In the previous blog, we saw that the prophecy of the seventy weeks of years does not stand on its own. It forms part of a much larger biblical chronology. From Abraham to Christ, we find four consecutive periods of… Lees verder
From Abraham onward, we find a remarkable pattern in biblical chronology: periods of five hundred years. The word chronology literally means the reckoning of time. The Bible does not merely record events; it also gives many details about when those… Lees verder
Daniel 9:24–27 contains one of the most remarkable chronological prophecies in the Bible. Gabriel reveals to Daniel that a period of seventy weeks has been set apart for his people and his holy city. These weeks lead up to “Messiah… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that the man without a wedding garment is removed from the wedding hall. We compared this with other parables that speak of the inception of the Kingdom. At the consummation of the eon, a… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that the king’s servants were sent out to the roads to invite as many people as they could find to the wedding. They gathered both the bad and the good, and eventually, the wedding… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that those originally invited did not heed the king’s call. Some paid no attention to it, while others mistreated and killed his servants. Eventually, judgment followed, and their city was set on fire. This… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that the king sends out his slaves to summon those who had already been invited to the wedding. Those summoned represent Israel. The Kingdom had been promised to them, and when the King arrived,… Lees verder
In previous blog posts, we discussed several parables told by the Lord during the final days before His crucifixion. We looked at the parable of the two sons and the parable of the wicked tenants. Both parables address the disobedience… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that the Kingdom of Israel was taken away and given to another nation. Jesus substantiates His words by quoting Psalm 118. In doing so, He introduces a new image. In the parable, it was… Lees verder
The parable the Lord tells ends with the death of the son, who is cast out of the vineyard by the tenants and killed. It is not difficult to see in this a foreshadowing of what the Jewish leaders would… Lees verder
God had chosen Israel as a people to make His virtues known among the other nations. But we know from the Old Testament that the people were generally unbelieving and disobedient: an unfruitful people. God sent prophets to instruct and… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw how Scripture itself provides the answer regarding what the vineyard represents. The Lord bases His parable on Isaiah 5, which states: the vineyard of the Lord of hosts is the house of Israel. Matthew… Lees verder
The parables concern the secrets of the Kingdom. But they also address how and why the period during which the Kingdom would remain hidden came about. The parable of the wicked tenants is a fine example of this. It is… Lees verder
The parable of the two sons is short, and we do not need to guess its meaning. The Lord Jesus Himself provides the application. He addresses this parable to the chief priests and the elders of the people (:23). They… Lees verder
We saw that the owner of the vineyard represents the Lord. He calls workers to labor in His vineyard, a depiction of the Kingdom of the Heavens. With the first group, He agrees that they will receive a denarius, representing… Lees verder
We find this parable only in Matthew, not in the other Gospels. The parable of the workers in the vineyard does not stand in isolation. At the end of the previous chapter, the Lord Jesus says: “But many who are… Lees verder
Some time ago, I wrote a series on the parables found in Matthew 13. That chapter contains the first parables in the New Testament — a series of eight. However, these are certainly not the only parables in the Gospels;… Lees verder
In previous blog posts, we saw that the good fight does not consist of attacking opponents, but of holding fast to sound doctrine and the faith. Paul calls upon Timothy to fight the excellent fight by holding fast to the… Lees verder
In previous blog posts, we saw that the good fight has everything to do with sound doctrine and the faith. These are not two separate subjects. Sound doctrine constitutes the content of the faith. The good fight of faith is,… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that the good fight of faith is not the struggle to come to faith, but the struggle to hold fast to what God has spoken. Whoever believes what God says and stands up for… Lees verder
The word “struggle” (or “fight”) used in 1 Timothy 6:12 appears elsewhere in this letter only in 1 Timothy 4:10. Here, Paul provides an example of sound doctrine, introducing his words with: “This is a trustworthy saying and worthy of… Lees verder
In the previous blog, we saw that Paul begins his first letter to Timothy with a warning against those who deviate from sound doctrine. He then encourages Timothy to fight the good fight, with faith and a good conscience. EmphasisThe… Lees verder
The term “the good fight” is found only in Paul’s letters to Timothy. In these letters, Paul places strong emphasis on holding fast to and passing on sound words and sound teaching (1 Tim. 1:10, 6:3; 2 Tim. 1:13, 4:3).… Lees verder
The life of a believer is not without conflict. Anyone who wishes to follow the Lord will, sooner or later, face opposition, tribulation, or reproach. In Christian circles, this is often referred to as “spiritual warfare.” Remarkably, however, that specific… Lees verder
In the previous blog posts, we saw that Paul does not call for the man to be expelled from the ecclesia, but rather points the Corinthians toward their own attitude and the purging of the leaven of false teaching. In… Lees verder