Matthew 11-13

• Jesus looked after the apostles as well as reaching out to those who have not heard the gospel (11:1). Likewise, we should also make sure we look after our fellow brothers and sisters as well as spreading the gospel.
• John the Baptist hears of Jesus (v2), and Jesus answers by fulfilling the prophecies (v4-5)
• Jesus puts John in perspective: John the Baptist may seem to be a righteous one, more righteous than all (v11a), but he is still not the solution for heaven as the "least in heaven" is greater than he (v11b).
• Confirms Jesus is Elijah by saying all prophets including John has prophesised the coming of Elijah, v4-5 confirms that (v13-14)
• He pleads that those who has ears listen (v15), but says the generation he is in is not responsive to this fulfillment of the prophecy (v16-17). In return, they do not acknowledge his real identity, but call him a glutton and drunkard (v19)
  
• The Judgment of Tyre and Sidon would have been bad (unfortunately I didn't understand much of it in Isaiah 23:1-18), but the Judgment to come on us if we do not repent would be worse! (v22)
• The message can only be understood not by wisdom and understanding (knowledge) (v25), but by revealing the message to those chosen by the Son (v27)

Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

-- Matthew 11:28-30

• Pharisees tries to find fault with Jesus eating on Sabbath. Jesus says if they know who they are talking to, that is, to someone who is so great (v6), they would not have questioned his authority. Is v8 suggesting lord of Sabbath as the one who created Sabbath? If so, how can the one who created the rules be bound by the rules?
  
• Is rules more important to abide and not do anything? (v9-14)
• There were many who already was thinking whether this is the Saviour they have been expecting by asking whether he is Son of David (v23), but Pharisees lead them astray (v24), but Jesus saves (v25-29)

Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.

--Matthew 12:30

• Reminder that Jesus looks into the heart. You may not speak good if your heart is bad, "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." (v34b)
• Often people ask for signs, but Jesus said there will be no signs, and refers them to a parallel case of Jonah (v39), and warns people to repent or face Judgment (v40-42)
• Is it a warning for us to constantly equip ourselves to prevent ourselves from doing things that are worse? (v43-45)
• v50 - whoever does the will of the Father (God) is part of family.

• Parable of the Sower: 4 seeds:
  
1. Seeds that fell on the path (13:4), and devoured by the birds;
2. Seeds fell on rocky ground, sun scorched it (v5);
3. Seeds on soil but amongst thorns which choked (v7);
   
4. Seeds on good soil (v8)

• Explanation (v18-23)
• Parable of the Weeds (v24-30) explains why there are good and evil living on earth. At the time of harvest (i.e. Judgment), that is when the reaper (Jesus) picks out the good from the bad, and the bad will be burnt. Explained in v36-43.
  
• Kingdom of Heaven is worth selling everything you got to possess it. Describe through 2 parables (v44-45).
• Parable of the Nets - like the Weeds parable (v47-50)
• People close to you are always the hardest to work on to bring them the message of salvation (v57-58). That does not mean there is nothing to be done. Jesus did not do many mighty works, not NO works!
  

Week 5

Joshua 21-24:

A good reminder to obey our Lord our God:"Be very strong; be careful to obey all that is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, without turning aside to the right or to the left. Do not associate with these nations that remain among you; do not invoke the names of their gods or swear by them. You must not serve them or bow down to them. But you are to hold fast to the LORD your God, as you have until now. "

Psalm 12:14:

When we are in hardship, the bible reminds us that God is a faithful God with unfailing love for us. We must look upon Him with a joyful heart for we know everything works well for His purpose.

Matthew 11:13

Praise to our God, how merciful is He to sent Jesus to tell us that many parables.
Where have we planted our seeds? Have we planted it in good soil so that when that day comes we may receive the crown from God?
Are we the wheat or the weed? Be mindful not to let the weed choke the wheat!

In Matthew, it also tells us to be mindful of what we speak, for anyone who spoke careless words must be account for and judged on the day Jesus returns!

