Matthew 20-22

• Master, God is the owner. He agrees to give one denarius for labourers (20:2)
• He promised 'whatever is right I will give you' (v4)
• Ends up giving the labourers who worked only 1 hour one denarius also. The first labourers show discontent. (v12) They are not content with what they are given. They did not realise it is them who agreed to whatever the master was going to give in v2. They failed to acknowledge who was the one going to give. (v13)
• Jesus foretells his death third time (v17-19)
• Mother of sons of Zebedee asking something she does not know what she is asking for: sitting on the right hand side of Jesus. Jesus explains he has come to serve, not to rule, so he cannot decide, but God the Father is the one who decides (v20-28)

• Jesus furious because of people turning the temple, a house of prayer to a market place, den of robbers (21:12-13)
• Everyone was amazed with Jesus performing miracles.
• Why did Jesus curse the tree just because it did not have fruit as and when he needed food? Does that have a meaning on our lives? (v18-19)
• Have faith and it will be done. Ask in prayer and you will receive, if you have faith (v21-22)
• Chief priests tried to set a trap for Jesus (v23), but Jesus out smarted them by getting them to answer his question first (v24). From the thoughts in v25-26, it appears the priests know they are stuffed, but they choose not to humble themselves and say they are wrong. In the end they do not get what they want (v27)
• Jesus sees their heart and addresses the issue, saying prostitutes and tax collectors who repent will get into heaven before the priests, who says they will go (v30b), but dont end up doing the will of God. Those that say without the heart will not get there.
  
• Parable of the tenants (v33-46)

• Parable of the Wedding Feast (22:1-14)
• God has chosen but they refuse to answer his call - Jews?
• They treat the prophets badly or ignored them
• God destroys the cities
• What is the selection criteria (v9)? It does not seem to show what the criteria is.
  
• What is evident though, that not everyone seems to make it into heaven. The man 'without the wedding garment' was refused entry (v11-14). What does the wedding garment symbolise? Was the fact that the servants went out (v10) meant that they were invited through an invitation of the gospel. The man without the garment did not accept such invitation of the gospel?
  
• Paying taxes to Caesar (v15-22) - they wanted to trap him by getting Jesus to say stuff the Roman government, but he did not do that. Pay Caesar what is his and pay God what belongs to God!
• The greatest commandment:

You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. On these two cammandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.

-- Matthew 22:37-40

• Jesus declares that he is there before David, so Christ is not son of David. (v41-46)
  

Isaiah 40-44

• Is this section prophesising the coming of Christafter much punishment of Jerusalem?
• "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD; make straight in the desert a highway for our God (40:3),
• Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good news; lift it up, fear not; say to the cities of Judah, "Behold your God!" (v9)
• Shepherd (v11)
• but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint. (v31)

• God protects (40:13-15)
• God provides (v17) - is this still prophesising Jesus providing the "living water"?

• He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; (42:2) Is this the reason why Jesus tells people not to make huge noise after performing miracles?
• Hear, you deaf, and look, you blind, that you may see! (v18) Listen if you have ears
• God says there will be many who will be stubborn (v20)

You are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and my servant whom I have chosen, that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor shall there be any after me.
11 I, I am the LORD, and besides me there is no savior.
12 I declared and saved and proclaimed, when there was no strange god among you; and you are my witnesses," declares the LORD, "and I am God.
13 Also henceforth I am he; there is none who can deliver from my hand; I work, and who can turn it back?"

-- Isaiah 43:10-13

• I, I am he who blots out your transgressions for my own sake, and I will not remember your sins. (v25)

Psalms 21-23

• Submitting your life to him (21:4)
• His name is glorified through you (v5)
• Don't stray (v7)
• The Lord will take care of the enemies (v9-11)

• Times where God seems so far (22:1-2)
• Still acknowledges Him and reminds that we are to trust Him and He delivers (v3-5)
• Feeling of vulnerability (v12-13)
• But we should all turn to the Lord, the one who has ultimate rule over the earth (27-31)

Psalms 23
1 A Psalm of David. The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

