Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 16 – 1 Corinthians

Posted on August 12, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 1:13a Is Christ divided?
Nope, and neither is Christ nor the Spirit divided from the Creator, seeing as They are Him and yet Parts of Him.

– 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel, not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of no effect.
– 2:4 And my speech and my preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power…
– 2:13 These things we also speak, not in words which man’s wisdom teaches but which the Holy Spirit teaches, comparing spiritual things with spiritual.
– 4:20 For the kingdom of God is not in word but in power.
Romans 15:19 …in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ.
Matthew 10:20 …for it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you.
Luke 12:12 For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.
Luke 21:15 …for I will give you a mouth and wisdom which all your adversaries will not be able to contradict or resist.
Exodus 4:12 Now therefore, go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall say.
Ezekiel 29:21 In that day I will cause the horn of the house of Israel to spring forth, and I will open your mouth to speak in their midst. Then they shall know that I am the LORD.

Do you trust the Lord to put His words into your mouth?

– 1:20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?
– 1:27 But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and God has chosen the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty.
Job 12:17 (NAS) He makes advisers walk barefoot and makes fools of judges.
Isaiah 44:25 Who frustrates the signs of the babblers, and drives diviners mad? Who turns wise men backward and makes their knowledge foolishness?
Psalm 33:10 The LORD brings the counsel of the nations to nothing; He makes the plans of the peoples of no effect.

– 1:26 For you see [consider, perceive] your calling, brethren, that not many wise according to the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called.
Job 37:24 Therefore men fear Him; He shows no partiality to any who are wise of heart.
Psalm 8:2 Out of the mouth of babes and nursing infants You have ordained strength [praise], Because of Your enemies, That You may silence the enemy and the avenger.
Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus answered and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and have revealed them to babes.”
Luke 10:21 In that hour Jesus rejoiced [jumped for joy, celebrated] in the Spirit and said, “I thank You, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that You have hidden these things from the wise and prudent and revealed them to babes. Even so, Father, for so it seemed good in Your sight.

– 1:29 …that no flesh should glory [boast, exult] in His presence.
Ephesians 2:9 …not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Romans 3:27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? Of works? No, but by the law of faith.

Our boasting is from our faith in His blood and the promise of resurrection, which allows us to approach His throne, our words to reach His ears.

– Chapter 1 30But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption—31that, as it is written, “He who glories, let him glory in the LORD.”

Jeremiah 4:2 And you shall swear, “The LORD lives.” In truth, in judgment, and in righteousness, the nations shall bless themselves in Him and in Him they shall glory.
Jeremiah 9:24 “But let him who glories glory in this: that he understands and knows Me, that I am the LORD, exercising lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness in the earth. For in these I delight,” says the LORD.
Psalm 34:2 My soul shall make its boast in the LORD. The humble shall hear of it and be glad.
Psalm 44:8 In God we boast all day long and praise Your name forever. Selah

– 2:12 Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, that we might know the things that have been freely given to us by God.
Jeremiah 31:33 (Hebrews 8:10, Hebrews 10:16) But this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, says the LORD: I will put My law in their minds, and write it on their hearts; and I will be their God, and they shall be My people.
Psalm 37:31 The law of his God is in his heart. None of his steps shall slide.
Matthew 13:11 He answered and said to them, “Because it has been given to you to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven, but to them it has not been given.”
Luke 8:10 And He said, “To you it has been given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God, but to the rest it is given in parables, that ‘Seeing they may not see, And hearing they may not understand.’”

1 John 2:27 But the anointing which you have received from Him abides in you, and you do not need that anyone teach you; but as the same anointing teaches you concerning all things, and is true, and is not a lie, and just as it has taught you, you will abide in Him.
John 14:26 But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.
2 Corinthians 3:3 …clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.

Without prayer and studying Scripture, what can the Spirit of Christ use to help guide our steps?

– 2:16 For “who has known the mind of the LORD that he may instruct Him?” [Isaiah 40:13 Romans 11:34] But we have the mind of Christ.
Job 40:2 Shall the one who contends with the Almighty correct Him? He who rebukes God, let him answer it.
Jeremiah 23:18 For who has stood in the counsel of the LORD, And has perceived and heard His word? Who has marked His word and heard it?
Psalm 25:14 The secret of the LORD is with those who fear Him, and He will show them His covenant.
John 15:15 No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.

– Chapter 3 6I planted, Apollos watered, but God gave the increase. 7So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives the increase. 8Now he who plants and he who waters are one, and each one will receive his own reward according to his own labor. 9aFor we are God’s fellow workers…
Proverbs 11:25 The generous soul will be made rich, and he who waters will also be watered himself.

Once again, we are His tools upon the Earth just as Christ and the Spirit are; imitating Yah’s holiness is the law of All.

– 3:9b…you are God’s field, you are God’s building.
– Chapter 3 16Do you not know that you are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 17If anyone defiles the temple of God, God will destroy him. For the temple of God is holy, which temple you are.
– 6:19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?

Mark 14:58 We heard Him say, “I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.”
John 10:28 And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand.
2 Corinthians 5:1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
Psalm 140:7 O YHWH the Lord [Master], the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.
Isaiah 27:3 I, the LORD, keep it, I water it every moment. Lest any hurt it, I keep it night and day.
Isaiah 42:6 I, the LORD, have called You in righteousness and will hold Your hand. I will keep You and give You as a covenant to the people, as a light to the Gentiles [Luke 2:32, Acts 13:47, Acts 26:23].

Also see Isaiah 41:13, Isaiah 49:8, Isaiah 58:11, John 10:29. We are not only the Temple made without human hands (Acts 17:24, Acts 7:48, Ephesians 2:22, 2 Corinthians 6:16, 1 Peter 2:4-7), but also the spiritual battleground and the prize.

– Chapter 3 10According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it. 11For no other foundation can anyone lay than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. 12Now if anyone builds on this foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw, 13each one’s work will become clear; for the [Judgment] Day will declare it, because it will be revealed by fire; and the fire will test each one’s work, of what sort it is. 14If anyone’s work which he has built on it endures, he will receive a reward. 15If anyone’s work is burned, he will suffer loss; but he himself will be saved, yet so as through fire.

– 9:17 For if I do this willingly, I have a reward; but if against my will, I have been entrusted with a stewardship.
Jeremiah 23 28“The prophet who has a dream, let him tell a dream;
And he who has My word, let him speak My word faithfully.
What is the chaff to the wheat?” says the Lord.
29“Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord,
“And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

Isaiah 33:6 Wisdom and knowledge will be the stability of your times, and the strength of salvation. The fear of the LORD is His treasure.
Matthew 6 19“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; 20but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also [Luke 12:34].

Also see Revelation 2-3, Matthew 6:33 Matthew 19:21 Mark 10:21 Luke 12:21 Luke 12:33 Luke 18:22 1 Timothy 6:19. These passages clearly state we are working for reward, not salvation.

– 4:1 Let a man so consider us, as servants [underlings] of Christ and stewards [household managers] of the mysteries of God.
– 4:19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord wills, and I will know, not the word of those who are puffed up, but the power.
– 16:7 For I do not wish to see you now on the way; but I hope to stay a while with you, if the Lord permits.
Acts 18:21 …but took leave of them, saying, “I must by all means keep this coming feast in Jerusalem; but I will return again to you, God willing.” And he sailed from Ephesus.
Romans 1:10 …making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you.
Romans 15:29 But I know that when I come to you, I shall come in the fullness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
Romans 15:32 …that I may come to you with joy by the will of God, and may be refreshed together with you.

Matthew 8 1When He had come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him.

2And behold, a leper came and worshiped Him, saying, “Lord, if You are willing, You can make me clean.”

3Then Jesus put out His hand and touched him, saying, “I am willing; be cleansed.”

Immediately his leprosy was cleansed.

Also in Mark 1:40 and Luke 5:12. In answer to either prayer or desire, we seek His will at all times. Humility means you care about what God wants above your want or need.

– Chapter 5 2And you are puffed up [arrogant], and have not rather mourned, that he who has done this deed might be taken away from among you. 12For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside [the faith]? Do you not judge those who are inside [the faith]? 13But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” See Deuteronomy 13:5, Deuteronomy 13:10, Deuteronomy 17:5, Deuteronomy 17:7, Deuteronomy 17:12, Deuteronomy 18:20, Deuteronomy 19:19, Deuteronomy 21:21, Deuteronomy 22:21, Numbers 25:6-18, Judges 20:13.

Unbelievers do not need Bible thumping; believers do. Thankfully, we do not have to stone anyone, and the casting out of a sinner (26 verses) should be temporary.

– 6:2-3 …the saints will judge the world…judge angels…
Psalm 49:14 Like sheep they are laid in the grave; Death shall feed on them; The upright shall have dominion over them in the morning; And their beauty shall be consumed in the grave, far from their dwelling.
Daniel 7:18 But the saints of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.
Daniel 7:22 …until the Ancient of Days came, and a judgment was made in favor of the saints of the Most High, and the time came for the saints to possess the kingdom.
Revelation 2:26 And he who overcomes, and keeps My works until the end, to him I will give power over the nations…

The Greek word for judge (krinó) means to decide, separate, distinguish. In other words, the world and the angels will be under the overcomers’ authority.

– 6:13b Now the body is not for sexual immorality but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body.
Matthew 5:28 But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.
Job 31:1 [Job said,] “I have made a covenant with my eyes. Why then should I look upon a young woman?”
Proverbs 6:25 Do not lust after her beauty in your heart, Nor let her allure you with her eyelids.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.
Galatians 5:16 I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
Galatians 5:24 And those who are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.
1 Peter 4:2 …that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
1 Peter 2:11 Beloved, I beg you as sojourners [aliens] and pilgrims [travelers], abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul….

That include your mind, your brain, for even our imagination comes from the Lord and is created to serve Him. Be careful what you serve your eyes and ears.

– 6:16 Or do you not know that he who is joined to a harlot is one body with her? For “the two,” He says, “shall become one flesh.”
See Genesis 2:24, Genesis 38:9, Matthew 19:5, Mark 10:8, Ephesians 5:31. The sexual act is a spiritual connection, which includes any activity to derive sexual pleasure.

– Chapter 7 feels like, “Don’t get married; it’s trouble. But for your lust problem, do it anyways.” Did Paul forget about the be fruitful and multiply command? Did he hope unbelievers would just pump out future converts?

– Chapter 9 9For it is written in the law of Moses, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain [Deuteronomy 25:4].” Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
1 Timothy 5:18 For the Scripture says, “You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and, “The laborer is worthy of his wages [Leviticus 19:13, Deuteronomy 24:15, Matthew 10:10, Luke 10:7].”

While Paul applies this to those like himself–preaching the Evangel while needing sustenance–it opens the door to other Scripture being applied in the same fashion.

– 11:5 But every woman who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, for that is one and the same as if her head were shaved.
Joel 2:28-29 and Acts 2:17-18
“And it shall come to pass afterward
That I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh;
Your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
Your old men shall dream dreams,
Your young men shall see visions.
And also on My menservants and on My maidservants
I will pour out My Spirit in those days.”
Luke 2:36 Now there was one, Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity.
Acts 21:9 Now this man had four virgin daughters who prophesied.

All of this counters Chapter 14 34Let your women keep silent in the churches, for they are not permitted to speak; but they are to be submissive, as the law also says. 35And if they want to learn something, let them ask their own husbands at home; for it is shameful for women to speak in church.

Then verse 36 counters the previous two: Or did the word of God come originally from you? Or was it you only that it reached?

All I know is that when I had asked the Lord about verses 34-35, He pointed me to the other Scriptures. Also, there is no law in Scripture forbidding women from speaking; that was tradition.

– 16:13 Watch, stand fast [firm] in the faith, be brave [act like men, courageous], be strong.
Joshua 1:6 Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them.
1 Kings 2:2 [David said,] “I go the way of all the earth; be strong, therefore, and prove yourself a man.”

Psalm 27 1The LORD is my light and my salvation. Whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the strength of my life. Of whom shall I be afraid?
2When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh,
my enemies and foes, they stumbled and fell.
3Though an army may encamp against me, my heart shall not fear;
Though war may rise against me, in this I will be confident.

