The BIBLETEXTS Online Bible Commentary

Excerpts that are relevant to the Bible Lesson for Sunday, February 22, 1998

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<GT> Deuteronomy 4

"Warning against Idolatry" (TEV) - 36 He let you hear his voice from heaven so that he could instruct you; and here on earth he let you see his holy fire, and he spoke to you from it. 37 Because he loved your ancestors, he chose you, and by his great power he himself brought you out of Egypt. 38 As you advanced, he drove out nations greater and more powerful than you, so that he might bring you in and give you their land, the land which still belongs to you. 39 So remember today and never forget: the LORD is God in heaven and on earth. There is no other god. 40 Obey all his laws that I have given you today, and all will go well with you and your descendants. You will continue to live in the land that the LORD your God is giving you to be yours forever."

<RR> Proverbs 3

"Advice to Young Men" (TEV) - 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart. Never rely on what you think you know. 6 Remember the LORD in everything you do, and he will show you the right way. 7 Never let yourself think that you are wiser than you are; simply obey the LORD and refuse to do wrong. 8 If you do, it will be like good medicine, healing your wounds and easing your pains. 9 Honor the LORD by making him an offering from the best of all that your land produces. 10 If you do, your barns will be filled with grain, and you will have too much wine to store it all. 11 Son, when the LORD corrects you, pay close attention and take it as a warning. 12 The LORD corrects those he loves, as a father corrects a son of whom he is proud. 13 Happy is the man who becomes wise -- who comes to have understanding. 14 There is more profit in it than there is in silver; it is worth more to you than gold. 15 Wisdom is more valuable than jewels; nothing you could want can compare with it. 16 Wisdom offers you long life, as well as wealth and honor. 17 Wisdom can make your life pleasant and lead you safely through it. 18 Those who become wise are happy; wisdom will give them life. 19 The LORD created the earth by his wisdom; by his knowledge he set the sky in place. 20 His wisdom caused the rivers to flow and the clouds to give rain to the earth. 21 Son, hold on to your wisdom and insight. Never let them get away from you. 22 They will provide you with life -- a pleasant and happy life. 23 You can go safely on your way and never even stumble. 24 You will not be afraid when you go to bed, and you will sleep soundly through the night. 25 You will not have to worry about sudden disasters, such as come on the wicked like a storm. 26 The LORD will keep you safe. He will not let you fall into a trap.

<B1> Romans 11

"Praise to God" (TEV) - 33 How great are God's riches! How deep are his wisdom and knowledge! Who can explain his decisions? Who can understand his ways? 34 As the scripture says, "Who knows the mind of the Lord? Who is able to give him advice? 35 Who has ever given him anything, so that he had to pay it back?" 36 For all things were created by him, and all things exist through him and for him. To God be the glory forever! Amen.

<B2> Amos 4

"Israel's Failure to Learn" (TEV) - 13 God is the one who made the mountains and created the winds. He makes his thoughts known to man; he changes day into night. He walks on the heights of the earth. This is his name: the LORD God Almighty!

<B3> Exodus 20

"The Ten Commandments" (TEV) - 1 God spoke, and these were his words: 2 "I am the LORD your God who brought you out of Egypt, where you were slaves. 3 "Worship no god but me. 4 "Do not make for yourselves images of anything in heaven or on earth or in the water under the earth. 5 Do not bow down to any idol or worship it, because I am the LORD your God and I tolerate no rivals. I bring punishment on those who hate me and on their descendants down to the third and fourth generation. 6 But I show my love to thousands of generations of those who love me and obey my laws.

<B4> Isaiah 43

"Israel Is the LORD's Witness" (TEV) - 10 "People of Israel, you are my witnesses; I chose you to be my servant, so that you would know me and believe in me and understand that I am the only God. Besides me there is no other god; there never was and never will be. 11 "I alone am the LORD, the only one who can save you. 12 I predicted what would happen, and then I came to your aid. No foreign god has ever done this; you are my witnesses. 13 I am God and always will be. No one can escape from my power; no one can change what I do."

<B5> Daniel 4

"Daniel Explains the Dream" (TEV) - 28 All this did happen to King Nebuchadnezzar. 29 Only twelve months later, while he was walking around on the roof of his royal palace in Babylon, 30 he said, "Look how great Babylon is! I built it as my capital city to display my power and might, my glory and majesty." 31 Before the words were out of his mouth, a voice spoke from heaven, "King Nebuchadnezzar, listen to what I say! Your royal power is now taken away from you. 32 You will be driven away from human society, live with wild animals, and eat grass like an ox for seven years. Then you will acknowledge that the Supreme God has power over human kingdoms and that he can give them to anyone he chooses." 33 The words came true immediately. Nebuchadnezzar was driven out of human society and ate grass like an ox. The dew fell on his body, and his hair grew as long as eagle feathers and his nails as long as bird claws.