Isaiah 23-28

• Empty the earth (24:1) - is this a term to break up Israel ("he will twist its surface and scatter its inhabitants"), or Judgment day as we know it? If it is the latter, inhabitants would not scatter, but perish?
  
• There are no exception (v2) - all will be part of the Judgment
• The reason for Judgment: "The earth lies defiled under its inhabitants; for they have transgressed the laws, violated the statutes, broken the everlasting covenant." (v5)
• The severity of the punishments (v7-9)

• Glorifies and praises God (25:1)
• God is almighty (v2)
• People should submit to him because we are powerless compared to God (v3-5)
• God loves and brings salvation (v8-9)

Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.

-- Isaiah 26:4

• For he has humbled the inhabitants of the height, the lofty city (v5) - Reminds me where Jesus has said: those who are humble will be exalted, those who exalt themselves will be humbled.
  
• Patiently wait (v8)
• God will justly punish (v10)
• Other gods compared to you is not a living god like our God (v13-14)
• Telling the message of repentance (v20-21)

• Leviathan (?) (27:1)
• Israel will be return and bear fruit to the whole world (v6) - refers to Israel as God's people(?)

• What is "LORD of hosts"? (28:5)
  

Job 9-10

• Job remembers and still acknowledges that God is more superior and almighty over man (9:1-10)
• Job knows God is in control (v12)
• But he is of the view that he is right (v15)
• Does not understand why God will inflict pain on him (v17)
• Knows he is not good enough to front God even if he is righteous (v20)
• Reaffirms he is righteous (v21)
• Is it righteous for Job to say that God mocks at the calamity of the innocent? (v23)
• Is it righteous to ask has God delivered us to the evil? (v24)

• Job hates his life and does not know why God has condemned him (10:1-2)
• Has God become evil like the wicked? (v3)
• Although he is righteous against God, but he still cannot escape the punishment from God. (v7)
• He says God is in full control and says he is the creator (v8-9)
• Still acknowledges God is the creator (v10-13)
• Is life supposed to be like this? If it were to suffer like this, why was Job created, he asked. (v14-19)
• Life is short anyway, Job wants God to leave him alone (v20)

Psalms 12-14

• There is a contrast between those not with God being wicked (12:1-4), with God's perfectness and protection (v5-8) for those who are in need (spiritually)

• Sometimes God seems very distant and not with you. Things don't seen right. (13:1-4) But David's trust has been steadfast (v5-6)

• Refers to those who deny God's existence as fools. (14:1)
• God tried to look for the righteous. He was not on the back seat not doing anything (v2)
• The famous Romans 3 verse quotes from here
• They may seem to be in control and cause grief, but God provides refuge (v6)
• Zion? (v7)

Joshua 21-24

• I thought the Levites did not get to own land. Why did they want a share? (21:2-3)
• Land allocation in v4-40.
• The Levites scattered over 48 cities. (v41)
• God's promise fulfilled (v45)

• Obeyed God's commandments (22:2-3)
• God delivers (v4) and reminds the most important commandment about loving the Lord your God ... (v5)
• Was the altar not to worship God? (v10)
• Reminds the dire consequences for sinning (v17)
• Reubenites explains themselves (v22-28)

• Joshua honours God (23:3)
• Don't yoke with non-believers (v7)

Week 4

Job 7-8

Job continue to experience physical pain in his body and start to grumble to God:
"If I have sinned, what have I done to you, O watcher of men? Why have you made me your target?Have I become a burden to you? "

But the angel said to him,
"But if you will look to God and plead with the Almighty, Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be."

Are we all easy to lose faith when God is testing us?
God understand that our soul is willing but our body is always weak.

Psalm 9-11

God is a righteous God, He is almighty and is powerful.
He sat on His throne and “judging righteously”.
He “rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked”.
He will even wipe out those names “for ever and ever”.

We know that God is sitting “on his heavenly throne”
And watch our every acts – “He observes the sons of men; his eyes examine them”.

Let us learn to be righteous, so when that day comes we “will see his face”.

Matthew 8-10

After reading Matthew, its encouraging to see the many miracles that Jesus performed while he was on earth. After each episode, the news will be spread across the nation. I wonder when this has stopped spreading!!