Also see Deuteronomy 1:21, Deuteronomy 11:8, Deuteronomy 31:6, Deuteronomy 31:7, Deuteronomy 31:23, Joshua 1:7, Joshua 1:9, Joshua 8:1 Joshua 10:8, Joshua 23:6, 2 Samuel 10:12.

Faith = Loyalty + Trust. Therefore, being strong and courageous in His work for you is exercising that faith. Amen.

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 15 – Romans

Posted on August 7, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 1:17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”
Habakkuk 2:4 “Behold the proud, his soul is not upright in him; but the just shall live by his faith.”
Ezekiel 18:9 “If he has walked in My statutes and kept My judgments faithfully—he is just; he shall surely live!” says the Lord GOD.

– 1:20 As much as I like the KJV and NKJV, the term Godhead should have never been used—He hates it. He likens it to Cerberus, the 3-headed dog guarding the gates of Hades in Greek mythology. The correct term, theiotēs, means divinity, divine nature, and the divine manifested.

– 1:23 “…and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man—and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things.”
People wanted God to be more tangible so they could excuse the behavior they instinctively knew to be wrong by giving Him the bare minimum to appease Him. This is one of appealing things about the false gods—throw the virgin into the volcano to silence the god over it, so everyone else could go back to regular life.

– 1:31 …undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful…
I could not ignore the alliteration, 5 in a row.

– 2:13 …for not the hearers of the law are just in the sight of God, but the doers of the law will be justified…
– 2:25-29 — Circumcision of No Avail
– 3:30 …since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.

Leviticus 26:41 …and that I also have walked contrary to them and have brought them into the land of their enemies; if their uncircumcised hearts are humbled, and they accept their guilt…
Deuteronomy 10:16 Therefore circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be stiff-necked no longer.
Deuteronomy 30:6 And the Lord your God will circumcise your heart and the heart of your descendants, to love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul, that you may live.
Jeremiah 4:4 Circumcise yourselves to the Lord, and take away the foreskins of your hearts, you men of Judah and inhabitants of Jerusalem, lest My fury come forth like fire, and burn so that no one can quench it, because of the evil of your doings.

Jeremiah 9 25“Behold, the days are coming,” says the Lord, “that I will punish all who are circumcised with the uncircumcised—26Egypt, Judah, Edom, the people of Ammon, Moab, and all who are in the farthest corners, who dwell in the wilderness. For all these nations are uncircumcised, and all the house of Israel are uncircumcised in the heart.”Acts 7:51 “You stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears! You always resist the Holy Spirit; as your fathers did, so do you.”

1 Corinthians 7:19 Circumcision is nothing and uncircumcision is nothing, but keeping the commandments of God is what matters.
Colossians 2:11 In Him you were also circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the sins of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ…
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.

Galatians 5 2Indeed I, Paul, say to you that if you become circumcised, Christ will profit you nothing. 3And I testify again to every man who becomes circumcised that he is a debtor [obligated] to keep the whole law. 4You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace. 5For we through the Spirit eagerly wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love.

11And I, brethren, if I still preach circumcision, why do I still suffer persecution? Then the offense of the cross has ceased. 12I could wish that those who trouble you would even cut themselves off [mutilate themselves]!

Let’s equate circumcision with ceremony or ceremonial law (Genesis 17:11, Exodus 4:24-25, Exodus 12:48, Joshua 5:2-7, Acts 7:8, Romans 4:11). Our focus should be on helping people and pleasing God through obedience. Paul is not saying, “(Jews) Don’t get circumcised,” but, “What good is a procedure when one is not blameless? Obedience—the fight against wrongdoing—has the greater value.” Also see 3:31

– 2:24 For “the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you [Jews],” as it is written.
Ezekiel 36:20 “When they came to the nations, wherever they went, they profaned My holy name—when they said of them, ‘These are the people of the LORD, and yet they have gone out of His land.’”
Ezekiel 36:23 “And I will sanctify My great name, which has been profaned among the nations, which you have profaned in their midst; and the nations shall know that I am the LORD,” says the Lord GOD, “when I am hallowed in you before their eyes.”
Isaiah 52:5 “Now therefore, what have I here,” says the LORD, “That My people are taken away for nothing? Those who rule over them Make them wail,” says the LORD, “And My name is blasphemed continually every day.”
Jeremiah 33:24 “Have you not considered what these people have spoken, saying, ‘The two families which the LORD has chosen, He has also cast them off’? Thus they have despised My people, as if they should no more be a nation before them.”
Matthew 6:9 “Hallowed be your name,” should read, “God to make holy the name of You.” The Father, our King, has declared He will make His name holy to all.

– 3:4 Certainly not! Indeed, let God be true but every man a liar. As it is written: “That You may be justified in Your words, and may overcome when You are judged.”
Psalm 116:11 I said in my haste [shock], “All men are liars.”
Psalm 51:4 Against You, You only, have I sinned, and done this evil in Your sight—that You may be found just when You speak, and blameless when You judge.
Deuteronomy 32:4 He is the Rock, His work is perfect; For all His ways are justice, A God of truth and without injustice; Righteous and upright is He.
Job 40:8 “Will you really annul My judgment? Will you condemn Me that you may be justified?”
Psalm 62:9 Surely men of low degree are a vapor [smoke, pointless], men of high degree are a lie. If they are weighed on the scales, they are altogether lighter than vapor [smoke, pointless].

– 3:10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one [Psalm 14:1, Psalm 53:1, Psalm 143:2, Micah 7:2].”
– 3:23 “…for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God…”

Luke 18:19 and Mark 10:18 And Jesus said to him, “Why do you call Me good? No one is good, except God alone.”
1 John 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.
1 John 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make Him a liar, and His word is not in us.
Ecclesiastes 7:20 For there is not a just man on earth who does good and does not sin.
1 Kings 8:46 and 2 Chronicles 6:36 “When they sin against You (for there is no one who does not sin), and You become angry with them and deliver them to the enemy, and they take them captive to a land far or near.”
Proverbs 20:9 Who can say, “I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin”?
Job 14:4 “Who can bring a clean thing out of an unclean? No one!”
Job 15:14 “What is man, that he could be pure? And he who is born of a woman, that he could be righteous?”
Jeremiah 2:35 “Yet you say, ‘Because I am innocent, surely His anger shall turn from me.’ Behold, I will plead My case against you, because you say, ‘I have not sinned.’”
Jeremiah 8:6 “I listened and heard, but they do not speak aright. No man repented of his wickedness, Saying, ‘What have I done?’ Everyone turned to his own course, As the horse rushes into the battle.”

– 3:11 There is none who understands. There is none who seeks after God.
Psalm 14:2 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there are any who understand, who seek God.
Psalm 53:2 God has looked down from heaven upon the sons of mankind to see if there is anyone who understands, who seeks after God.

– Chapter 3 13Their throat is an open tomb [grave, sepulcher]. With their tongues they have practiced deceit. The poison of asps is under their lips. 14Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. 15“Their feet are swift to shed blood. 16Destruction and misery are in their ways.
Proverbs 1:16 For their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed blood.
Isaiah 59:7 Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood. Their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity [continuous sin]. Wasting and destruction are in their paths.
Proverbs 6 16These six things the Lord hates, yes, seven are an abomination to Him: 17A proud look, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that are swift in running to evil, 19a false witness who speaks lies, and one who sows discord among brethren.

– 3:30 “…since there is one God who will justify the circumcised by faith and the uncircumcised through faith.”
Every preposition concerning the work of Yah applies to believers: in, within, around, through, by, about, of, etc.

– 3:31 Do we then make void the law [His will, His instructions] through faith? Certainly not! On the contrary, we establish the law [His will, His instructions].
– Chapter 4 9Does this blessedness then come upon the circumcised only, or upon the uncircumcised also? For we say that faith was accounted to Abraham for righteousness. 10How then was it accounted? While he was circumcised, or uncircumcised? Not while circumcised, but while uncircumcised.
Galatians 6:15 For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but a new creation.
Faith = loyalty + trust; when you obey His Instructions (Will) everyday, you are demonstrating faith.

– 4:3 For what does the Scripture say? “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.”
Genesis 15:6 And he believed in the Lord, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.
Also see Nehemiah 9:8, Romans 4:9. Romans 4:22, Galatians 3:6, James 2:23.

– 4:24 …but also for us. It shall be imputed [credited] to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead…
I have hated the word imputed even since I read a debate concerning the Lord’s imputation of justification. Reasoned to a logical conclusion feels so much better.

– 5:7 For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.
LOL! Unintended joke?
John 15:13 Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

– 6:13 And do not present your members as instruments [weapons, tools] of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments [weapons, tools] of righteousness to God.
– 6:16 Do you not know that to whom you present yourselves slaves to obey, you are that one’s slaves whom you obey, whether of sin leading to death, or of obedience leading to righteousness?
– 6:19 I speak in human terms because of the weakness of your flesh. For just as you presented your members [limbs, working parts] as slaves of uncleanness, and of lawlessness leading to more lawlessness, so now present your members [limbs, working parts] as slaves of righteousness for holiness.
– 9:23 …and that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had prepared beforehand for glory.

2 Timothy 2:21 Therefore if anyone cleanses himself from the latter, he will be a vessel for honor, sanctified and useful for the Master, prepared for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:17 “…that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Ephesians 2:10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Hebrews 13:21 “…make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.”
2 Chronicles 30:12 Also the hand of God was on Judah to give them singleness of heart to obey the command of the king and the leaders, at the word of the LORD.

– Paul quotes the Tanakh (the Hebrew Bible) a lot in this letter.

– 7:7-25 OK, this is one of those “Paul could have simplified this in 1-3 sentences, but no” type of deals. Me: “I thought I was alive, but then Torah kilt me—revealed my faults *shock, horror*—because of my flesh. Better I die now and revive (born again) under Christ than die forever.”

– 9:17 For the Scripture says to the Pharaoh, “For this very purpose I have raised you up, that I may show My power in you, and that My name may be declared in all the earth.” [Exodus 9:16, Nehemiah 9:10]
– 9:22 What if God, wanting to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath prepared for destruction?
Proverbs 16:4 The LORD has made all for Himself, yes, even the wicked for the day of doom [evil, destruction].
Psalm 76:10 Surely the wrath of man shall praise You. With the remainder of wrath You shall gird [clothe, surround] Yourself.
Psalm 106:8 Nevertheless He saved [unrighteous Israel] for the sake of His name, so that He might make His power known.
He allows good (functional) to coexist with bad (dysfunctional) in order to teach and refine us, plus to show those striving in Him His Spirit at work on the Earth. Amen.

– 10:8 But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach)…
– 10:17 So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Deuteronomy 30:14 But the word is very near you, in your mouth and in your heart, that you may do it.
Galatians 3:2 This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?

– 10:19 But I say, did Israel not know? First Moses says: “I will provoke you to jealousy by those who are not a nation, I will move you to anger by a foolish nation.” [Deuteronomy 32:21]
– 11:11 I say then, have they stumbled that they should fall? Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.
– 11:14 …if by any means I may provoke to jealousy those who are my flesh and save some of them.
Acts 5:17 Then the high priest rose up, and all those who were with him (which is the sect of the Sadducees), and they were filled with indignation…
Acts 13:45 But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy [jealousy, hot with fury, zeal]; and contradicting and blaspheming, they opposed the things spoken by Paul.
Acts 17:5 But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious [jealous, hot with fury, zealous], took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.

– 10:21 But to Israel he says: “All day long I have stretched out My hands to a disobedient and contrary people.”
Isaiah 65:2 I have stretched out My hands all day long to a rebellious people, who walk in a way that is not good, according to their own thoughts…
Proverbs 1:24 Because I have called and you refused, I have stretched out my hand and no one regarded…
Acts 4:30 “…by stretching out Your hand to heal, and that signs and wonders may be done through the name of Your holy Servant Jesus.”

– Chapter 11 counters replacement theology (supersessionism), which declares the church has replaced Israel.

