As we prepare to celebrate Passover, it is well to reflect on God's appointed times as, among other things, a mechanism to keep our history fresh in our minds. In the west today, our history is under systematic attack. The success of that attack has left our young people adrift, not sure who they are or what 'tribe' they belong to. That gap has bee…

joel has someone else change his tire.

One of the beliefs of those against whom Peter is warning is a lack of historical perspective. Their attitude seems to be that, since God has not moved within living memory, He is unlikely to care much about what people do with their lives - hence the appeal to sensuality. Peter says that God's perspective is historical, not immediate and that He d…

Introduction, parable of the laborers in the vineyard and the parable of the tenants. In each of these the question concerns eternal rewards and placement within the Kingdom. The disciples were curious as to what their reward would be. The laborers in the vineyard answers that question. There were also those who were trying to hijack the Kingdom. T…

Biblical leprosy is regarded as a spiritually caused disease infecting those who's behavior and speech damages the community. Over and over in Scripture one is urged to listen. Listen to God; listen to one's neighbors. On social media today, the art of listening seems largely to have been lost. This is to our harm, both as individuals and as a soci…

joel and his cricut.

In describing those who creep into the congregation and lead others astray, Peter says that one of their lures is the promise of freedom. This has always been the case with sin. In promising freedom from the restrictions of God's law, it holds out the promise of being a law unto oneself. While this is tempting, it eventually leads to ruin and death…

After the execution of Haman, the problem of his decree that all Jews be killed remained. Since that edict could not be changed, Esther and Mordecai got the King's permission to send a second decree to the effect that the Jews were allowed to defend themselves. That decree along with Mordecai's prominence effectively took the government bureaucracy…

During the consecration of Aaron and his sons as priests before God, Nadab and Abihu offered profane fire before the altar and were themselves consumed by fire from heaven. Most commentaries focus on speculation about the two men's motivation in doing what was not commanded. Such speculation is completely irrelevant. What matters is what they did, …

joel loves sams club.

The first paragraphs in the chapter parallel Jude speaking of false teachers who infiltrate the body and entice the gullible into some sort of sexual sin. Their motivation is greed either for money or for influence.על ידי Jon Behrens

There are ritual elements in the ordination of the High Priest that are repeated only by the procedure to cleanse a leper. That leads to some profound insights into God's plan for the redemption of His creation. (Inspired by Rabbi David Block at AlpehBeta.org)על ידי Jon Behrens

joel prepares for a cheat day.

Starting from a position of faith in Messiah, Peter urges believers to work on the content of their character. It is a strong character that will keep the believer from falling into worldliness and so becoming unfruitful. It is character that makes one's election sure.על ידי Jon Behrens

Since Esther is not an expert in affairs of state, She would have no chance confronting Haman in the Throne Room. Instead she arranged to get the King into a situation where she had the advantage. Haman, full of hubris doesn't even see it coming.על ידי Jon Behrens

Demons are a Biblical fact of life. How do they operate? How do people encounter them? What do we do about them?על ידי Jon Behrens

joel readies his feet for the hike.

As an elder, Peter exhorts the elders who receive his letter to be faithful in tending God's flock. In this he is echoing Y'shua who gave explicit instructions and dire warnings to those He would leave in charge of His servants. Specifically, He warns them not to use their positions for personal enrichment at the expense of the flock.…

On the surface God's laws might appear simply to be organizing principles for a decent society. They certainly are that, but they are also His means for changing His children into the image of Christ. The principle here is, 'As you behave, so you become.' If one simply reads Scripture out of fear of punishment, he misses a great wealth of character…

joel and the 2600 et cartridge.

The world is a difficult place in which there are trials and suffering. When the trials are for the sake of your faith, you share in Christ's suffering. This is far better than suffering because you deserve it.על ידי Jon Behrens

The coup attempt prompted Aẖashverosh to completely revamp his court and severely restrict access to himself. Haman, who became the gatekeeper, was not mentioned in the great feast of chapter 1. The fact that he was an Amelikite, the eternal enemy of the Hebrews, is significant. Once can view his decision to destroy all Jews as payback for what Sau…

The United States was founded and built by Christians. While the scaffolding of our society (consent of the governed, freedom of conscience, etc.) is Biblical, secularists increasingly reject Biblical morals. This stems from a Christian emphasis on rules and doctrine at the expense of love. In a sense that was Christ's criticism of the Ephesian chu…

joel likes the switch.