In Matthew, Jesus tells us if someone were to prosecute you because of the gospel, the one who stand firm to the end will be saved. He will be the man whom God will be given the crown to.

It was Jesus’ command for us to carry our cross to follow him, to love him more than we love our friends and family even to our own life. That we must live to testify about Jesus in front of others, so that we might be acknowledge before our father in heaven!

Genesis 16-19

• Sarai did not trust the Lord of what he promised (16:2) Was it lawful for Abram to be with the Egyptian slave?
• Harsh treatment by slave to Sarai. How should the Lord judge for Sarai not rtusting His word? (v5)
• Sarai asks that God judges but what does Abram do? He goes and let Sarai do whatever she likes to Hagar (v6)
• But the Lord intervenes and gives Hagar a chance for repentance (v8-9)
• God promises (v10)
• Abram and Hagar's son, Ishmael (v15)
  

• Is Abram "blameless"? (17:1) - Not trusting God will deliver and choose to bear child with Hagar, lying to Egyptian king ...
  
• Name change from Abram to Abraham (v5)
• Again, promises a fruitful nation (v6) - is this a reminder? We constantly need to remind ourselves what God has prepared or promised us.
• God's covenant with Abraham (v7-10)
• Circumcision is just to remember God's promise/covenant with Abraham (how the process is to be done - v12-14)
• Name change from Sarai to Sarah (v15)
• Abraham laughs and asks how could someone be born to a man 100 years old? Is he doubting God's ability? (v17) Is it Ishmael? (v18)
  
• Affirms it is Sarah who is going to give birth (v19)

• Who are these three men? (18:1-9)
• Sarah has stopped having her periods and how possibly can the Lord say that they will have a son? (v10-11)
• Further doubts (v12)
• Lord questions why is she asking these questions (v13), is she doubting God's capabilities (v14)
• Sarah - lied about not laughing (v15)
  
• Abraham intercedes for Sodom - Abraham is trying hard to spare Sodom by saying surely there will be someone righteous in the city. God is telling him there isn't (v23-32)
• Did Abraham just get the point God is getting at that there is no righteous in Sodom, or He is just going ahead regardless because He knows He is just in doing this. (v33)

• Lot faithfully serves the angels (19:1-3)
• Men of Sodom wanted to "know" the angels (v5) (know = have sex)
• Wicked act (v7)
• Offered two virgin daughters to them (v8), but they chose the angels instead (v9)
• Lot spared in God's wrath (v12-15)
• Told them not to look back (v17)
• Lot could not trust he could flee because he doubts his own personal ability (v19)
• Angels allow Lot to flee to nearby town Zoar (v22)
• God destroys (v24)
• Lot's wife breaks commandment in v19 and turns into a pillar of salt! (v26)
• Selfish thoughts make the daughters perform disgusting acts (v31-32)
• Elder: Moabites (v37)
• Younger: Ammonites (v38)

馬太福音10

"我來並不是叫地上太平，乃是叫地上動刀兵。"

What do you read in that statement?

"人的仇敵就是自己家裡的人。"

Surely, we are not to make enemies within our own families!

I can understand how families will split because of Christ. But family is family whether they believe or not. So what do you do?

Jesus makes the statement that parents will be agains children.

I'm not sure what to make of it. but one thing is for sure. Christ is above family.
"愛父母過於愛我的，不配作我的門徒；愛兒女過於愛我的，不配作我的門徒"

When Jesus calls, he's duty is above duty to your parents. he says let the dead bury the dead.

The Law however puts Parents at about the top of the list. but always under God.

Week 5

Mon 26 May 2008	Genesis 16-19
Tue 27 May 2008	Joshua 21-24
Wed 28 May 2008	Psalms 12-14
Thu 29 May 2008	Job 9-10
Fri 30 May 2008	Isaiah 23-28
Sat 31 May 2008	Matthew 11-13
Sun 01 Jun 2008	Romans 9-10

Week 4

It's been nearly a month since we've started the "God's word in 365 days" plan! I'd like to thank my fellow co-bloggers in updating the blog regularly. And a special thank to Ivan's active contributions in blogging :) and thanks the Lord for leading me and giving me wisdom in trying to understand the Bible and in time management.