– 12:17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.
– 12:21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.
Proverbs 24:29 Do not say, “I will do to him just as he has done to me; I will render to the man according to his work.”
1 Samuel 26:11 [David said,] “The LORD forbid that I should stretch out my hand against the LORD’s anointed. But please, take now the spear and the jug of water that are by his head, and let us go.”
1 Samuel 24:12 [David said,] “Let the LORD judge between you and me, and let the LORD avenge me on you. But my hand shall not be against you.”
Judges 11:27 Therefore I have not sinned against you, but you wronged me by fighting against me. May the LORD, the Judge, render judgment this day between the children of Israel and the people of Ammon.
1 Peter 3:9 Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult, but with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.

– 12:19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord.

Deuteronomy 32:35 Vengeance is Mine; I will repay. In due time their foot will slip; for their day of disaster is near, and their doom is coming quickly.
Leviticus 19:18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD.
2 Samuel 22:48 and Psalm 18:47 It is God who avenges me and subdues the peoples [nations] under me…
Psalm 79:10 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?” Let there be known among the nations in our sight the avenging of the blood of Your servants which has been shed.
Psalm 94:1 O LORD God, to whom vengeance belongs— O God, to whom vengeance belongs, shine forth!
Psalm 144:2 My lovingkindness and my fortress, My high tower and my deliverer, My shield and the One in whom I take refuge, Who subdues my people under me.
Proverbs 20:22 Do not say, “I will recompense evil”; Wait for the LORD, and He will save you.
Hebrews 10:30 For we know Him who said, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the LORD. And again, “The LORD will judge His people.”

– 12:20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.”
Proverbs 25 21If your enemy is hungry, give him bread [food] to eat. And if he is thirsty, give him water to drink. 22For so you will heap coals of fire on his head, and the Lord will reward you.
2 Kings 6:22 But [Elisha] answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those whom you have taken captive with your sword and your bow? Set food and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.”
Proverbs 19:11 The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.
Matthew 5:44 But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you…
Colossians 3:13 …bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
Also see Exodus 23:4, Exodus 23:5, Deuteronomy 22:1, Leviticus 6:3, 1 Samuel 24:17, Proverbs 15:18, Proverbs 16:32, Matthew 6:14, Luke 6:27, Luke 6:28, John 13:34.

– 13:7 (NIV) Give to everyone what you owe them: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.
Matthew 17:27 Nevertheless, lest we offend them, go to the sea, cast in a hook, and take the fish that comes up first. And when you have opened its mouth, you will find a piece of money; take that and give it to them for Me and you.
Matthew 22:21 They said to Him, “Caesar’s.”
And He said to them, “Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.” Also Mark 12:17 and Luke 20:25.

– Chapter 13 8Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery,” “You shall not murder,” “You shall not steal,” “You shall not bear false witness,” “You shall not covet,” and if there is any other commandment, are all summed up in this saying, namely, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10Love does no harm to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.
For the umpteenth time, Paul was not anti-Torah! Throughout Acts and his letters, he was trying to point out the natural progression of the Law to being changed by the Spirit and acting like it, Torah written in our hearts.

– Chapter 14 is so much like 1 Corinthians 8, parts of 9, and 10. Let’s summarize it: be respectful towards someone else’s walk with the Lord (in particular, the Jewish converts); worry about your own walk.

– Chapter 15, more than a few quotes from the Tanakh about the Gentiles (peoples, nations) coming to faith. Also see Proof Salvation Is for Gentiles, Too.

– 16:18 For those who are such do not serve our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and flattering speech deceive the hearts of the simple.
Isaiah 30:10 Who say to the seers, “Do not see,” and to the prophets, “Do not prophesy to us right things. Speak to us smooth things, prophesy deceits.”

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Hope, Simply Put

Posted on August 2, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

Ashes to ashes
Dust to dust
His resurrection
Is my trust.

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 14 – Acts

Posted on August 1, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 6:1-6 The choosing of the 7 deacons (servants) for food distribution reminds me of Jethro advising Moses on distributing authority to the people and Israel approving (or disapproving) their kings.

– Hearing the word church in reference to the Jewish believers throws me a bit. I wish the translators would have used either the word congregation or assembly to keep it consistent with the OT.

– 6:8 Stephen also did wonders and miracles.

– 7:25 For [Moses] supposed that his brethren would have understood that God would deliver them by his hand, but they did not understand.

Why would Moses have thought that at 40? If he had, the next 40 years humbled him to the point of not wanting the job.

– 7:38 “This is he who was in the congregation in the wilderness with the Angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai, and with our fathers, the one who received the living oracles to give to us…” Did Moses speak to Yahshua (the Angel of the Lord) on Mount Sinai?

– 7:59-60 Stephen sounded like Yahshua perishing on the cross, even forgiving those who had stoned him.

– 9:9 Paul did a 3-day dry (or Esther) fast when he had arrived in Damascus.

– 9:11 A street called Straight, LOL!

– 9:36 At Joppa there was a certain disciple named Tabitha, which is translated Dorcas.
Her name in both Aramaic and Greek respectively means gazelle. I like Tabitha, the Aramaic one.

– 9:40-42 Peter imitating the Lord raising the little girl from the dead, except this was a grown woman, valued by her community. There is some symbolism here. May the Father give me or someone the privilege of revelation. Amen.

– 15:36-41 Paul and Barnabas, while having a disagreement, agree to disagree for a time.

– 16:6-7 Now when they had gone through Phrygia and the region of Galatia, they were forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia. After they had come to Mysia, they tried to go into Bithynia, but the Spirit did not permit them.

I wonder why Christ blocked them? How receptive are you to the leading or prompting of the Holy Spirit?

– 16:9-10 If Paul would have had a vision of a woman saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us,” would he have?

– 17:22-31 Paul used the altar dedicated to the unknown God as a tool to proclaim the Good News. Can we use things of the culture and other religions to reach people for salvation’s sake?

– 18:15 [Gallio, the proconsul of Achaia, said], “But if it is a question of words and names and your own law, look to it yourselves; for I do not want to be a judge of such matters.”
1 Corinthians 6:1-11 Paul explains why we are not to go to the secular powers for judgment on personal matters.

– 18:19 “And [Paul] came to Ephesus, and left [Priscilla and Aquila] there; but he himself entered the synagogue and reasoned with the Jews.” Although Paul declared he was going to teach the Gentiles since the Jews didn’t want to hear it (13:46, 28:28), he couldn’t help himself. He loved his people that much.

– 19:13-17 ‘Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, “We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches.” Also there were seven sons of Sceva, a Jewish chief priest, who did so.

And the evil spirit answered and said, “Jesus I know, and Paul I know; but who are you?”

Then the man in whom the evil spirit was leaped on them, overpowered them, and prevailed against them, so that they fled out of that house naked and wounded. This became known both to all Jews and Greeks dwelling in Ephesus; and fear fell on them all, and the name of the Lord Jesus was magnified.’

This will always be hilarious to me. There is no ritual or words that empower believers; only faith, which come from accepting the Creator Himself.

– 19:23 “And about that time there arose a great commotion about the Way.” Can we call it the Way (to God) again? I do. The term makes our walk to Him through Him alive and active with a set goal.

– 19:24-29 ‘For a certain man named Demetrius, a silversmith, who made silver shrines of Diana, brought no small profit to the craftsmen. He called them together with the workers of similar occupation, and said: “Men, you know that we have our prosperity by this trade. Moreover you see and hear that not only at Ephesus, but throughout almost all Asia, this Paul has persuaded and turned away many people, saying that they are not gods which are made with hands. So not only is this trade of ours in danger of falling into disrepute, but also the temple of the great goddess Diana may be despised and her magnificence destroyed, whom all Asia and the world worship.”

Now when they heard this, they were full of wrath and cried out, saying, “Great is Diana of the Ephesians!” So the whole city was filled with confusion, and rushed into the theater with one accord, having seized Gaius and Aristarchus, Macedonians, Paul’s travel companions.’

The old buggy whip argument makes folks resistant to change, even for the better. I love how the idol makers used mob mentality to try to get their way, but the government official shut that nonsense down. How great was their goddess if people didn’t make idols to her?

– 20:7 “Now on the first day of the week, when the disciples came together to break bread…” Remember, they could only read the Torah scrolls at the synagogue during Shabbat. They would read, then explain the readings to the Gentiles who would not go to the synagogue.

– 20:8 “There were many lamps in the upper room where they were gathered together.” That meant it was crowded, so crowded that one sat in a window.

– 20:9–10 “And in a window sat a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep. He was overcome by sleep; and as Paul continued speaking, he fell down from the third story and was taken up dead. But Paul went down, fell on him, and embracing him said, “Do not trouble yourselves, for his life is in him.” Elijah and Elisha did the same thing, lying on the young men until life returned to their bodies.

– 20:11 “…and talked a long while, even till daybreak, he departed.”
– 20:7 “Paul…spoke to them and continued his message until midnight.”
That is me. I can talk about the Lord, Scripture, history, languages, linking what is happening today with verses in the Bible, and His supernatural work in my life for hoursssss.

– 20:24 “…I may finish my [running] race [course] with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”
– 13:25 “And as John was finishing his [running race] course, he said, ‘Who do you think I am? I am not He. But behold, there comes One after me, the sandals of whose feet I am not worthy to loose.’”
2 Timothy 4:7 “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the [running] race [course], I have kept the faith.”
Philippians 3:14 “I press on toward the goal to win the prize of God’s heavenly calling in Christ Jesus.”
Hebrews 12:1 “Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race [contest] that is set before us…”

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air.”

Do you see how Paul and the writer of Hebrews both use running a race/playing athletic games as analogies for our journey with Christ to the Father? We can view our lives as a game: rules, an objective, an adversary, and two cheat-codes (Christ and His Spirit). I see it as both a game and our crucible for refinement. This viewpoint creates a disconnect I need to be in the world yet not of it (John 17:14, John 8:23, John 15:19, 1 John 3:13, 1 John 4:5).

– Lots of corporate prayer going on, even in public places. I love it.

– 21:11 When [Agabus] had come to us, he took Paul’s belt, bound his own hands and feet, and said, “Thus says the Holy Spirit, ‘So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man who owns this belt, and deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles.’”
– 21:4 “[The disciples] told Paul through the Spirit not to go up to Jerusalem.”
Twice it had been prophesied that Paul would have trouble in Jerusalem. That tells me Paul also knew what was going to transpire and hoped it would give the Lord glory. See 21:13 and 21:14. Are we will to take risks for the Evangel’s sake?

– 21:20-25 And [the elders] said to [Paul], “You see, brother, how many myriads of Jews there are who have believed, and they are all zealous for the law; but they have been informed about you that you teach all the Jews who are among the Gentiles to forsake Moses, saying that they ought not to circumcise their children nor to walk according to the customs.

“What then? The assembly must certainly meet, for they will hear that you have come. Therefore do what we tell you: We have four men who have taken a vow. Take them and be purified with them, and pay their expenses so that they may shave their heads, and that all may know that those things of which they were informed concerning you are nothing, but that you yourself also walk orderly and keep the law.

“But concerning the Gentiles who believe, we have written and decided that they should observe no such thing, except that they should keep themselves from things offered to idols, from blood, from things strangled, and from sexual immorality.”
This means Christendom was wrong in forcing Jewish converts to give up their heritage.

– Chapter 22, Paul’s testimony

– 22:28 The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this [Roman] citizenship.”

And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

The literal translation states, “But Paul saying, ‘I however even was [free] born.’” This matches his usual wordiness.

– Acts 23:4–5 And those who stood by said, “Do you revile God’s high priest?”

Then Paul said, “I did not know, brethren, that he was the high priest; for it is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Exodus 22:28 “You shall not revile God, nor curse a ruler of your people.”
Ecclesiastes 10:20 “Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter.”

That is why Shimei had to die. Both David and Solomon had granted him mercy (2 Samuel 19:16-23, 1 Kings 2:36-46), but he had violated the agreement to reclaim two runaway slaves. Sometimes, it’s best to either let things go, or get some help.