Genesis 28-31

• Jacob gets blessed directly by God Himself,assures that the blessing handed down through Isaac is true. (28:13-15)
• One-tenth offering (v20-22)

• Jacob finds the guy who Isaac told him to find in 28:5 (29:4)
• So warm hearted the relatives of Jacob (v11-14)
• Proposed to marry Rachel, the more beautiful one in form and appearance (v17) in v18. V21 he takes wife. Notice he hasn't married but calls her give me my wife already (v21)
• Wedding feast (v22)
• Dad gives the wrong daughter to Jacob (v23)
• Were they both so drunk that neither knew the mistake? Was dad intentional? We find out Isaac was deceived in v25
• V26 , excuse or true? Why didn't he explain this tradition to Isaac when he proposed 7years ago?

• Gives Rachel to him ultimately (v27)
• God is just, now that both are Isaac's wives, he should not have unequal treatments. (v30-31)
• V32-35: each son with a different name to tell the feelings of the mother at different times! Notice the change from complaints to thanksgiving attitude. Has Leah grown spiritually? Or has she just been treated better by the husband because Rachel bore no children and Leah ultimately got better treatment as a result?

• Just envy, no love. Envy brought unreasonableness (30:1-2)
• To secure her position as wife she was prepared to let husband have sex with the servant? As if sharing your husband with your sister was not enough! (v3)
• And husband actually did it! (v4)
• Look at her naming policies, they are all envious ones. (v6,8)
• Now Leah is also bringing her slave on! (v9- 13)
• For whatever Leah has, Rachel needs to also have, even mandrakes? Can't they 23 content for once? (v14)
• Love as an exchange for mandrakes. What pathetic view is this? Buy-back husband for the night regime. (v15)
• How does God put up with this relationship and still bless them! Is this all to honour His promise of Isaac having a properous nation? (v17-21)
• Laban had deal to give Jacob some livestock but Jacob was being sly about this plan to take all of Laban's stronger stock. (v28-43)
• Laban was selfish too and drove away all the livestock that Jacob was supposed to get.

• Why is he blaming Laban for not looking after him when he was being cheeky? (31:2,5)

Week 6 & 7

Sorry for being absence for about two weeks.

不過仍然要感謝神, 讓我在考試期間依然可以按365godsword的schedule讀聖經 (雖然.. 我時時都比預定的schedule慢了一兩天...)

沒有blog的這段期間, 我用簿寫下了我讀聖經時的感受. 但上載需時, 請原諒我暫時不貼新post!

Fellow 365 teammates, 'add oil' hehe...

Week 8

Mon 16 Jun 2008	Genesis 28-31
Tue 17 Jun 2008	Judges 12-16
Wed 18 Jun 2008	Psalms 21-23
Thu 19 Jun 2008	Job 15-16
Fri 20 Jun 2008	Isaiah 40-44
Sat 21 Jun 2008	Matthew 20-22
Sun 22 Jun 2008	Romans 15-16

Romans 13-14

• We cannot ignore the authorities governing our day and age even if we have become a Christian (13:1-2)
• We must also live an accountable life during our stay here under the authorities as everything is under God's rule. There is no fear if you have not done something wrong (v3-7)
• We are reminded the source of not doing wrong is love. If we love, it could not be wrong or hurt anyone. (v9-10)

• Evangelising tip: Don't have heated arguments, just open your invitation to them (14:1- 2) and don't make fusses about little differences (v3)

Matthew 17-19

• Jesus says our (level of) faith can affect how we serve the Lord. The disciples faced problems (17:20)
• First time Jesus fortells of his death (v22-23)
• It appears to suggest that Jesus, and disciples being citizens need not pay tax (v26), but because Jesus has a much bigger plan to achieve, he told Simon to just pay and not fuss.

• Jesus did not even address there question yet. He addressed a more important question: can you make it into heaven (18:1-3)
• We must humble ourselves first and not think we know it all.
• We are to lead a good example for the young (perhaps both in a spiritual and physical sense) (v6)
• Stop the actions that lead you to sin (v7-8)
• God not only gives those who have sinned a chance, but also proactively goes and brings them back (v12-14)
• How to deal with disputes within God's family (v15-17)
• Forgiveness (v21-35): seventy times seven, and remember to forgive the way God has forgiven us for he wrongs we have done.

