“God spoke to Moses and said to him, ‘I am the LORD. I appeared to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob, as God Almighty, but by my name the LORD I did not make myself known to them.’” (Exodus 6:2–3 ESV). In this passage, God spoke to Moses at a moment when Israel groaned under
“At a lodging place on the way the Lord met him and sought to put him to death” (Exodus 4:24 ESV). In this strange and startling scene, Moses had already been called to deliver Israel from Egypt, yet on the journey back, the LORD confronted him with a life-threatening judgment. The context seems to show
“But I tell you that Elijah has already come, and they did not recognize him, but did to him whatever they pleased. So also the Son of Man will certainly suffer at their hands” (Matthew 17:12 ESV) This conversation took place as Jesus and His inner circle, Peter, James, and John, descended from the Mount
“Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom” (Matthew 16:28 ESV). Matthew recorded Jesus’ startling declaration to His followers that some would not “taste death” before seeing His kingdom. Writing primarily to a Jewish audience, the author
“Jesus said to them, ‘Watch and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees.’” (Matthew 16:6 ESV). Matthew recorded that Jesus spoke these words to His disciples after a confrontation with the Pharisees and Sadducees. At first, the disciples misunderstood Him, thinking He was referring to literal bread because they had forgotten to bring
“He answered, ‘Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up.’” (Matthew 15:13 ESV). Matthew recorded that Jesus spoke these words after the Pharisees were offended by His teaching that true defilement comes from the heart, not from ignoring man-made traditions. The disciples had warned Jesus about the Pharisees’ reaction, likely
“For your servant became a pledge of safety for the boy to my father” (Genesis 44:32 ESV). Moses recorded Judah’s impassioned plea before Joseph on behalf of Benjamin. Standing before Egypt’s ruler, whom he did not yet recognize as his brother, Judah recalled how he had personally guaranteed the boy’s safety to their father Jacob.
“Then Judah said to Israel his father, ‘Send the boy with me, and we will arise and go, that we may live and not die, both we and you and also our little ones.’” (Genesis 43:8 ESV). Moses recorded Judah’s words to Jacob as a decisive moment in the shaping of the covenant family. Faced
“But he said, ‘No, lest in gathering the weeds you root up the wheat along with them.’” (Matthew 13:29 ESV). Matthew recorded that Jesus told this parable to the crowds to explain the nature of the kingdom of heaven in the present age. Later, Jesus explained its meaning privately to His disciples (Matt. 13:36–43). He
“For truly, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it” (Matthew 13:17 ESV). Matthew recorded Jesus’ words to His disciples as He explained the privilege they had in witnessing the kingdom of