– Paul noticed both the Pharisees and Sadducees in the audience and chose to introduce the resurrection of the saints, which the Pharisees believed, but the Sadducees did not. This caused an old debate to flare, which reminds me of Jesus doing the same (John 10:34) to disrupt the Sanhedrin so He could escape. Paul did it to witness to high-ranking government officials. Clever, that one.

– 24:5 Terullus, the representative for the ones accusing Paul, used the term Nazarenes, a term used for the Jewish Christian sect.

– 24:27 “But after two years Porcius Festus succeeded Felix; and Felix, wanting to do the Jews a favor, left Paul bound.” After witnessing to Felix for two years, all the thanks Paul got was continued jail time. Nice…

– 26:18 “…to open their eyes, in order to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who are sanctified by faith in Me.’”
Isaiah 42:16 I will bring the blind by a way they did not know; I will lead them in paths they have not known. I will make darkness light before them, And crooked places straight. These things I will do for them, And not forsake them.
Isaiah 42:7 To open blind eyes. To bring out prisoners from the prison, those who sit in darkness from the prison house.
Psalm 107:10 Those who sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and irons…
Luke 1:79 To give light to those who sit in darkness and the shadow of death, To guide our feet into the way of peace.
Matthew 4:16 The people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and upon those who sat in the region and shadow of death, Light has dawned.

– 26:31–32 “…they talked among themselves, saying, ‘This man is doing nothing deserving of death or chains.’

Then Agrippa said to Festus, ‘This man might have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar.’”
More confirmation that Paul knew the risk of going up the hierarchical ladder, wanting to witness to Caesar, fulfilling what Yahshua pronounced in 9:15. He was also innocent, just as his Savior was. The mirroring symbolism is strong here, just on a longer time frame.

– 27:31–32 Paul said to the centurion and the soldiers, “Unless these men stay in the ship, you cannot be saved.” Then the soldiers cut away the ropes of the skiff and let it fall off.

After dismissing Paul’s first prophecy about the journey, I am surprised they obeyed Paul this time. I guess his prophecies about the trip struck something in their hearts. It reminds me of what Jesus said about the centurion (Matthew 8:10, Luke 7:9), “Truly, I say to you, I have not found such great faith, not even in Israel!”

– After the snake attack didn’t kill Paul, the Maltese natives switch from believing him a murderer to a god. Something similar happened in Athens; the people wanting to sacrifice to him and Barnabus for healing a man. No in-betweens with superstitious folks, and they had lost the old belief of everything coming from the essence of the Creator.

– Chapter 28 24And some were persuaded by the things which were spoken, and some disbelieved. 25So when they did not agree among themselves, they departed after Paul had said one word: “The Holy Spirit spoke rightly through Isaiah the prophet to our fathers, 26saying, ‘Go to this people and say:
“Hearing you will hear, and shall not understand;
And seeing you will see, and not perceive;
27For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them.”’”

Isaiah 6:10 “Make the heart of this people dull, And their ears heavy, And shut their eyes; Lest they see with their eyes, And hear with their ears, And understand with their heart, And return and be healed.”

Psalm 119:70 Their heart is as fat as grease, but I delight in Your law.
Psalm 17:10 They have closed their fat hearts; their mouths speak with arrogance.
Deuteronomy 32:15 “But Jeshurun grew fat and kicked; You grew fat, you grew thick, You are obese! Then he forsook God who made him, And scornfully esteemed the Rock of his salvation.”
Zechariah 7:11 But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear.

Matthew 13:15 “For the hearts of this people have grown dull. Their ears are hard of hearing, And their eyes they have closed, Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”
Luke 19:42 …and said, “If only you had known on this day what would bring you peace! But now it is hidden from your eyes.”
John 12:40 “He has blinded their eyes and hardened their hearts, Lest they should see with their eyes, Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn, So that I should heal them.”
Romans 11:8 Just as it is written: “God has given them a spirit of stupor, eyes that they should not see and ears that they should not hear, To this very day [Isaiah 29:10].”

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 13 – John, Section 2

Posted on July 31, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 12:38 …that the word of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled, which he spoke: “Lord, who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?”
Isaiah 53:1 Who has believed our report? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed?
Romans 10:16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord who has believed our report?”

– 12:41 “…when Isaiah saw His glory…”
Isaiah 6:1 In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple.
1 Kings 22:19 Then Micaiah said, “Therefore hear the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on His throne, and all the host of heaven standing by, on His right hand and on His left.”

– 12:43 “…they loved the praises of men than the praises of God.” Along the same lines, I see, “They had the fear of men, but not of God,” and, “They had the understanding from men, yet not the understanding from God.”
Proverbs 9:10 The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.

– 13:5 After that, He poured water into a basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet, and to wipe them with the towel with which He was girded.
Jesus washed Judas’ feet, too. This is a verse where those who believe one can lose salvation point to. I have no opinion either way because a believer’s relationship with the King Creator is none of my business, unless He guides me otherwise.

– 13:9 “Lord, not only my feet, but my head and my hands, also.”
Peter knew the symbolism of all 3 body parts: feet – our walk towards (or away from) God; head – the mind-heart connection, the soul; hands – our actions regarding God and mankind. Back then, those were the body parts that were cleansed the most, since they were exposed to the dustiness of the land.

Acts 22:16 “And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.”
Psalm 51:2 Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.

– 13:10 Jesus said to him, “He who is bathed needs only to wash his feet, but is completely clean; and you are clean, but not all of you.”
– 15:3 “You are already clean because of the word which I have spoken to you.”
– 17:17 “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

Ephesians 5:26 …that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word…
He bathed (cleansed, baptized) them through His words, but their feet (our connection to the Earth, His creation itself) could pollute or alter their walk with Him. This is why His blood and testimony can cleanse us if we do stumble and get back on the path to Him, the quicker, the better (Proverbs 1:23). Remember, grace ends at death.

– 13:14 “…wash one another’s feet.”
– 21:15 “Feed My lambs.”
– 21:16 “Tend My sheep.”
– 21:17 “Feed My sheep.”

Luke 22:32 “But I have prayed for you [Peter], that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.”
Acts 14:22 “…strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, ‘We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.’”
Isaiah 35:3 “Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.”

Also see Exodus 17:12, Job 4:3, Job 4:4, Isaiah 40:1, Ezra 1:6, Hebrews 12:12.
We are called to help in each others’ walk with the Lord, to wash the dust (the world’s or the adversary’s influence) off other believers, as He had done for the disciples. Amen.

– 13:15 “For I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done to you.”
– 21:19 This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
– 21:22 Jesus said to him, “If I will that he remain till I come, what is that to you? You follow Me.”
– 10:4 “And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
– 10:27 “My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
– 12:26 “If anyone serves Me, let him follow Me; and where I am, there My servant will be also. If anyone serves Me, him My Father will honor.”

Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.”
Numbers 14:24 “But My servant Caleb, because he has a different spirit in him and has followed Me fully, I will bring into the land where he went, and his descendants shall inherit it.”
Joshua 14:8 Nevertheless my brethren who went up with me made the heart of the people melt [courage of the people fail], but I wholly followed the Lord my God.
1 Peter 5:3 …nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.
1 Peter 2:21 For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps…
1 John 2:6 He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.
1 Corinthians 11:1 Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ.

Also see 1 Samuel 15:11, 1 Peter 4:13, Matthew 10:38, Mark 8:34, 1 Corinthians 4:16, 1 Corinthians 10:33, Philippians 3:17, Philippians 4:9, 1 Thessalonians 1:6, 2 Thessalonians 3:9, Ephesians 5:1-2.
Follow me has three connotation. The first is an Israeli battle cry (Judges 3:28, Judges 7:17), the second, “Obey me,” and the third, “Imitate me.”

– 13:16 “…a servant is not greater than his master; nor is he who is sent greater than he who sent him.” Also see Matthew 10:24, Luke 6:40, John 15:20. The Father trained and sent Jesus; both the Father and Jesus trained and sent the Holy Spirit; all 3 are training and sending us. Amen.
– 13:18 “I do not speak concerning all of you. I know whom I have chosen; but that the Scripture may be fulfilled, ‘He who eats bread with Me has lifted up his heel against Me.’”

Psalm 41:9 Even my own familiar friend in whom I trusted, who ate my bread, has lifted up his heel against me.
Obadiah 1:7 All the men in your confederacy shall force you to the border. The men at peace with you shall deceive you and prevail against you. Those who eat your bread shall lay a trap for you. No one is aware of it.
Psalm 55 12For it is not an enemy who reproaches me, then I could bear it. Nor is it one who hates me who has exalted himself against me, then I could hide from him. 13But it was you, a man my equal, my companion and my acquaintance. 14We took sweet counsel together, and walked to the house of God in the throng.

– 14:2 “In My Father’s house are many mansions [rooms, dwellings]; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.”
– 14:23 “Jesus answered and said to him, “If anyone loves Me, he will keep My word; and My Father will love him, and We will come to him and make Our home [abode, dwelling] with him.

People are still debating over the word mansions being used in 14:2. Some claim the word was chosen so that King James, who commissioned the Bible named after him, would not feel downgraded from a castle to a compartment in God’s house. It matches the reason I heard in which the name James, Jesus’ brother, was used in the NT instead of Jacob, his actual name. That is another debate in and of itself. I say Gentiles pushed an Eastern document through a Western sieve without understanding either the people or culture, but thanks to Yah, everything is coming full circle. East (Jew) and West (Gentile) will become one new man (body of Christ).

– 14:15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.”
– 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
– 15:14 “You are My friends if you do whatever I command you.”
– 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

Exodus 33:11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
Genesis 22:18 “In your seed all the nations of the earth shall be blessed, because you have obeyed My voice.”
Isaiah 41:8 “But you, Israel, are My servant, Jacob whom I have chosen, the descendants of Abraham My friend.”
2 Chronicles 20:7 Are You not our God, who drove out the inhabitants of this land before Your people Israel, and gave it to the descendants of Abraham Your friend forever?
James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “Abraham believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness [Genesis 15:6, Romans 4:3].” And he was called the friend of God.
Luke 12:4 “And I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.”
Proverbs 17:17 A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
Proverbs 18:24 A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.

– 14:26 “But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all things that I said to you.”
– 15:26 “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.”
– 20:22 And when He had said this, He breathed on them, and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit.”

Joel 2:29 “And also on My menservants and on My maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days.” Acts 2:18 “…and they will prophesy.”
1 Corinthians 12:13 For by one Spirit we were all baptized into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, whether slaves or free—and have all been made to drink into one Spirit.

Instead of select people having His Holy Spirit indwelling, Yahshua ushered in the next phase of unification with the Father—those who submit to the Father, recognize the Son, and embrace their works will have the privilege of His Spirit dwelling within their hearts, a continuous presence in their lives.

This privilege comes with tasks: obey God and read/listen to Scripture. Without taking in Scripture, one gives the Spirit little to work with. How can He call to remembrance what one does not have?

– 15:3 “You are already clean by the word I have spoken to you.”
Leviticus 8:6 “Then Moses presented Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.”
Leviticus 16:30 “…because on this day atonement will be made for you to cleanse you, and you will be clean from all your sins before the Lord.”
John 3:5 Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I tell you, no one can enter the kingdom of God unless he is born of water and the Spirit.”
Ephesians 5:26 “…that He might sanctify and cleanse her [the church] with the washing of water by the word…”

Ezekiel 16:9 “Then I washed you in water; yes, I thoroughly washed off your blood, and I anointed you with oil.”
Ezekiel 36:25 “Then I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean; I will cleanse you from all your filthiness and from all your idols.”
Zechariah 13:1 “In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness.”
Numbers 19:17 “And for an unclean person they shall take some of the ashes of the heifer burnt for purification from sin, and running water shall be put on them in a vessel.”

– 15:13 “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.”
– 15:15 “No longer do I call you servants, for a servant does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I heard from My Father I have made known to you.”