"Nebuchadnezzar Praises God" (TEV) - 34 "When the seven years had passed," said the king, "I looked up at the sky, and my sanity returned. I praised the Supreme God and gave honor and glory to the one who lives forever. "He will rule forever, and his kingdom will last for all time. 35 He looks on the people of the earth as nothing; angels in heaven and people on earth are under his control. No one can oppose his will or question what he does. 36 "When my sanity returned, my honor, my majesty, and the glory of my kingdom were given back to me. My officials and my noblemen welcomed me, and I was given back my royal power with even greater honor than before. 37 "And now, I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise, honor, and glorify the King of Heaven. Everything he does is right and just,and he can humble anyone who acts proudly."

<B6> Isaiah 26

"God Will Give His People Victory" (TEV) - 11 Your enemies do not know that you will punish them. LORD, put them to shame and let them suffer; let them suffer the punishment you have prepared. Show them how much you love your people. 12 You will give us prosperity, LORD; everything that we achieve is the result of what you do. 13 LORD our God, we have been ruled by others, but you alone are our LORD.

<B7> Jeremiah 8

"Jeremiah's Sorrow for His People" (TEV) - 20 The people cry out, "The summer is gone, the harvest is over, but we have not been saved." 21 My heart has been crushed because my people are crushed; I mourn; I am completely dismayed. 22 Is there no medicine in Gilead? Are there no doctors there? Why, then, have my people not been healed?

<B8> Job 33

"The Speeches of Elihu" (TEV) - 14 Although God speaks again and again, no one pays attention to what he says. 15 At night when men are asleep, God speaks in dreams and visions. 16 He makes them listen to what he says, and they are frightened at his warnings. 17 God speaks to make them stop their sinning and to save them from becoming proud. 18 He will not let them be destroyed; he saves them from death itself. 19 God corrects a man by sending sickness and filling his body with pain.

23 Perhaps an angel may come to his aid -- one of God's thousands of angels, who remind men of their duty. 24 In mercy the angel will say, "Release him! He is not to go down to the world of the dead. Here is the ransom to set him free." 25 His body will grow young and strong again; 26 when he prays, God will answer him; he will worship God with joy; God will set things right for him again. 27 He will say in public, "I have sinned. I have not done right, but God spared me. 28 He kept me from going to the world of the dead, and I am still alive."

<B9> Luke 8

"Jairus' Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus' Cloak" (TEV) - 40 When Jesus returned to the other side of the lake, the people welcomed him, because they had all been waiting for him. 41 Then a man named Jairus arrived; he was an official in the local synagogue. He threw himself down at Jesus' feet and begged him to go to his home, 42 because his only daughter, who was twelve years old, was dying. As Jesus went along, the people were crowding him from every side.

<B10> Luke 9

"Jesus Sends Out the Twelve Disciples" (TEV) - 1 Jesus called the twelve disciples together and gave them power and authority to drive out all demons and to cure diseases. 2 Then he sent them out to preach the Kingdom of God and to heal the sick, 3 after saying to them, "Take nothing with you for the trip: no walking stick, no beggar's bag, no food, no money, not even an extra shirt. 4 Wherever you are welcomed, stay in the same house until you leave that town; 5 wherever people don't welcome you, leave that town and shake the dust off your feet as a warning to them." 6 The disciples left and traveled through all the villages, preaching the Good News and healing people everywhere.

<B11> Hebrews 4

"A Rest for God's People" (TEV) - 12 The word of God is alive and active, sharper than any double-edged sword. It cuts all the way through, to where soul and spirit meet, to where joints and marrow come together. It judges the desires and thoughts of man's heart. 13 There is nothing that can be hid from God; everything in all creation is exposed and lies open before his eyes. And it is to him that we must all give an account of ourselves.

<B12> Mark 5

"Jairus' Daughter and the Woman Who Touched Jesus' Cloak" (TEV) - 25 There was a woman who had suffered terribly from severe bleeding for twelve years, 26 even though she had been treated by many doctors. She had spent all her money, but instead of getting better she got worse all the time. 27 She had heard about Jesus, so she came in the crowd behind him, 28 saying to herself, "If I just touch his clothes, I will get well." 29 She touched his cloak, and her bleeding stopped at once; and she had the feeling inside herself that she was healed of her trouble. 30 At once Jesus knew that power had gone out of him, so he turned around in the crowd and asked, "Who touched my clothes?" 31 His disciples answered, "You see how the people are crowding you; why do you ask who touched you?" 32 But Jesus kept looking around to see who had done it. 33 The woman realized what had happened to her, so she came, trembling with fear, knelt at his feet, and told him the whole truth. 34 Jesus said to her, "My daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your trouble." 35 While Jesus was saying this, some messengers came from Jairus' house and told him, "Your daughter has died. Why bother the Teacher any longer?"

