Matthew 12:1-8 is what scholars like to refer to as a freighted passage. If you think of a railroad engine pulling a large number of loaded boxcars behind it then you have the picture. It is simply a way of saying that a particular text contains a significant amount of material that needs to be unloaded andContinue reading “Understanding Scripture Through Understanding God”
Author Archives: A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green
Trap Doors And Trip Wires
That Matthew 7:21-23 is a powerful piece of Scripture, no one would deny or wish to dispute! The loving and gentle Jesus makes it clear that neither sweet words (“Lord, Lord”) nor spectacular deeds (driving out demons, performing miracles), are a substitute for a surrendered life. It’s clear that Jesus is saying something critical here, butContinue reading “Trap Doors And Trip Wires”
This Is Our Story (2)
It is Jesus the church bears witness to. Verse 16 makes it clear it is Jesus the church holds up for the world to see. If you think about it, we all bear witness to numerous things in our lives. If you are employed, you bear witness to some degree to your place of employment—youContinue reading “This Is Our Story (2)”
This Is Our Story (1)
1 Timothy is full of meaningful specifics such as when Paul talks about the assembly and the differing roles for men and women (2:8-15), gives the qualifications for elders and deacons (3:1-13), or talks about supporting certain widows (5:3-16). This is exactly the kind of thing we would expect to find when we think aboutContinue reading “This Is Our Story (1)”
This Is Our Savior!
Prior to the beginning of His ministry, Matthew shares with us two things that happened to Jesus—His baptism and His temptation in the wilderness. These are to be taken together as inaugural and initiatory to His mission. Jesus’ baptism was (among other things), His public manifestation to Israel. John develops this aspect as he tellsContinue reading “This Is Our Savior!”
The Man Of Mercy
Jesus, as Matthew presents Him to us, was a man of mercy. Jesus taught mercy. Matthew arranged his gospel into five teaching blocks (chapters 5-7,10,13,18,23-25). Each of these ends with a statement to the effect of when Jesus had finished saying/teaching (all) these things (7:28,11:1,13:53, 19:1,26:1), In the first part of the first teaching section, Matthew recorded JesusContinue reading “The Man Of Mercy”
The Key To The Church
There is a lot of misunderstanding about church. It would have been interesting if Jesus had asked the disciples in Matthew 16:13ff, “What do people say the church is?” But of course, the church didn’t exist at that time, so He couldn’t do that. Still, the text has it right—what we think about Christ isContinue reading “The Key To The Church”
Something About The Pastoral Letters
The term pastoral letters (1 & 2 Timothy and Titus) is a bit of a misnomer. Timothy and Titus were not pastors in the sense in which the N.T. uses the word—that is, they did not limit their work to a single congregation as part of a group of mature men leading the congregation (seeContinue reading “Something About The Pastoral Letters”
The Genesis Of Jesus
Matthew offers us several beginnings regarding Jesus in the introductory portion of his gospel (1:1-4:16). There’s the beginning of the preaching concerning the kingdom Christ is bringing in the work of John the Baptist (3:1ff). Then there’s the beginning of Jesus’ public life marked by His baptism (3:13ff) and the beginning of His ministry inContinue reading “The Genesis Of Jesus”
The Blessing Of Mourning
Preachers are privileged to see life in all of its rawness as well as refinement. The refinement part tends to be the Sunday pageantry you see—people in their best and at their best. I have no problem with that. I know the good people against organized religion tend to think it’s all hypocrisy. It can be and sometimes isContinue reading “The Blessing Of Mourning”
A Taste of Grace with Bruce Green 