1 John 3:16 “By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”

Ruth 1 16But Ruth said: “Urge me not to leave you,
Or to turn back from following after you;
For wherever you go, I will go;
And wherever you lodge, I will lodge;
Your people shall be my people,
And your God, my God.
17Where you die, I will die,
And there will I be buried.
The Lord do so to me, and more also,
If anything but death parts you and me.”

2 Samuel 15:21 But Ittai answered the king [David] and said, “As the Lord lives, and as my lord the king lives, surely in whatever place my lord the king shall be, whether in death or life, even there also your servant will be.”

Proverbs 17:17 “A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”
Proverbs 18:24 “A person of too many friends comes to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.”
Proverbs 27:9 “Ointment and perfume delight the heart, And the sweetness of a man’s friend gives delight by hearty counsel.”
Psalm 45:7 and Hebrews 1:9 “You love righteousness and hate wickedness; therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”

– 15:25 “But this happened that the word might be fulfilled which is written in their law, ‘They hated Me without a cause.’”

Psalm 69:4 Those who hate me without a cause are more than the hairs of my head. They are mighty who would destroy me, being my enemies wrongfully. Though I have stolen nothing, I still must restore it.
Psalm 109:3 They have also surrounded me with words of hatred, and fought against me without a cause.
Psalm 35:7 For without cause they have hidden their net for me in a pit, Which they have dug without cause for my life.
Psalm 119:85 The proud have dug pits for me, which is not according to Your Torah.
Psalm 140:5 The proud have hidden a snare for me and cords. They have spread a net by the wayside. They have set traps for me. Selah.

– Chapter 21 5Then Jesus said to them, “Children, have you any food?”

They answered Him, “No.”

6And He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will find some.” So they cast, and now they were not able to draw it in because of the multitude of fish.

7Therefore that disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “It is the Lord!”

Now when Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on his outer garment (for he had removed it), and plunged into the sea.

8But the other disciples came in the little boat (for they were not far from land, but about two hundred cubits), dragging the net with fish. 9Then, as soon as they had come to land, they saw a fire of coals there, and fish laid on it, and bread.

10Jesus said to them, “Bring some of the fish which you have just caught.”

11Simon Peter went up and dragged the net to land, full of large fish, one hundred and fifty-three; and although there were so many, the net was not broken.

12Jesus said to them, “Come and eat breakfast.”

This and the other multitude of fish stories (Ezekiel 47:10, Luke 5:1-11) and the poor widows (1 Kings 17:7-16, 2 Kings 4:1-7) demonstrates the Lord setting us up to get His Will, Purpose, and Desire done while making sure we have provisions for life. Amen forever.

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 13 – John, Section 1

Posted on July 30, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 1:18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, Who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
– 6:46 Not that anyone has seen the Father, except He Who is from God; He has seen the Father.

Genesis 32:30 So Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: “For I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved.”

Exodus 24 9Then Moses went up, also Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel, 10and they saw the God of Israel. And there was under His feet as it were a paved work of sapphire stone, and it was like the very heavens in its clarity. 11But on the nobles of the children of Israel He did not lay His hand. So they saw God, and they ate and drank.

Exodus 33:11 So the Lord spoke to Moses face to face, as a man speaks to his friend. And he would return to the camp, but his servant Joshua the son of Nun, a young man, did not depart from the tabernacle.
Exodus 33:20 But He said, “You cannot see My face; for no man shall see Me, and live.”

Numbers 12:8 “I speak with [Moses] face to face, even plainly, and not in dark sayings; and he sees the form of the Lord. Why then were you not afraid To speak against My servant Moses?”
Judges 6:22 Now Gideon perceived that He was the Angel of the Lord. So Gideon said, “Alas, O Lord God! For I have seen the Angel of the Lord face to face.”
Isaiah 6:5 So I said: “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts.”
Psalm 104:2 Who cover Yourself with light as with a garment, Who stretch out the heavens like a curtain.
1 Timothy 6:16 …Who alone has immortality, dwelling in unapproachable light, Whom no man has seen or can see, to Whom be honor and everlasting power. Amen.

Christ and the Holy Spirit are the manifestations of the Almighty (His hands) on this plane of existence so His holiness doesn’t destroy us. The Son, the Word that created, works on us from the outside in to reset His design. The Spirit of the Most High goes from the inside out, starting within the heart, to cleanse us and help keep us on the narrow path. Amen.

– 1:51 And He said to [Nathanael], “Most assuredly, I say to you, hereafter you shall see heaven open, and the angels of God ascending and descending upon the Son of Man.”

Genesis 28:12 Then [Jacob] dreamed, and behold, a ladder was set up on the earth, and its top reached to heaven; and there the angels of God were ascending and descending on it.
Acts 7:56 …and [Stephen] said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”
Matthew 16:19 “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
Matthew 18:18 “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.”
John 20:23 “If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained.”

– 2:3-8 This exchange between Yahshua and His mother tickles me. Mary knew her Son very well. “Whatever He tells you, do it.” Do we?

– 2:17 Then His disciples remembered that it was written, “Zeal for Your house has eaten Me up.”
Psalm 69:9 Because zeal for Your house has eaten me up, and the reproaches of those who reproach You have fallen on me.
Psalm 119:139 My zeal has consumed me, because my enemies have forgotten Your words.
Romans 15:3 For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached You fell on Me.”

– 4:10 Jesus answered and said to her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is who says to you, ‘Give Me a drink,’ you would have asked Him, and He would have given you living water.”
– 4:14 “…but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”
– 7:37 “On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink.”
– 7:38 “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his belly [heart] will flow rivers of living water. [Isaiah 35:6, Isaiah 44:3, Isaiah 58:11]”

Matthew 5:6 “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.”
Psalm 42:1 As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
Psalm 81:10 I am the Lord your God, Who brought you out of the land of Egypt. Open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.
Psalm 119:131 I opened my mouth and panted, for I longed for Your commandments.
Song of Solomon 4:15 “You are a garden spring, a well of fresh water, and flowing streams from Lebanon.”
Jeremiah 2:13 “For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, and hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.”
Isaiah 12:3 “With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation [Yeshua]…”
Isaiah 55:1 “Ho! Everyone who thirsts, Come to the waters; And you who have no money, Come, buy and eat. Yes, come, buy wine and milk Without money and without price.”
Ezekiel 47:9 “And it shall be that every living thing that moves, wherever the rivers go, will live. There will be a very great multitude of fish, because these waters go there [flow]; for they will be healed, and everything will live wherever the river goes.

– Chapter 9 5As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.” 6When He had said these things, He spat on the ground and made clay with the saliva; and He anointed the eyes of the blind man with the clay.
Mark 7:33 And He took him aside from the multitude, and put His fingers in his ears, and He spat and touched his tongue.
Mark 8:23 So He took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the town. And when He had spit on his eyes and put His hands on him, He asked him if he saw anything.
Matthew 11:5 and Luke 7:22 The blind see and the lame walk; the lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear; the dead are raised up and the poor have the gospel preached to them.
Isaiah 35:5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.
Isaiah 29:18 In that day the deaf shall hear the words of the book, and the eyes of the blind shall see out of obscurity and out of darkness.
Isaiah 32:3 The eyes of those who see will not be dim, and the ears of those who hear will listen.
Jeremiah 1:9 Then the Lord put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the Lord said to me: “Behold, I have put My words in your mouth.”
Revelation 3:18 “…and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”

The anointing of clay and spit on the blind man’s eyes reminds me we are made of dirt and water. Everything Jesus touched deliberately became charged supernaturally. Sometimes, there are steps we must perform for either healing or any type of cleansing of the flesh.

– 9:31 “We know that God does not hear sinners.”
Job 35 [Elihu said to Job,] 12“There they cry out, but He does not answer, because of the pride of evil men. 13Surely God will not listen to empty talk, nor will the Almighty regard it.”
Deuteronomy 1:45 “Then you returned and wept before the Lord, but the Lord would not listen to your voice nor give ear to you.”
1 Samuel 28:6 And when Saul inquired of the Lord, the Lord did not answer him, either by dreams or by Urim or by the prophets.
Psalm 18:41 [My enemies] cried out, but there was none to save; even to the Lord, but He did not answer them.
Psalm 34:17 The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears, And delivers them out of all their troubles.
Psalm 66:18 If I regard iniquity in my heart, the Lord will not hear.
Psalm 109:7 When he is judged, let him be found guilty, and let his prayer become sin.
Psalm 145:19 He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.
Proverbs 10:24 The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.
Proverbs 15:8 The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the Lord, but the prayer of the upright is His delight.
Proverbs 15:29 The Lord is far from the wicked, But He hears the prayer of the righteous.
Proverbs 28:9 One who turns away his ear from hearing Torah, even his prayer is an abomination.

– 9:41 “But now you say, ‘We see.’ Therefore, your sin remains.” Once you have the knowledge of the truth, you are responsible for its application in your lives, good or bad.

– 10:35 “And the scriptures [writings] cannot be broken.”
Matthew 5:18 For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled.
Matthew 24:35, Mark 13:31, and Luke 21:33 Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.
Luke 16:17 And it is easier for heaven and earth to pass away than for one tittle of the law to fail.
1 Peter 1:25 “But the word of the Lord endures forever.” Now this is the word which by the gospel was preached to you.
Isaiah 40:8 The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.
Isaiah 55:11 So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
Psalm 119:89 Forever, O Lord, Your word is settled in heaven.
Psalm 119:152 Concerning Your testimonies, I have known of old that You have founded them forever.
Psalm 119:160 The entirety of Your word is truth, and every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever.
Amos 3:7 Surely the Lord God does nothing, unless He reveals His secret to His servants the prophets.

– I like how Jesus just throws random statements out there, out of context, not caring about their comprehension. I can see how people would be annoyed with Him. He did say His words were for those serious about following Him.

– 11:35 “Jesus wept.”…at their unbelief. He was confident that He would resurrect Lazarus. I wish I had that kind of confidence that the Lord would operate something that major through me. I have had a few things I have pronounced or prayed about come to pass, but minor to the point of being dismissed as coincidence.

– 12:34 The people answered Him, “We have heard from the law that the Christ remains forever…”
Isaiah 9:7 Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David and over His kingdom, to order it and establish it with judgment and justice from that time forward, even forever. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will perform this.
Daniel 7:14 Then to Him was given dominion and glory and a kingdom, that all peoples, nations, and languages should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and His kingdom the one which shall not be destroyed.
Psalm 8:6 You have made him to have dominion over the works of Your hands; You have put all things under his feet… See 1 Corinthians 15:27, Ephesians 1:22, Hebrews 2:7, Hebrews 2:8.
Psalm 110:4 The Lord has sworn and will not relent, “You are a priest forever according to the order of Melchizedek.” See Hebrews 5:6, Hebrews 5:10, Hebrews 6:17, Hebrews 6:20, Hebrews 7:17, Hebrews 7:21, Hebrews 7:24.

“…and how can You say, ‘The Son of Man must be lifted up’? Who is this Son of Man?”
– 3:14 “And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up…”
– 8:28 Then Jesus said to them, “When you lift up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am He, and that I do nothing of Myself; but as My Father taught Me, I speak these things.”
– 19:37 And again another Scripture says,“They shall look on Him Whom they pierced.”

Son of Man = the Almighty in flesh. They didn’t make the connection between

Daniel 7:13 “I was watching in the night visions, and behold, One like the Son of Man, coming with the clouds of heaven! He came to the Ancient of Days, and they brought Him near before Him.”
…and…
Zechariah 12:10 “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.”

…which is why he quoted the first line of Psalm 22: He wanted people to read it!

Psalm 22:16 For dogs have surrounded Me. The congregation of the wicked has enclosed Me. They pierced My hands and My feet.
Revelation 1:7 Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him. And all the tribes of the earth will mourn because of Him. Even so, Amen.

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 12 – Luke, Section 2

Posted on July 10, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 11:49 Therefore the wisdom of God also said, ‘I will send them prophets and apostles, and some of them they will kill and persecute…’
See 2 Chronicles 24:19, 2 Chronicles 33:10, 2 Chronicles 36:15, Jeremiah 7:13, Jeremiah 7:25, Jeremiah 11:7, Jeremiah 25:3, Jeremiah 25:4, Jeremiah 26:5, Jeremiah 29:19.

