“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you” (Luke 6:27-28 ESV). These are the words of Jesus from his Sermon on the Plain, describing the new way of living in the Kingdom of Heaven. Instead of
“These are the words that Moses spoke to all Israel beyond the Jordan in the wilderness” (Deuteronomy 1:1 ESV). The book of Deuteronomy is a recap of the Israelites’ wilderness journey. It is the fifth and final book of the Torah. The word “Torah,” is Hebrew for “law” as well as the name used to
“But now even more the report about him went abroad, and great crowds gathered to hear him and to be healed of their infirmities. But he would withdraw to desolate places and pray.” (Luke 5:15-16 ESV). The more that crowds gathered around Jesus, the more often He would “withdraw” to pray. Jesus modeled an important
‘And demons also came out of many, crying, “You are the Son of God!” But he rebuked them and would not allow them to speak, because they knew that he was the Christ.’ (Luke 4:41 ESV). At Simon’s mother-in-law’s house in Capernaum, Jesus healed and cast out demons from a multitude of people who lined
“And when the devil had ended every temptation, he departed from him until an opportune time” (Luke 4:13 ESV). The devil departed from tempting Jesus after three failed attempts. It might be noted that these are the same three temptations to which Adam succumbed. Yet, Jesus overcame them all. The temptation of Adam and Eve
“So Moses told the people of Israel everything just as the Lord had commanded Moses” (Numbers 29:40 ESV). Moses was a faithful servant to the Lord. He passed along “everything” that the Lord had commanded him to say to the children of Israel. He did not add to, nor subtract from, nor water down the
“Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I” (Psalm 61:1-2 ESV). This is a prayer of David crying out to God for His heavenly perspective and protection. “Lead me
“And coming up at that very hour she began to give thanks to God and to speak of him to all who were waiting for the redemption of Jerusalem” (Luke 2:38 ESV). In the gospel of Luke, an 84 year old widow named Anna came up to the Temple at the same time that Mary
“I see him, but not now; I behold him, but not near: a star shall come out of Jacob, and a scepter shall rise out of Israel” (Numbers 24:17 ESV). Balak, king of Moab, hired Balaam to curse Israel. Yet, every time he opened his mouth he blessed them instead. In his final discourse, Balaam
“And immediately his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he spoke, blessing God” (Luke 1:64 ESV). In today’s New Testament reading from Luke, the Lord had made Zechariah mute for doubting the word of His angel Gabriel concerning the coming birth of his son, John, to his elderly wife, Elizabeth. He was mute