Archive for August 2025

Nehemiah 6, Proverbs 11:1-15, Luke 17:1-10, 2 Timothy 2:1-13  Luke 17:1-10: (Luke 17:1-4) Jesus’ series of very practical instruction begins with a warning that while temptations to sin are bound to come, it would be by all means better if such temptations did not come through you. When we cause someone else to stumble or sin, we are…

Nehemiah 4-5, Proverbs 10:17-32, Luke 16:19-31, 2 Timothy 1  Luke 16:19-31: Perhaps one of the scariest, and most brilliant, stories ever told. In it we are introduced to a rich man who has everything this world can possibly give him. And then to a poor man who has nothing but pain and suffering. Such is the way of…

Nehemiah 3, Proverbs 10:1-16, Luke 16:10-18, 1 Timothy 6:11-21 Luke 16:10-18: Following Jesus takes effort and commitment. Jesus explains that in three subsections of this passage. (Luke 16:10-13) Continuing Jesus’ thought about money, he now addresses the way to gain true riches—eternal riches of relationship with Jesus now and forever. Our attitude towards money, whether we faithfully invest…

Nehemiah 1-2, Proverbs 9, Luke 16:1-9, 1 Timothy 6:1-10    Luke 16:1-9: Many people have wrestled with the meaning of this parable, but the important point to remember is that it is a parable. That is, as most parables (though not all), it has one main point which the story is used to illustrate. It is not an allegory, where…

Ezra 10, Proverbs 8, Luke 15:11-32, 1 Timothy 5:16-25  Luke 15:11-32: In this famous story, there are three characters: a father and two sons. Let us examine the story from the perspective of each of them to see what we can learn about the nature of God and his love for us. First, the younger son. He treats…

Ezra 9, Proverbs 7, Luke 15:1-10, 1 Timothy 5:1-15 Luke 15:1-10: Jesus is criticized for eating with “sinners.” There are always people ready to criticize those who go out of their way to reach out to people who are on the margins of society, but there is more going on here than simply that. First, the Pharisees are…

Ezra 8, Proverbs 6, Luke 14:25-35, 1 Timothy 4 Luke 14:25-35: Jesus is surrounded by all the markings of great success because “great crowds” accompanied him. With such popularity, you would have thought that he would do all that he could to keep in the good favor of the people. He would lace his words with carefully designed…

Ezra 7, Proverbs 5, Luke 14:15-24, 1 Timothy 3:11-18 Luke 14:15-24: Jesus’ teaching about dinners and banquets, and the seats of honor at such celebrations, causes one of his listeners to offer a pious exclamation. “Blessed is everyone who will eat bread in the kingdom of God!” (Luke 14:15) No doubt expecting his well-worn piety to be met…

Ezra 6, Proverbs 4, Luke 14:1-14, 1 Timothy 3:1-10 Luke 14:1-14: (Luke 14:1-6) It’s another Sabbath encounter. Some background here may help. Because the Israelite people had been sent into exile for breaking God’s law, worshipping idols, and breaking the Sabbath, the Pharisees—known for their purity—were focused on ensuring that such liberalization of God’s intention could not happen…