To kill Yah’s mouthpiece is to reject Him. Like Abel (Genesis 4:10) and the saints under the altar (Revelation 6:9-11), the shed blood of the innocent always testifies to the necessity of the King of Kings needing to reset creation at a future date. This is why the priests had to dump the blood of sacrificed animals under the altar, to atone (cover) our old lives, to return innocence to the Earth temporarily.

– 12:49 “I came to send fire on the earth, and how I wish it were already kindled!”
Isaiah 9:19 Through the wrath of the Lord of hosts the land is burned up, and the people shall be as fuel for the fire. No man shall spare his brother.
Do not be deceived; because of Yah’s nature (holiness), He still wants to cleanse the Earth of everything corrupted. That is why He had to come in flesh and blood (Word and Life) to save us and prepare us for the next creation.

– 13:31 Some Pharisees warned, “Herod wants to kill You.” Some cared? Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimathea did.

– 13:33 “I will travel today, tomorrow and the next day, for it cannot be for a prophet to perish outside of Jerusalem.” Jesus cracked a joke. How many people got it?

– 15:22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Bring out the best robe [new character] and put it on him [acceptance, forgiveness], and put a ring on his hand [new actions, authority] and sandals on his feet [revived walk with the Lord].’”
Revelation 6:11 Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.
Genesis 41:42 Then Pharaoh took his signet ring off his hand and put it on Joseph’s hand; and he clothed him in garments of fine linen and put a gold chain around his neck.
1 Samuel 17:38 So Saul clothed David with his armor, and he put a bronze helmet on his head; he also clothed him with a coat of mail.
1 Samuel 18:4 And Jonathan took off the robe that was on him and gave it to David, with his armor, even to his sword and his bow and his belt.
Isaiah 61:10 I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, My soul shall be joyful in my God; For He has clothed me with the garments of salvation, He has covered me with the robe of righteousness, As a bridegroom decks himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
Job 29:14 I put on righteousness, and it clothed me. My justice was like a robe and a turban.
Romans 13:14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make no provision for the flesh, to fulfill its lusts.

Colossians 3 8But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him, 11where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all.

12Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

Ephesians 6 13Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness, 15and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16above all, taking the shield of faith with which you will be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked one. 17And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God…

– 16:31 But [Abraham] said to him, “If they do not hear Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded though one rise from the dead.”
John 5:47 “But if you do not believe [Moses’] writings, how will you believe My words?”
As shown by the ancient Israelite during the time of Moses’ and other prophets that displayed wonders, people will always default to the flesh over time.

– 17:5 And the apostles said to the Lord, “Increase our faith.”
Mark 9:24 Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, “Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!”
Philippians 1:29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake…
This is one of my continuous prayers for people: Lord, Father Yah, increase their faith.

– Chapter 17 7“And which of you, having a servant plowing or tending sheep, will say to him when he has come in from the field, ‘Come at once and sit down to eat’? 8But will he not rather say to him, ‘Prepare something for my supper, and gird yourself and serve me till I have eaten and drunk, and afterward you will eat and drink’? 9Does he thank that servant because he did the things that were commanded him? I think not. 10So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’”

John 13:1-17 – Jesus washes His disciples’ feet, including Judas, His betrayer.
In short, just do what is required of you without expectation of anything good or bad. Your faith will be increased over time by what the Father does for your dedication. Yahshua set the example; follow Him.

– 17:21b “For indeed, the kingdom of God is within you.”
John 18:36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom were of this world, My servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews; but as it is, My kingdom is not of this realm.”
John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.
Matthew 26:53 “Or do you think that I cannot now pray to My Father, and He will provide Me with more than twelve legions of angels?”

Read between the lines: His Kingdom is spiritual, not just heavenly. Everything comes from the Father of Spirits and everything will return to Him, one way or another. Blessed be His holy Name and Purpose forever. Amen.

– 18:7 “And shall God not avenge His own elect who cry out day and night to Him, though He bears long with them?”
Revelation 6 9When He opened the fifth seal, I saw under the altar the souls of those who had been slain for the word of God and for the testimony which they held. 10And they cried with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, holy and true, until You judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” 11Then a white robe was given to each of them; and it was said to them that they should rest a little while longer, until both the number of their fellow servants and their brethren, who would be killed as they were, was completed.

Genesis 4:10 And He said, “What have you done? The voice of your brother’s blood cries out to Me from the ground.”
Job 34:28 So that they caused the cry of the poor to come to Him; for He hears the cry of the afflicted.
James 5:4 Indeed the wages of the laborers who mowed your fields, which you kept back by fraud, cry out; and the cries of the reapers have reached the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth.
Deuteronomy 24:15 Each day you shall give him his wages, and not let the sun go down on it, for he is poor and has set his heart on it; lest he cry out against you to the Lord, and it be sin to you.
Deuteronomy 15:9 Beware lest there be a wicked thought in your heart, saying, ‘The seventh year, the year of release, is at hand,’ and your eye be evil against your poor brother and you give him nothing, and he cry out to the Lord against you, and it become sin among you.
Exodus 22:23 If you afflict [widows and orphans] in any way, and they cry at all to Me, I will surely hear their cry.

Also see Psalm 5:2, Psalm 12:5, Psalm 17:1, Psalm 27:7, Psalm 28:2, Psalm 34:6, Psalm 34:17, Psalm 50:15, Psalm 55:2, Psalm 55:17, Psalm 61:1, Psalm 86:3, Psalm 86:6, Psalm 88:1, Psalm 88:2, Psalm 88:9, Psalm 88:13. Psalm 91:15, Psalm 102:1, Psalm 145:18, Psalm 142:6, Proverbs 15:29, 2 Chronicles 6:40, Job 19:7, Lamentations 3:8, Hebrews 5:7.

– 19:40 But He answered and said to them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”
Joshua 24:27 And Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be a witness to us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us. It shall therefore be a witness to you, lest you deny your God.”
Lamentations 2:18 Their heart cried out to the Lord: “You wall of the daughter of Zion, let your tears stream down like a river day and night. Give yourself no relief; let your eyes have no rest.”
Job 31:38 “If my land cries out against me, and its furrows weep together…”
Habakkuk 2:11 For the stone will cry out from the wall, and the beam from the timbers will answer it.

The ancient Eastern belief was that since everything came from (was of) Yah, then anything could be His eyes and Ears upon the Earth. Maybe we should adopt this stance, especially when we look someone in the eye.

– 20:1-19 Since the Pharisees refused to answer Yahshua’s question about John the Baptist, He refused to answer their question about whose authority (teacher of Torah) He was supporting. The funny thing is He gives the answer and insults the Pharisees at the same time with the Parable of the Wicked Vinedressers. LOL! I love Yahshua.

– 22:27 “Yet I am among you as the One Who serves.” There are leaders who serve and those who support the servants who leads, for the benefit of all.

– 22:37 For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.’ For the things concerning Me have an end.”
Mark 15:28 So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”
Isaiah 53:12 Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with the strong, because He poured out His soul unto death, and He was numbered with the transgressors, and He bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”
Hebrews 12:2 …looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

The Lord, our salvation, had to go it alone.

– 24:10 It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles.
The same one mentioned in 8:3 “…Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward…”

– 24:16 But their eyes were restrained, so that they did not know Him.
Psalm 119:18 Open my eyes, that I may see Wondrous things from Your law.
Please, O Lord, keep my eyes and ears open to know your works in my life and in others. I want to celebrate Your accomplishments and enjoy Your hands moving in our lives. Amen.

– 24:30-31 Yahshua’s disappearing during a meal after His resurrection trips me out.

– 24:50 And He led them out as far as Bethany, and He lifted up His hands and blessed them.
Leviticus 9:22 Then Aaron lifted his hand toward the people, blessed them, and came down from offering the sin offering, the burnt offering, and peace offerings.

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 12 – Luke, Section 1

Posted on July 9, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 2:49 And He said to [His parents], “Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father’s business [house]?”

Psalm 40 7Then I said, “Behold, I come; in the scroll of the book it is written of me.
8I delight to do Your will, O my God, and Your law is within my heart.”
9I have proclaimed the good news of righteousness in the great assembly; indeed, I do not restrain my lips, O Lord, You Yourself know.
10I have not hidden Your righteousness within my heart. I have declared Your faithfulness and Your salvation. I have not concealed Your lovingkindness and Your truth from the great assembly.

Psalm 71:17 O God, You have taught me from my youth; and to this day I declare Your wondrous works.
John 4:34 Jesus said to them, “My food is to do the will of Him who sent Me, and to finish His work.”
John 5:36 “But I have a greater witness [testimony] than John’s; for the works which the Father has given Me to finish—the very works that I do—bear witness of Me, that the Father has sent Me.”
John 17:4 “I have glorified You on the earth. I have finished the work which You have given Me to do.”
John 19:30 So when Jesus had received the vinegar, He said, “It is finished!” And bowing His head, He gave up His spirit.
Also see John 3:17, John 6:38, John 8:29, John 10:25, John 10:38, Hebrews 10:7, Hebrews 10:9, Psalm 22:25, Psalm 22:31, Psalm 35:18, Psalm 37:31, Psalm 139:4.

– 4:18 “The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, because He has anointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed…”
Isaiah 61:1 “The Spirit of the Lord God is upon Me, Because the Lord has anointed Me To preach good tidings to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives, And the opening of the prison to those who are bound…”
Isaiah 11:2 The Spirit of the Lord shall rest upon Him, The Spirit of wisdom and understanding, The Spirit of counsel and might, The Spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the Lord.

– 4:27 “And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian.”
Once again, not everyone was healed, and the fact that He brought up the healing of an enemy Gentiles ticked them off.

– 5:17 And the power of the Lord was present to heal them. Why mention that? Is the power of the Lord picky about where He works? I would say yes!

– Chapter 6 12Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. 13And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 14Simon, whom He also named Peter, and Andrew his brother; James and John; Philip and Bartholomew; 15Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 16Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor.

Yahshua sought the Lord all night before He chose His closest disciples to become apostles, and kept the future traitor close as well. Maybe we should start inviting the Lord Our Father into our decision-making as often as we can, to make it a habit?

– Chapter 6 35But love your enemies, do good, and lend, hoping [expecting] for nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High. For He is kind to the unthankful and evil. 36Therefore be merciful, just as your Father also is merciful.

Matthew 5 44But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, 45that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust.

Before salvation, we are under His mercy, yet entitled to use us as He sees fit from time-to-time. After salvation, we are under grace, covered by His precious blood, learning and accepting His Will and Purpose. We expect to be tools in His hands and rejoice (or, at least, try to) when we are used by Him.

– 7:35 “But wisdom is justified by all her children.”
Matthew 11:19b “But wisdom is justified by her deeds.”
Matthew 7:7 “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep seeking, and you will find. Keep knocking, and it will be opened to you.”
1 Kings 3:9 “Therefore give to Your servant an understanding heart to judge Your people, that I may discern between good and evil. For who is able to judge this great people of Yours?”
Proverbs 2:6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding…
Proverbs 8 – Wisdom was there at creation, seek her diligently.
Proverbs 9 – Wisdom versus Folly
James 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.
Ecclesiastes 2:26 “For God gives wisdom and knowledge and joy to a man who is good in His sight; but to the sinner He gives the work of gathering and collecting, that he may give to him who is good before God. This also is vanity and grasping for the wind.”

Psalm 51:6 Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom.
Daniel 2:20 Daniel answered and said: “Blessed be the name of God forever and ever, For wisdom and might are His.”
Job 12:13 “With Him are wisdom and strength, He has counsel and understanding.”
Job 38:36 “Who has put wisdom in the mind? Or who has given understanding to the heart?”
Job 32:8 “But there is a spirit in man, and the breath of the Almighty gives him understanding.”
Job 22:22 “Receive, please, instruction from His mouth, And lay up His words in your heart.”

– 8:3 …and Joanna the wife of Chuza, Herod’s steward, and Susanna, and many others who provided for Him from their substance.
This part made me wonder if she was a spy for Herod. I cannot imagine her husband allowing for such a thing, unless she was a widow.

