shouting “Hosanna to the Son of David: Blessed is... Continue reading →
Christ in the Temple & on the Cross
Volume 3, Number 60Vol 3 - No 60, August 23, 2011Dateline, Tunis, Tunisia:“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 27:Israel’s Chief Priests, Scribes & Pharisees, 1 of 2:We’ve been studying the 35 occasions the Greek word Pisteuo, unusually translated “believe,” is used in Matthew, Mark and Luke:1. Once by the Angel Gabriel sent from God to speak to the Priest Zacharias, see Vol 3, No 35,2. Once by Elizabeth, wife of the Priest Zacharias, mother of John the Baptist, speaking to Mary, mother of Jesus, see Vol 3, No 36,3. 25 times by Jesus Himself, Vol 3, No’s 33, 34 & 37... Continue reading →
Christ's Great Commission to Israel
Volume 3, Number 59“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke -Part 26:Jesus Christ's Commission to His 11 Apostles:For those who are new to Faith Studies, the intent or goal since I began publishing them in January 2004 has been to understand faith, as revealed in God's Word. It was noted then that the English word faith is only found twice in the King James version of the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 32:20 & Habakkuk 2:4. However, the Habakkuk passage is quoted 3 times in the New Testament (Romans 1:17; Galatians 3:11; Hebrews 10:38) where the Greek word “pistis,” translated faith, is used. The methodology used... Continue reading →
The Two Disciples on the Road to Emmaus
Volume 3, Number 58“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 25:Our last study examined the reason Israel's leaders didn't believe Jesus and hated Him to the point they had Him crucified. Today we look at why Christ's own disciples didn't believe reports He had risen from the dead, Mark 16:12 & 13 & Luke 24:13 - 35. This incident begins with two disciples, one named Cleopas, leaving Jerusalem the day Jesus rose from the dead to walk the 6 miles to Emmaus. They were discussing the events of the last 3 days when Jesus joined them but they didn't recognize Him. Jesus... Continue reading →
The Trial & Crucifiction of Jesus Christ
Volume 3, Number 57“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 24:The question for this study to answer; why didn't Israel's leaders believe Jesus and what made them hate Him so much? Our study of the Greek word Pisteuo, usually translated “believe” in Matthew, Mark and Luke brings us to two incidents that highlight the unbelief of Israel's leaders. The first was when Jesus was tried or examined by the Chief Priests and Scribes; the second when the Pharisees mocked and taunted Him while He hung on the cross. Their hatred flies in the face of the fact He had done nothing but... Continue reading →
Jewish Hyprocrites and Believers Waiting for the Kingdom
Volume 3, Number 56“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 23:Part 2 of the Unjust Steward:Our last study was about the lesson Jesus taught His disciples with the parable of the unjust steward in Luke 16:1 - 13. We came here because we've been examining every occasion the Greek word pisteuo; usually translated “believe” is found in Matthew, Mark and Luke and it is used in Luke 16:11. However, it is not translated “believe” but instead “commit to trust” in the King James and “trust” in both the NIV and NIrV versions. We saw where Jesus taught His disciples several things with... Continue reading →
The Unjust Stewart
Volume 3, Number 55“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 22:Part 1 of the Unjust Steward:We've studied 20 of the 25 instances in Matthew, Mark and Luke where Jesus is recorded as having uttered the Greek word pisteuo; usually translated “believe”. Today this word brings us to Luke 16, a very unique chapter in the Bible. Unique for several reasons: the parable Jesus taught His Disciples in verses 1 - 13 appears to teach that the conduct of an unjust Stewart was praised by the owner; the story Jesus told about the rich man and Lazarus in verses 14 - 31 is... Continue reading →
Jesus' Teaching about Believing during the Tribulation
Volume 3, Number 54“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 21:We continue reviewing the use of the Greek word Pisteuo, translated “believe” in Matthew, Mark and Luke, where the following individuals are recorded as having uttered it:1. Once by the Angel Gabriel who was sent from God to speak to the Priest Zacharias, see Vol 3, No 35,2. Once by Elizabeth, wife of the Priest Zacharias, mother of John the Baptist, speaking to Mary, mother of Jesus, see Vol 3, No 36,3. 25 times by Jesus Himself,4. 5 times by Chief Priests, Scribes & Pharisees,5. Once by the father of the demon... Continue reading →
Jesus Expels Demon from Boy
Volume 3, Number 53“Believe” in Matthew, Mark & Luke - Part 20:(Spiritual Wickedness - Part 7):We continue our study of the incident when Jesus healed the demon-possessed boy, as recorded in all 3 gospel records; Matthew 17:14 - 21; Mark 9:14 - 29 and Luke 9:37 - 45. Today we'll discuss why Jesus' disciples were unable to heal the boy while Jesus had no problem in doing so. The passage in Mark reads as follows:“And when he came to his disciples, he saw a great multitude about them, and the scribes questioning with them. And straightway all the people, when they beheld him,... Continue reading →