• Divorce: whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery (19:9)
• A few chosen that would be better not to marry (v10-12)
• Did the disciples just forget? In beginning of Chapter 18, Jesus welcomes the little children, and now they in rebuke! (v13)
• The rich man (v16-23): He realises that something needs to be done (asks what good things needs to be done for eternal life); finds out he keeps the commandments already. Realises if that was the case, he has done it already, but he knows this is not the crux of it (v20 - what do I still lack? he asks)
• Jesus then focuses on the crux of it: let go of what appears to be the most important to him - the monies that he possess, AND FOLLOW HIM. (v21)
• Many are often like the young man, very rich and satisfied with what we have in our lives now. We do what is morally good, but when it comes to the crunch, it is hard to forego what you have for the sake of Jesus.
• "It is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich person to enter the kingdom of God" (v24)

Isaiah 34-39

• All, not just Israel, falls under the wrath of God (34:1-2)
• Judgment (v5)
• What it will be like after judgment. (v5-16). Letting them know beforehand is just? Was there a chance for repentance?

• Those who are humbled will be exalted? (35:1-5)
• Peace and joy assured (v10)

• Tried to bring the people back to God but the people feared their king more than God. Did the people make up stupid excuses to not accepted the message by saying it wasn't in their native language so they didn't understand. He God wanted them to hear the message and they had heart, would language really become a barrier? (Chapter 36)

• They maybe unhappy about the people rejecting God, comparing Him with other gods but God says not to fret, He'll reveal himself and show the powers (37:6-7)

Job 13-14

• Job says to his friends that he knows what they are talking about but tells them that they don't appreciate his position. He says what they have said does not appropriately apply to his case. Tells them their best wisdom is to shut up! (13:1-5)
• He holds his case that he has not been partial, not even quietly (v6-10)
• He still thinks he has a non-losable case before God. All he pleads is God not been clouded by unrighteous smears against him. (v16-18)

• Job asks for God to leave him alone. Life is short, it is going to end soon anyway.
• Although he is know it is going to end, he acknowledge God determines when life ends (v5), so he has not asked for death. He has only asked for shelter for all the pains he has going through (v13-14)

Judges 7-11

• God shows off his abilities (7:1-3)
• Chooses which one to stay (v4-5)
• The lapped ones totalling 300 stay with Gideon (v7)
• Was God testing how much trust he had? (v10-11). God still have a choice rather telling him to just do as you are told!
• Midian was delivered to Gideon by God. All Gideon and his team of 300 did was simply to blow horns (v18-22)

• Gideon has won battle, has the full support from Israel for ousting God, but still remembers to humble himself and honours God, making sure Israel knows who is the true ruler. (8:22-23)
• Israel falls immediately after the death of Gideon (v33-35)

• So they put away the foreign gods from among them and served the LORD, and he became impatient over the misery of Israel. (10:16)
• Were they supposed to destroy rather than put away?

Psalms 18-20

• God is the rock (18:2)
• Distressed and called for help (v6)
• God shows his wrath (v7-18) and rescues David (v19) justly (v20-27)
• God provides (v28-30)
• Compares the anchor (rock) God provides is like deer on the heights (v31-33)
• A thanksgiving psalm that honours God

• Ask by praying and praise the Lord (Chapter 20)

Genesis 24-27

• God had blessed Abraham in ALL things (24:1)
• Was that the oath of the day, "Put your hand under my thigh ... (v2)
• Even at such old age, Abraham remembers what God says and makes sure his head servant to follow (v3-8)
• The servant askes God for guidance (v12)
• The Lord gives him a sign that Rebekah is the one (v13-25)
• Immediately gave thanks to the Lord (v26-27)
• Re-tells the story (v28-48) and lets them choose (v49)
• The faithful brother of Rebekah basically says there are no choice if that is God's will and tells the servant to take Rebekah (v51)