– 9:1-2 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases. He sent them to preach the kingdom of God and to heal the sick.
– 10:1 After these things the Lord appointed seventy others also, and sent them two by two before His face into every city and place where He Himself was about to go.
Mark 6:7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.
Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Psalm 34:8 Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good. Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
Hebrews 6:5 …and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come…
1 Peter 2:3 …if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious.

Taste in these passages means experience. Judas did the same things the other disciples did and still betrayed Him. It makes me wonder why he did it. Was it to force Jesus to display His full power?

– Chapter 9 49Now John answered and said, “Master, we saw someone casting out demons in Your name, and we forbade him because he does not follow with us.”

50But Jesus said to him, “Do not forbid him, for he who is not against us is for us.”

The churches today seem to have forgotten this lesson concerning things not important to salvation and sin.

– Chapter 9 53But [the Samaritans] did not receive Him, because His face was set for the journey to Jerusalem. 54And when His disciples James and John saw this, they said, “Lord, do You want us to command fire to come down from heaven and consume them, just as Elijah did? [1 Kings 18:24, 1 Kings 18:38, 2 Kings 1:10, 2 Kings 1:12 ]”

55But He turned and rebuked them, and said, “You do not know what manner of spirit you are of. 56For the Son of Man did not come to destroy men’s lives but to save them.” And they went to another village.
– 17:29 “…but on the day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven and destroyed them all.
Genesis 19:24 Then the Lord rained brimstone and fire on Sodom and Gomorrah, from the Lord out of the heavens. Also see 2 Peter 2:6, Jude 1:7, and Revelation 14:10.
Exodus 9:23 And Moses stretched out his rod toward heaven; and the Lord sent thunder and hail, and fire darted to the ground. And the Lord rained hail on the land of Egypt.
Leviticus 9:24 …and fire came out from before the Lord and consumed the burnt offering and the fat on the altar. When all the people saw it, they shouted and fell on their faces.
Leviticus 10:2 So fire went out from the Lord and devoured [Nadab and Abihu], and they died before the Lord.
Numbers 11:1 Now when the people complained, it displeased the Lord; for the Lord heard it, and His anger was aroused. So the fire of the Lord burned among them, and consumed some in the outskirts of the camp.
Numbers 16:35 And fire came forth from the Lord and consumed the 250 men who were offering the incense.
Job 1:16 While he was still speaking, another also came and said, “The fire of God fell from heaven and burned up the sheep and the servants, and consumed them; and I alone have escaped to tell you!”

Jeremiah 23:29 “Is not My word like a fire?” says the Lord, “And like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?”
Jeremiah 5:14 Therefore thus says the Lord God of hosts: “Because you speak this word, Behold, I will make My words in your mouth fire, And this people wood, And it shall devour them.”
Hosea 6:5 Therefore I have hewn them by the prophets, I have slain them by the words of My mouth; and your judgments are like light that goes forth.
Revelation 11:5 And if anyone wants to harm them, fire proceeds from their mouth and devours their enemies. And if anyone wants to harm them, he must be killed in this manner.
1 Samuel 3:19 So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground.
1 Samuel 12:18 So Samuel called to the Lord, and the Lord sent thunder and rain that day; and all the people greatly feared the Lord and Samuel.

Jesus was trying to get them to keep their emotions in check, before they killed potential converts. I wonder what we would have to do now to get that level of power?

– 9:57-62 and 14:26-33 — The Cost of Discipleship: Are you will to give up everything for Christ, including your life?

– 10:4 “…greet no one along the road.”
2 Kings 4:29 Then [Elisha] said to Gehazi, “Get yourself ready, and take my staff in your hand, and be on your way. If you meet anyone, do not greet him; and if anyone greets you, do not answer him; but lay my staff on the face of the child.”

The Hebrews then had a custom of long greeting, delving into profession, bloodlines, locations to and from, enemies to avoid, potential friends, safe areas, etc. I wonder if a head nod in passing would be considered rude. Maybe tell a greeter, “I’m on a mission,” or “I’m headed to fight.”

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 11 – Mark

Posted on July 4, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 1:11 Then a voice came from heaven, “You are My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
– 9:7 And a cloud came and overshadowed them; and a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Matthew 3:17 And suddenly a voice came from heaven, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”
Matthew 17:5 While [Peter] was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them; and suddenly a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Hear Him!”

Luke 3:22 And the Holy Spirit descended in bodily form like a dove upon Him, and a voice came from heaven which said, “You are My beloved Son; in You I am well pleased.”
Luke 9:35 And a voice came out of the cloud, saying, “This is My beloved Son. Hear Him!”

Psalm 2:7 “I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to Me, ‘You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.’”
Psalm 2:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, And you perish in the way, When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.

Acts 13:33 God has fulfilled this for us their children, in that He has raised up Jesus. As it is also written in the second Psalm: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.
”2 Peter 1:17 For He received from God the Father honor and glory when such a voice came to Him from the Excellent Glory: “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased.”

Hebrews 1:5 For to which of the angels did He ever say: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You”? And again: “I will be to Him a Father, And He shall be to Me a Son”?
2 Samuel 7:14 “I will be his Father, and he shall be My son. If he commits iniquity, I will chasten him with the rod of men and with the blows of the sons of men.”

1 Chronicles 17:13 “I will be his Father, and he shall be My son; and I will not take My mercy away from him, as I took it from him who was before you.”
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You.”

– Chapter 1 35Now in the morning, having risen a long while before daylight, He went out and departed to a deserted place; and there He prayed.

36And Simon and those who were with Him searched for Him. 37When they found Him, they said to Him, “Everyone is looking for You.”

38But He said to them, “Let us go into the next towns, that I may preach there also, because for this purpose I have come forth.” 39And He was preaching in their synagogues throughout all Galilee, and casting out demons.

Luke 4 42Now when it was day, He departed and went into a deserted place.

And the crowd sought Him and came to Him, and tried to keep Him from leaving them;

43but He said to them, “I must preach the kingdom of God to the other cities also, because for this purpose I have been sent.” 44And He was preaching in the synagogues of Galilee [Judea].

Two things here: (1) by His leaving, He demonstrates the necessity of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, not just good teaching, and (2) His job wasn’t to cater to their desire for the supernatural, which he pointed out their need for signs (Matthew 12:39, Matthew 16:4, Mark 8:12, Luke 11:29) and to be fed (John 6:26).

– 2:16 And when the scribes and Pharisees saw Him eating with the tax collectors and sinners, they said to His disciples, “How is it that He eats and drinks with tax collectors and sinners?” I bet they were thinking about these verses:
Psalm 1:1 “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful…”
Psalm 26:4–5 “I have not sat with idolatrous mortals, nor will I go in with hypocrites. I have hated the assembly of evildoers, and will not sit with the wicked.”

– Chapter 4 33And with many such parables He spoke the word to them as they were able to hear it. 34But without a parable He did not speak to them. And when they were alone, He explained all things to His disciples.

Matthew 13:13 “Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand [Deuteronomy 29:4, Psalm 69:23, Isaiah 6:9, Isaiah 29:10, Isaiah 30:10, Isaiah 42:20, Jeremiah 5:21, Ezekiel 12:2, Zechariah 7:11].”

Matthew 13:34 All these things Jesus spoke to the multitude in parables; and without a parable He did not speak to them…
Luke 8:10 And He said, “To you it has been granted to know the mysteries of the kingdom of God [Matthew 13:11], but to the rest they are told in parables, so that while seeing they may not see, and while hearing they may not understand.”

John 9:39 And Jesus said, “For judgment I have come into this world, that those who do not see may see, and that those who see may be made blind.”
John 10:6 Jesus used this illustration [allegory], but they did not understand the things which He spoke to them.
John 16:25 “These things I have spoken to you in figurative language [allegory]; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father.”

Father Yah, please keep our eyes and ears open to receive Your word by any means. Amen.

– 5:39-40 “She is not dead, only sleeping.” The mourners burst into laughter. Yahshua kicked them out the house. LOL! Also see Matthew 9:24-25, Luke 8:52-54, Matthew 27:39, Mark 15:29, Luke 23:35, Job 16:4.
Job 12:4 “I am one mocked by his friends, who called on God, and He answered him, the just and blameless who is ridiculed.”
Psalm 22:7 “All those who see Me ridicule Me. They shoot out the lip, they shake the head…”

– 6:7 And He called the twelve to Himself, and began to send them out two by two, and gave them power over unclean spirits.

Matthew 10:1 And when He had called His twelve disciples to Him, He gave them power over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all kinds of sickness and all kinds of disease.
Luke 9:1 Then He called His twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority over all demons, and to cure diseases.

First, He sent the 12, 2-by-2, out to preach with power. He later sent 70 (or 72) others to do the same, except this time, they were to go before Him to every city where He would preach (Luke 10). This is where some got the idea to have either someone or a group pray over an area before the scheduled preacher performed.

– 6:11 Shaking the dust off their feet reminds me of the name Ichabod “…for the glory [of the Lord] has departed from Israel.” See Matthew 10:14, Luke 9:5, Luke 10:11, Acts 13:51.

– 9:37 “Whoever welcomes one of these little children in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes not only Me, but the One who sent Me.”
Luke 9:48 And He said to them, “Whoever welcomes this little child in My name welcomes Me, and whoever welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent Me. For whoever is the least among all of you, he is the greatest.”

– Every time the ones trying to trip Him up called Him by a title of respect, I sensed either an eye roll or sigh from Him. LOL!

– 10:50 “And throwing aside his [outer] garment, [Bartimaeus] rose and came to Jesus.” Clothes symbolize one’s character. Bartimaeus wanted a new character, a new life with sight, physical and spiritual, since he became one of Jesus’ followers

– 12:34 “You are not far from the Kingdom of God.” That answer shocked them silent, because it was a bullseye to their hearts, surprisingly encouraging.

– 13:36 “…lest coming suddenly, He finds you sleeping.” This reminds me of the Parable of the 10 Virgins.

– “Watch!” Pay attention to who or what is influencing you, for distraction + influence = deception.

– The situation Yahshua described for His disciples concerning His last Passover meal reminds me of Samuel telling Saul everything that would happen to the younger man before Saul became king of Israel.

– Yahshua’s confession of not wanting His sacrifice and acknowledging the Father’s ability to save him always gets me. His humanity on full display gives me hope.

– There were two Simons, so I can understand why Jesus named one of them Peter (little stone or pebble). Also the revelation of Who He was (the Stone—the Word—in which He founded the Ecclesia) came through Peter. The Father’s word through Peter: a declaration we all should make about Yahshua, for when we speak His words, we also become little pebbles, chips off the Old Block (or Mountain, according to Daniel 2:31-45) as His Son is.

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Three-Month Bible Reading Notes – Part 10 – Matthew, Section 2

Posted on June 30, 2023 by A Whisper, Screamed

– 12:18 “Behold! My Servant whom I have chosen, My Beloved in whom My soul is well pleased! I will put My Spirit upon Him, And He will declare justice to the Gentiles.
Isaiah 42:1 “Behold! My Servant whom I uphold, My Elect One in whom My soul delights! I have put My Spirit upon Him; He will bring forth justice to the Gentiles.”

– Chapter 12 43“When an unclean spirit goes out of a man, he goes through dry places, seeking rest, and finds none. 44Then he says, ‘I will return to my house from which I came.’ And when he comes, he finds it empty, swept, and put in order. 45Then he goes and takes with him seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter and dwell there; and the last state of that man is worse than the first. So shall it also be with this wicked generation.”

Once you get free of the demonic, shut and guard the doors (ears, eyes, actions) to your soul.

– 13:57 So they were offended at Him. But Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his own country and in his own house.”
Isaiah 49:7 Thus says the Lord, The Redeemer of Israel, their Holy One, To Him whom man despises, To Him whom the nation abhors, To the Servant of rulers: “Kings shall see and arise, Princes also shall worship, Because of the Lord who is faithful, The Holy One of Israel; And He has chosen You.”
Isaiah 53:3 He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.
Psalm 69:7 “Because for Your sake I have borne reproach. Shame has covered my face.”

