Exploring the Scriptures Together
Matthew 8:1-4, Mark 1:40-45, and Luke 5:12-16 And Jesus said to him, “See that you say nothing to anyone, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a proof to them.” (Mt. 8:4) Yes, the Synoptic writers agree on a lot of material, but it’s rare that they …
Continue reading “January 28 / Matt. 8:1-4; Mark 1:40-45; Luke 5:12-16”
Matthew 4:23-25, Mark 1:35-39, and Luke 4:42-5:11 RTNT 2021. And the people sought Him and came to Him, and would have kept Him from leaving them, but He said to them, “I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns as well… (vv. Luke 4:42b-43a) Mark also reports one …
Continue reading “January 27 / Matt. 4:23-25; Mark 1:35-39; Luke 4:42-5:11”
Matthew 8:14-17, Mark 1:29-34, and Luke 4:38-41 RTNT 2021. Today we do something different – we read small sections from each of the three Synoptic gospels. Each of these gospels reports on Jesus healing Peter’s mother-in-law, in four, six, and four verses, respectively. This will happen quite often in our chronological read since two or …
Continue reading “January 26 / Matt. 8:14-17; Mark 1:29-34; Luke 4:38-41”
Luke 4:14-37 RTNT 2021. And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee, and a report about Him went out through all the surrounding country. And He taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. (vv. 14-15) I like reading two or three translations – they often are quite different. Today’s NASB is …
Mark 1:14-28 RTNT 2021. Yesterday I tried to put together a chronology of Jesus’ early ministry, intermixing John’s gospel with the Synoptic gospels. Evidently I did the same thing two years ago – see the first 2019 item below. The two chronologies differ and I don’t know which I prefer. But I’m sure that neither …
Matthew 4:12-22 RTNT 2021. Anyone who is reading the Bible or the New Testament or only the gospels for the first time will naturally begin the gospels with Matthew. And beyond His early life all they have of Jesus is His baptism and His temptation in the wilderness. Then He heads to Galilee and calls …
John 4:27-45 RTNT 2021. I sent you to reap that for which you did not labor. Others have labored, and you have entered into their labor. (v. 38) My first thought here was that Jesus was referring to John the Baptist and his followers. But my Study Bible also suggested the many prophets in the …
John 4:1-26 You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know… (v. 22a) It sounds strange even as I am typing this comment, but Jesus is dealing with denominational issues here. There were Judean Jews and Samaritan Jews. Both groups followed the Law (at various levels!), but the Samaritans did not buy …
John 3:22-36 RTNT 2021. John the Baptist speaking: Therefore this joy of mine is now complete. He must increase, but I must decrease. (vv. 29b-30) I was thinking of the verse 30 part of this couplet, that in me, in my heart Jesus must increase and I must decrease. I need to really put Jesus …
John 3:1-21 RTNT 2021. I have confessed many times that I have a hard time reading John’s gospel and understanding what Jesus is saying, especially when he is answering a question, as to how His answer fits the question. Thankfully we worked through these gospels two years ago and my first comment in the first …