This week, the most difficult parts are still in Joshua, Job and Isaiah, in terms of historical background and the meaning of the passages. In this NT era, what's the point of knowing how people receive their inheritance? What should we focus on when reading Joshua 16 - 20? With Isaiah, I'm totally lost...

To me, Matthew 8-9 tells me different 'levels' of faith.
The ability of JC to heal those people and the willingness of JC to help them do not depend on how much faith they have

8:2 And behold, a leper came to him and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, if you will, you can make me clean."

8But the centurion replied, "Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof, but only say the word, and my servant will be healed. 9For I too am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. And I say to one, 'Go,' and he goes, and to another, 'Come,' and he comes, and to my servant, 'Do this,' and he does it." 10When Jesus heard this, he marveled and said to those who followed him, "Truly, I tell you, with no one in Israel have I found such faith."

26And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, O you of little faith?" Then he rose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm.


9:2 And behold, some people brought to him a paralytic, lying on a bed. And when Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Take heart, my son; your sins are forgiven."

28When he entered the house, the blind men came to him, and Jesus said to them, "Do you believe that I am able to do this?" They said to him, "Yes, Lord." 29 Then he touched their eyes, saying, "According to your faith be it done to you."

There are people who have stronger faith (the leper, the centurion, the paralytic, and the blind men) and weaker faith (the disciples). What difference does it make to have the different level of faith?
It is also quite surprising to see the people who have little faith are the disciples, who stay with Jesus day and night. However, the people who have strong faith are the people with illness, whose loved ones are dead or sick. It reminds me with the passage from Roman 5:3 from last week

we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope

I've read 10:34-39 many times, but still find it very challenging

34 "Do not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. 35 For I have come to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law. 36 And a person’s enemies will be those of his own household. 37 Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. 38And whoever does not take his cross and follow me is not worthy of me. 39 Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

It is so great that, however, we read Roman 7 - 8 the next day

8:31What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised— who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36As it is written,

"For your sake we are being killed all the day long;
we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered."

37No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Romans 7-8

• We have died to the old way of living (ie live in accordance to the Law to show our hearts towards God) by Christ Jesus (7:4)
• (v5-6(?))
• We cannot say the Law is the source of sin, it is what reveals sin. (v7)
• "Apart from the law, sin lies dead" (v8b) - suggest that if we lacked the indicator of what is sin, we would not know what is separating ourselves in our relationship with God. (see v13)
  
• The Law is holy (v12) as it tells us what will separate us from God.
• Sin explained (v15-20) - when you do something when you know it is not good to do it. In v14, Paul says that the Law is spiritual and we are only flesh. Does that suggest we appreciate we are sinning (doing wrong) when it does not match the God's standard (ie Law)?
  
• Sinful nature (v21) - We know what is right, but our sinful nature sways us away from right. We know what is right (v22), but we constantly fight against temptation (v23). How can I resolve this? (v24)
• Jesus is the answer (v25).

• No more condemnation - assurance of salvation - also no helplessness (8:1)
• God has done the impossible through Jesus in our place. Although done perfectly, he took on the condemnation of sin for us (v3)
• All this was so that we could be righteous (v4), not by flesh (works?) but by Spirit (Jesus)
• Assurance of life/salvation if the Spirit of Christ is in you (v9-11)
• We no longer live in fear, but with the unification of God's Spirit with ours, we are the heirs of God (v12-17)
  

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, Abba! Father! 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God

-- Romans 8:15-16

• We should not be bogged down with current sufferings because the glory in the future is great! (v18)
• Paul says we must hope with patience. We may not be able to see it now, but don't get impatient. If we seen it, then there is no need for hope (v24-25)
• We may be weak, and we may not know what to pray, but the Holy Spirit will guide us through according to the will of God (v26-28)

God's Love for us

• If God loves us so much in giving His son's life for us, how would he not be gracious to provide us all things (v31-32)
• Nothing can separate us from the Love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (v35-39)