– 15:8 and Mark 7:6 “‘These people draw near to Me with their mouth, and honor Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me [Isaiah 29:13].”
John 5:23 “…that all should honor the Son just as they honor the Father. He who does not honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent Him.”
Luke 10:16 “He who hears you hears Me, he who rejects you rejects Me, and he who rejects Me rejects Him who sent Me.”
1 John 2:23 “Whoever denies the Son does not have the Father either; he who acknowledges the Son has the Father also.”
Also see Jeremiah 12:2, Ezekiel 33:31, Psalm 78:36, Psalm 78:37, Titus 1:16, John 12:48

– 15:14 “Let them alone. They are blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind leads the blind, both will fall into a ditch.”
– 23:16 “Woe to you, blind guides! You say, ‘If anyone swears by the temple, it means nothing; but if anyone swears by the gold of the temple, he is bound by his oath.’”
– 23:24 You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.
Luke 6:39 Jesus also told them a parable: “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?”
Isaiah 59:10 Like the blind, we feel our way along the wall, groping like those without eyes. We stumble at midday as in the twilight; among the vigorous we are like the dead.”
Isaiah 9:16 For those who guide this people mislead them, and those they mislead are swallowed up.
Deuteronomy 28:29 “…and at noon you will grope about like a blind man in the darkness. You will not prosper in your ways. Day after day you will be oppressed and plundered, with no one to save you.”
John 9:39 Then Jesus declared, “For judgment I have come into this world, so that the blind may see and those who see may become blind.”

– Jesus did pray in public, to praise the Father, pray for His current and future disciples, and bless the food.

– 21:7 They brought the donkey and the colt, laid their clothes on them, and set Him on them. Mark 11 7Then they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their clothes on it, and He sat on it. 8And many spread their clothes on the road, and others cut down leafy branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Luke 19 35Then they brought him to Jesus. And they threw their own clothes on the colt, and they set Jesus on him. 36And as He went, many spread their clothes on the road.

2 Kings 9:13 Then each man hastened to take his garment and put it under him on the top of the steps; and they blew trumpets, saying, “Jehu is king!”

– Matthew 22:10-13 “So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests.”

“But when the king came in to see the guests, he saw a man there who did not have on a wedding garment. So he said to him, ‘Friend, how did you come in here without a wedding garment?’

And he was speechless.

Then the king said to the servants, ‘Bind him hand and foot, take him away, and cast him into outer darkness; there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’”

Revelation 19:8 And to her it was granted to be arrayed in fine linen, clean and bright, for the fine linen is the righteous acts of the saints.
Revelation 15:6 And out of the temple came the seven angels having the seven plagues, clothed in pure bright linen, and having their chests girded with golden bands.
Revelation 19:14 And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses.
Revelation 4:4 Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and on the thrones I saw twenty-four elders sitting, clothed in white robes; and they had crowns of gold on their heads.
Revelation 3:4 “You have a few names even in Sardis who have not defiled their garments; and they shall walk with Me in white, for they are worthy.”
Revelation 3:18 “I counsel you to buy from Me gold refined in the fire, that you may be rich; and white garments, that you may be clothed, that the shame of your nakedness may not be revealed; and anoint your eyes with eye salve, that you may see.”
Revelation 7:14 I said to him, “My lord, you know.” And he said to me, “These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.”

Ecclesiastes 9:8 Let your clothes be white all the time, and let not oil be lacking on your head.
2 Kings 10:18-28 – the worshipers of Baal killed, marked by the outfits they wore.
Zechariah 3:1-5 – Joshua, the High Priest, getting new clothes (new character)

– 22:16 and Mark 12:14a And [the Pharisees] sent to Him their disciples with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that You are true, and teach the way of God in truth; nor do You care about anyone, for You do not regard the person of men.”

Luke 18:2 “There was in a certain city a judge who did not fear God nor regard man.”
Acts 10:34 Then Peter opened his mouth and said: “In truth I perceive that God shows no partiality.”
John 5:34 “Yet I do not receive testimony from man, but I say these things that you may be saved.”
John 5:41 “I do not receive honor from men.”
John 5:44 “How can you believe, who receive honor from one another, and do not seek the honor that comes from the only God?”
John 6:15 Therefore when Jesus perceived that they were about to come and take Him by force to make Him king, He departed again to the mountain by Himself alone.

John 7:18 “He who speaks from himself seeks his own glory; but He who seeks the glory of the One who sent Him is true, and no unrighteousness is in Him.”
John 8:50 “And I do not seek My own glory; there is One who seeks and judges.”
John 8:54 Jesus answered, “If I honor Myself, My honor is nothing. It is My Father who honors Me, of whom you say that He is your God.”
John 12:43 “…for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
1 John 5:9 If we receive the witness [testimony] of men, the witness of God is greater; for this is the witness of God which He has testified of His Son.
1 Thessalonians 2:6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
Hebrews 5:5 So also Christ did not glorify Himself to become High Priest, but it was He who said to Him: “You are My Son, Today I have begotten You [Psalm 2:7, Acts 13:33, Hebrews 1:5].”

– 22:44 and Psalm 110:1 “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand, till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”
– 5:35 “…nor by the earth, for it is His footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King.”
Isaiah 66:1 and Acts 7:49 Thus says the Lord: “Heaven is My throne, and earth is My footstool. Where is the house that you will build Me? And where is the place of My rest?”
Acts 2:34-35 For David did not ascend into heaven, but he himself says: “The Lord said to my Lord, ‘Sit at My right hand till I make Your enemies Your footstool.’”
1 Corinthians 15:25 For He must reign till He has put all enemies under His feet.
Hebrews 1:13 But to which of the angels has He ever said: “Sit at My right hand, Till I make Your enemies Your footstool”?
Hebrews 10:13 …from that time waiting till His enemies are made His footstool.
Hebrews 2:8 “You have put all things in subjection under his feet.” [Psalm 8:6, 1 Corinthians 15:27] For in that He put all in subjection under him, He left nothing that is not put under him. But now we do not yet see all things put under him.

Joshua 10:24 So it was, when they brought out those kings to Joshua, that Joshua called for all the men of Israel, and said to the captains of the men of war who went with him, “Come near, put your feet on the necks of these kings.” And they drew near and put their feet on their necks.
Isaiah 51:23 “But I will put it into the hand of those who afflict you, who have said to you, ‘Lie down, that we may walk over you.’ And you have laid your body like the ground, and as the street, for those who walk over.’”
Psalm 66:12 You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.
Malachi 4:3 “You shall trample the wicked, For they shall be ashes under the soles of your feet On the day that I do this,” Says the Lord of hosts.

2 Samuel 22 39And I have destroyed them and wounded them, so that they could not rise. They have fallen under my feet. 40For You have armed me with strength for the battle; You have subdued [bent] under me those who rose against me. 41You have also given me [victory over] the necks of my enemies, so that I destroyed those who hated me.

In case you forgot, mankind is animated spirit dust.

– 23:5 “All their deeds are done for men to see. They broaden their phylacteries [Scripture cases] and lengthen their tassels.”
Exodus 13:9 “It shall be as a sign on your hand and as frontlets [marks, bands] between your eyes, for by strength of hand the Lord brought us out of Egypt.”
Deuteronomy 6:8 “You shall also tie them as a sign to your hand, and they shall be as frontlets on your forehead.”
Deuteronomy 11:18 “Therefore you shall lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul [mind], and bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes.”

Proverbs 1:9 For they will be a graceful ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.
Proverbs 3:3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you. Bind them around your neck. Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Proverbs 6:21 Bind them continually on your heart; Tie them around your neck.
Proverbs 7:3 Bind them on your fingers; Write them on the tablet of your heart.
Psalm 73:6 Therefore pride is their necklace; a garment of violence covers them.

Isaiah 49:16 “See, I have inscribed you on the palms of My hands; Your walls are continually before Me.”
2 Corinthians 3:3 “…clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is, of the heart.”
Jeremiah 17 1“The sin of Judah is written with an iron stylus, engraved with a diamond point on the tablets of their hearts and on the horns of their altars. 2Even their children remember their altars and Asherah poles by the green trees and on the high hills.”

Father Yah, Our King of Kings, wanted the Israelites to find ways to etch His Will and Works into their hearts and minds, to imprint them onto their progeny until Shiloh comes. To do this consistently marks one as having good character (blameless).

– 23:37 and Luke 13:34 “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the one who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, but you were not willing!”
Ruth 2:12 “The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”
Ruth 3:9 And he said, “Who are you?”

So she answered, “I am Ruth, your maidservant. Take your maidservant under your wing, for you are a close relative.”

Psalm 17:8 “Keep me as the apple of Your eye; Hide me under the shadow of Your wings…”
Psalm 36:7 “How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God! Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of Your wings.”
Psalm 57:1 “…Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me! For my soul trusts in You; and in the shadow of Your wings I will make my refuge, until these calamities have passed by.”
Psalm 63:7 “Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.”
Psalm 91:4 “He shall cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you shall take refuge; His truth shall be your shield and buckler.”

Deuteronomy 32:11 “As an eagle stirs up its nest, hovers over its young, spreading out its wings, taking them up, carrying them on its wings…”
Isaiah 31:5 “Like birds flying about, so will the Lord of hosts defend Jerusalem. Defending, He will also deliver it. Passing over, He will preserve it.”
Isaiah 40:31 “But those who wait on 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.”
Revelation 12:14 “But the woman was given two wings of a great eagle, that she might fly into the wilderness to her place, where she is nourished for a time and times and half a time, from the presence of the serpent.”

Wings represent protection and strengthening, with healing falling into the latter one.

– 26:33 Peter answered and said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble because of You, I will never be made to stumble.”
Mark 14:29 Peter said to Him, “Even if all are made to stumble, yet I will not be.”
Luke 22:33 But [Peter] said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.”
John 13:37 Peter said to Him, “Lord, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for Your sake.”

Little did Peter know, it was not his time to be martyred yet, and the Lord had to do this alone

– 26:39 He went a little farther and fell on His face, and prayed, saying, “O My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.”
– 20:22 But Jesus answered and said, “You do not know what you ask. Are you able to drink the cup that I am about to drink, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with?”

They said to Him, “We are able.”
See Psalm 11:6, Psalm 60:3, Psalm 75:8, Isaiah 51:17, Isaiah 51:22, Isaiah 51:23, Isaiah 53:12, Jeremiah 13:12-14, Jeremiah 25:15-16, Jeremiah 25:27-29, Jeremiah 49:12, Lamentations 4:21, Job 21:20, Obadiah 1:16, Mark 10:38, Mark 14:36, Luke 22:42, Revelation 14:10.

Tears hit me as I heard this being read.

– 27:24 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.”

Exodus 30 17Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying: 18“You shall also make a laver [basin] of bronze, with its base also of bronze, for washing. You shall put it between the tabernacle of meeting and the altar. And you shall put water in it, 19for Aaron and his sons shall wash their hands and their feet in water from it. 20When they go into the tabernacle of meeting, or when they come near the altar to minister, to burn an offering made by fire to the Lord, they shall wash with water, lest they die. 21So they shall wash their hands and their feet, lest they die. And it shall be a statute [requirement] forever to them—to him and his descendants throughout their generations.”

Exodus 40:31 …and Moses, Aaron, and his sons would wash their hands and their feet with water from it.
Leviticus 8:6 Then Moses brought Aaron and his sons and washed them with water.
Deuteronomy 21 6And all the elders of that city nearest to the slain man shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley. 7Then they shall answer and say, ‘Our hands have not shed this blood, nor have our eyes seen it.
Psalm 26:6 I will wash my hands in innocence; So I will go about Your altar, O Lord…
Psalm 73:13 Surely I have cleansed my heart in vain, and washed my hands in innocence.

While Pilate performed the hand-washing based on his wife’s warning and not finding fault with Yahshua, his superstitions blinded him from seeing he was officiating the blood covenant to cover the world. His job, as a legal representative, was to declare Him innocent.

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