<B13> James 1

"Faith and Wisdom" (TEV) - 2 My brothers, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, 3 for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. 4 Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, he should pray to God, who will give it to him; because God gives generously and graciously to all. 6 But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. 7...8 A person like that, unable to make up his mind and undecided in all he does, must not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.

"Testing and Tempting" (TEV) - 12 Happy is the person who remains faithful under trials, because when he succeeds in passing such a test, he will receive as his reward the life which God has promised to those who love him. 13 If a person is tempted by such trials, he must not say, "This temptation comes from God." For God cannot be tempted by evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But a person is tempted when he is drawn away and trapped by his own evil desire. 15 Then his evil desire conceives and gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.

<B14> James 4

"Friendship with the World" (TEV) - 7 So then, submit yourselves to God. Resist the Devil, and he will run away from you. 8 Come near to God, and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners! Purify your hearts, you hypocrites! 9 Be sorrowful, cry, and weep; change your laughter into crying, your joy into gloom! 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.

<B15> Romans 12

"Life in God's Service" (TEV) - 1 So then, my brothers, because of God's great mercy to us I appeal to you: Offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to his service and pleasing to him. This is the true worship that you should offer. 2 Do not conform yourselves to the standards of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete change of your mind. Then you will be able to know the will of God -- what is good and is pleasing to him and is perfect.

<B16> Matthew 22

"The Great Commandment" (TEV) - 34 When the Pharisees heard that Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together, 35 and one of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to trap him with a question. 36 "Teacher," he asked, "which is the greatest commandment in the Law?" 37 Jesus answered, "Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.' 38 This is the greatest and the most important commandment. 39 The second most important commandment is like it: "Love your neighbor as you love yourself.' 40 The whole Law of Moses and the teachings of the prophets depend on these two commandments."

<B17> Matthew 5

"Love for Enemies" (TEV) - 43 "You have heard that it was said, "Love your friends, hate your enemies.' 44 But now I tell you: love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 so that you may become the sons of your Father in heaven. For he makes his sun to shine on bad and good people alike, and gives rain to those who do good and to those who do evil. 46 Why should God reward you if you love only the people who love you? Even the tax collectors do that! 47 And if you speak only to your friends, have you done anything out of the ordinary? Even the pagans do that! 48 You must be perfect -- just as your Father in heaven is perfect.

<B18> Romans 15

"Please Others, Not Yourselves" (TEV) - 1 We who are strong in the faith ought to help the weak to carry their burdens. We should not please ourselves. 2 Instead, we should all please our brothers for their own good, in order to build them up in the faith. 3 For Christ did not please himself. Instead, as the scripture says, "The insults which are hurled at you have fallen on me." 4 Everything written in the Scriptures was written to teach us, in order that we might have hope through the patience and encouragement which the Scriptures give us. 5 And may God, the source of patience and encouragement, enable you to have the same point of view among yourselves by following the example of Christ Jesus, 6 so that all of you together may praise with one voice the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

<B19> Philippians 2

"Christ's Humility and Greatness" (TEV) - 1 Your life in Christ makes you strong, and his love comforts you. You have fellowship with the Spirit, and you have kindness and compassion for one another. 2 I urge you, then, to make me completely happy by having the same thoughts, sharing the same love, and being one in soul and mind. 3 Don't do anything from selfish ambition or from a cheap desire to boast, but be humble toward one another, always considering others better than yourselves. 4 And look out for one another's interests, not just for your own. 5 The attitude you should have is the one that Christ Jesus had:

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ABBREVIATIONS (such as a/r=alternate rendering, c/m=changed meaning since KJV translation, omit=omit wording not found in the Hebrew or Greek texts from which the KJV was translated but not in the original Hebrew or Greek texts, add=add wording that was omitted from the KJV's Hebrew or Greek texts but were found in the original Hebrew or Greek texts). Also other information about this commentary: http://members.aol.com/BibleTexts/Abbreviations.html.

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STRONG'S-BASED BIBLE STUDY AIDS that will help you use the above "KJV/Strong's" texts and <numbers> to explore the actual meaning of the Hebrew and Greek words from which the English wording was translated: http://members.aol.com/BibleTexts/Strongs.html.

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