• Abraham had concubines but had kept the children away from Isaac by sending them to the east (25:1-6)
• "Two nations are in your womb, and two peoples from within you shall be divided; the one shall be stronger than the other, the older shall serve the younger." (v23)
• Esau gives up his rights as firstborn to Jacob (v29-34)

• A challenge for Isaac. (26:2-6) Going through a very bad famine and God tells him to stay there and trust Him. He stayed without thinking twice.
• Is it in their blood or something?!?! What is the logic, say is sister so he could spare his own life? What did Rebekah think at the time? (v7)
• What is the significance of well digging? (v15-22)
• Did Esau take a wrong wife? (v34-35)

• Jacob cheats his father for the blessing under the direction of his mother (27:5). How important was this "blessing" anyway? Is this blessing supposed to be like the inheritance from a will? Otherwise shouldn't blessings all come from the Lord? Why hasn't God intervened in all of this? Surely this blessing is greater than thinking Jesus will save you he you wear a cross pendant in today's world.
• Esau wanted to revenge because all has been taken away from him, will he be cursed though after Isaac's blessings in v29: "Let peoples serve you, and nations bow down to you. Be lord over your brothers, and may your mother's sons bow down to you. Cursed be everyone who curses you, and blessed be everyone who blesses you!"

Week 7

Mon 09 Jun 2008	Genesis 24-27
Tue 10 Jun 2008	Judges 7-11
Wed 11 Jun 2008	Psalms 18-20
Thu 12 Jun 2008	Job 13-14
Fri 13 Jun 2008	Isaiah 34-39
Sat 14 Jun 2008	Matthew 17-19
Sun 15 Jun 2008	Romans 13-14

Week 6

Genesis 20-23
It was astonishing fact how Abraham demonstrated his complete obedience to God by almost sacrificing his one and only loved son as a burnt offering!! This shows that God does test our heart for Him! He jealously loves us and wants to see if we love Him back the same!

Reflection – if God one day order me to sacrifice something I grab onto tight, will I do it? Will I do it and do it willingly?

Job 11-12
The scripture tells us God is an almighty God.
He is higher than heaven,
and deeper than the depths of the grave.
His measure is longer than the earth and wider than the sea.

Therefore, if we devote out heart to him and stretch out our hands to him
And put away sins in our hand. Then we can stand firm and with no fear. We will also feel secure, for there is hope. We can also rest in safety.

Romans 11-12

• God chose by grace in the past (11:4), now he still chooses by grace (v5).

But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.

-- Romans 11:6

• If grace flows to God's non-chosen people, how much greater would it be for his chosen. (v12)
• Used grafting to describe the relationship of Gentiles and Jews. God being the root. If If decides to nourish both, it is a matter for him to decide. Remember He loves and provides, he is the source (v17-24)

• We as living sacrifice (12:1)
• Put down earthly desires and be transformed to what is good and acceptable and perfect in God's eyes (v2)
• Limbs of the one body (v4-5)

Characteristics of a True Christian:

• Genuine love (v9)
• Honour (and respect) (v10)
• Not slothful but serves the Lord (v11)
• Rejoice in hope (v12)
• Helping fellow brothers and sisters (v13)
• Blessing enemies (v14)
• Care (v15)
• Live in harmony (v16)
• Do not avenge (v19)
• Overcome evil with good (v20)

Matthew 14-16

• Death of John the Baptist (14:1-11)
• It all arose from revenge for John not agreeing Herrod with wife, hence wife asked the daughter to behead him. (v8,11)
• Did Jesus want some time out? (v13)
• He had compassion on them though. (v14) Putting others' need first.
• Five loaves two fish became twelve basket-full always is facinating if you think closely. (v16-21) 5000 men excluding women and children
• Only now did he get some time to himself (v23)
• Jesus walks on water (v24-32): Often we are like Peter when we are walking our Christian life. We ask for Jesus' approval (v28), he grants (v29), we step forward to do it but often get clouded by the worries (winds) around us (v30) and we lose confidence. Jesus assures that he is there to reach us if anything happens (v31)

it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.