The Eyes of the Lord are watching to answer the prayers of the righteous, but ignore those of the wicked. The world is a difficult place and there will be abundant opportunities for others to mistreat you. Here Peter reminds his readers of Christ's example; having been reviled and unjustly killed, He acted to forgive and did not curse. Peter also e…

The first two chapters of Esther are basically setup for the rest of the book. Aẖashverosh (or Xerxes 1) threw a great feast for all of the administration within his empire. At the end of that feast he was humiliated by his wife. He divorced her on the spot. That set up an opening for a replacement. Esther was finally chosen and elevated to the sta…

Idols are a perennial human problem, warned against both in the Old and New Testaments. To understand the impulse and recognize the manifestations, it may be helpful to look at idols from three perspectives: as intermediaries to God, as connections to false gods and as blindfolds to truth. All are forbidden, but for different reasons.…

Writing to a minority Hebrew community within a gentile nation, Peter urges them to be respectful of the gentile government. He also urges respect for God's authority structures within their own community and within their families. This is very similar to Jeremiah's message to the exiles in Babylon - You're going to be there for a while, so seek th…

The great tribulation and the end of this era. The sealing of the book.על ידי Jon Behrens

The High Priests' garments described in Ex 28 are made for glory and for beauty. Clothing can do many things. It can define a person's function or status. It can also either reveal or hide the truth about the one wearing it. That ambiguity is inherent in the Hebrew word for clothing. Inspired by the article, "Splendor in the Quest" by Rabbi Noson W…

joel prepares for the hike.

joel in February.

Peter, writing to Hebrews reminds them that they are God's chosen people. As such, they have a duty to conduct themselves in a way befitting that status. This is especially true of Hebrews living in exile among the gentiles.על ידי Jon Behrens

Daniel prayed and fasted for 21 days seeking to understand the oracle that had been revealed to him. The fact that it took Gabriel 21 days to burn through spiritual interference gives some insight into conflict in the unseen realm. The interpretation covered the period starting with the death of Alexander and extending to end times.…

The design of the Tabernacle speaks of God's mercy and forgiveness. It also speaks of His hopes for each of us. This is contrasted to the current religion of 'Woke' with its purification rituals - the destruction of the past. The gods of that religion have no concept of mercy or forgiveness.על ידי Jon Behrens

Peter, writing to Hebrews in the diaspora, starts his letter by explaining that Y'shua is He whom the prophets predicted and that His resurrection is the guarantee of an imperishable inheritance for them. This inheritance is kept in heaven waiting for revelation 'in the last time.'על ידי Jon Behrens

Realizing that the 70 year exile to Babylon was nearing completion, Daniel humbly prayed for his people. His prayer was answered by Gabriel who gave him a prophecy of what was to happen to his people. During this discussion there is a chart with a summary of the standard interpretation of the 70 weeks. https://www.addeigloriam.org/commentary/ot-pro…

After the Ten Commandments, Exodus goes into a long list of laws. Philosophically, laws represent someone's vision of what a good society should look like. What do these laws say about God's expectation about Israel? It is significant that He leads with laws about slavery. In this He is speaking more broadly about human power relationships.…

Discussion of the Lamb's Book of Life; how one gets written into it and who will not be so written. The final judgment, the New Heaven and New Earth and the fate of the nations.על ידי Jon Behrens

At the end of the Babylonian Empire, Daniel was given a vision of what was to follow. The vision was puzzling to him so the Archangel Gabriel was dispatched to help him understand. Competent Bible scholars differ on the scope of that vision.על ידי Jon Behrens

God desires a freely chosen relationship between himself and people. The codification of that concept occurred at Sinai when He first asked Israel if they wanted to enter into a special relationship with Him. Israel answered in the affirmative and so began a relationship that has lasted for thousands of years.…

The Thousand Year Reign, the final defeat of Satan and the Great White Throne Judgment.על ידי Jon Behrens

Daniel has a vision of four beasts. These beasts correlate with the four metals on the statue in Nebuchadnezzar's dream. Where the king saw a magnificent statue representing the empires of the earth, God showed them to Daniel as dangerous animals. The vision correlates with John's vision in Revelation.…

Daniel had a vision of four beasts, the fourth being different from the other three. That beast is exceedingly terrible. What does that beast represent and what makes it different from the other three? What does the answer to those questions mean for believers today?על ידי Jon Behrens

Great rejoicing over the fall of Babylon. Discussion of who and what Babylon is. The marriage of the Lamb. Discussion of who the bride is. The Rider on the White Horse and the Thousand Year Reign.על ידי Jon Behrens

Belshazzar's feast marked the end of the Babylonian Empire which was succeeded by the Medes and the Persians. Daniel rose to prominence in that empire as well. His success inspired jealousy and intrigue within the government. The other high officials conspired to frame Daniel. That did not go well for them. The king realized what was going on and G…

In the Sermon on the Mount, why does Y'shua find it necessary to assure a crowd of Jews that He will not change the Torah or the Prophets. The answer to that is in two parts, one concerns with language drift over time and the other concerns Pharisaic expectations.על ידי Jon Behrens

The nations of the Earth mourn over the destruction of Babylon. Who is Babylon and what does she represent?על ידי Jon Behrens

After the incident with the fiery furnace in Daniel 3, Nebuchadnezzar has a second dream. The interpretation by Daniel is a dire warning that the king is being watched and his behavior evaluated. Chapter 4, written in Aramaic, is Nebuchadnezzar's testimony about what happened to him and to the power of God.…

In His first major speech in Matthew, Y'shua lays out His ministry. The first section, the Beatitudes, are a restatement of Torah principles of good character updated for a first century audience. With the drift of the English language over time, some of the terms need to be updated again so that modern readers can appreciate what He said.…