-- Matthew 15:11

• Jesus explains: But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander. (v18-19)
• Why did Jesus reject the Canaanite woman? She acknowledged him as Lord and son of David. Why was Jesus so exclusive here? (v22-24) Was he just making it clear that he is the Savior promised for Israel, hence he said this?
• Israel = children; Gentiles=dog? (v26)
• Her faith was tested. (v28)
• Performs miracle again (v31-39)

• No sign is to be given except of Jonah (16:4)
• Is he indicating the parallel of his resurrection?
• Many people get asked the question of who Jesus is. (v13) Peter gives a general answer (v14) but Jesus is concerned about what his personal response is (v15). That goes with us too.
• The most debated verse between Catholics and Christians (16:18) - The focus is on Jesus with the "I" and "my", not Peter. (Ephesians 2:20)

"If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
25 For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
26 For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

-- Matthew 16:24-26

Isaiah 29-33

• Fall of Jerusalem into the hands of enemies (29:1-8)
• God closes Jerusalem's eyes (v9-10)
• Appears that even when Isaiah prophesies, no one will understand (v11-12) [certainly what I am thinking right now! :P]

And the Lord said: Because this people draw near with their mouth and honor me with their lips, while their hearts are far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment taught by men, 14 therefore, behold, I will again do wonderful things with this people, with wonder upon wonder; and the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the discernment of their discerning men shall be hidden.

-- Isaiah 29:13-14

"You turn things upside down!
Shall the potter be regarded as the clay,
that the thing made should say of its maker,
He did not make me;
or the thing formed say of him who formed it,
He has no understanding?

-- Isaiah 29:16

• God speaks to those who do not follow God's plan (30:1), and those who do not consult him for directions (v2), and warns them of the consequences of going down the wrong path (v3-7)

Therefore the Lord waits to be gracious to you, and therefore he exalts himself to show mercy to you. For the Lord is a God of justice; blessed are all those who wait for him.

-- Isaiah 30:18

• Consequences of those who do not rely on God but go for Egypt (Chapter 31)

• Is Isaiah prophesising Jesus? (32:1-4)
  

Job 11-12

• Job's friend assumes that it is just for God to punish Job (11:1-6), in fact God is punishing him less than what he deserves. Tells Job to stop complaining. Complaining won't change anything.
• His friend still thinks he is not right with God, that is why he is facing all these punishments (v13)
• Tells Job to repent (v14)
• Then, you will be made good and you can face God (v15)
• Shows Job that life will be much better if he repented (v17-20).

Psalms 15-17

Psalms 15

Qualities that we should aim for:

• Blameless;
• Right;
• Speaks the truth;
• Does not slander with tongue;
• Does no evil to neighbour;
• No reproach;
• Honours and fears the LORD;
• Does not burden by charging interest; and
  
• No bribes.

So much qualities, only the Holy Spirit may help us achieve.

Psalms 16

• Comes to God for refuge.(16:1)
• Acknowledges he is not whole. (v2)
• God protects (v5)
• God guides (v7)
• God is of utmost priority (v8)
• All these brings assurance which in turns bring joy (v9)

Psalms 17

• David appears to be very confident that he is whole-heartedly with God. His prayer is from tongue free from deceit (v1). He claims that he has been tested by God but has passed and his mouth will not transgress (v3)
• Throughout, David has been able to distant himself away from the violence (v4) and keep to the paths of God (v5)
• He know God will answer (v6-7)
• What is "the apple of your eye"? (v8) Is it supposed to be good? Why are apples good?

----
edited: (thanks to Sharon)
according to Wikipedia, the phrase "apple of my eye" is:

The saying originally meant the central aperture of the eye, presumably because apples were the most common sphere-shaped object around. The apple and apple tree were also a sacred symbols for the early British peoples. This is reflected in such stories as the Island of Avalon (which literally means Apple Island). Now, this phrase is usually figurative meaning something, or more usually someone, cherished above others.

----

• I wonder under what situation he wrote this psalm? He seems to be attacked around (v9-13)
• God delivers (v14-15)