Week 7

February 12 – 18, 2011[1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
–Tom Truex]

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. It is NOT TOO LATE to join the Challenge! Start with today’s reading and keep reading with us through the end of this year. You’ll have to read a bit more at the beginning of next year to finish. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

Themes and stories: God told Moses to chisel two new stone tablets so God could replace the ones that Moses broke. God renewed his Covenant with the Israelites. He would continue to produce great miracles and would help them defeat their enemies. The Israelites must not make treaties with their enemies, nor worship their false gods. In fact, God told the Israelites to destroy the altars and images of the false gods worshiped by foreigners. God reminded the people to celebrate the Feast of the Unleavened Bread, to give God the firstborn, to celebrate the Sabbath and their other Feasts. Moses brought the new set of tablets, with the Commandments to the Israelites. The skin on his face shone because he had spoken to God.

The Israelites brought together the materials to build the Tabernacle. Moses selected skilled craftsmen and their leaders to make the Tabernacle. Construction of the Tabernacle, Ark, Lampstand, Altar, and Courtyard required a lot of skill and attention to God’s detailed instructions. The inventory of materials used was considerable. Next, the craftsmen made the priestly garments, according to God’s detailed specifications. Finally, when all the work was complete, Moses inspected the Tabernacle, and its accessories. He was pleased, because everything was exactly as God had commanded.

The glory of God filled the Tabernacle. During all of their travels, the Israelites only moved when a cloud lifted from above the Tabernacle.

Leviticus. God instructed Moses on making the burnt offerings. The instructions were passed to the priests. There were instructions for bulls, sheep, goats, doves and pigeons. The animals were to be male and without defect. There were also grain offerings, fellowship offerings (a male or female animal from the herd), sin offering (bull, lamb, goat, doves or pigeons, depending on the sin and the sinner) and guilt offerings. The Israelites were instructed to not eat the fat or blood of any animal.

Discussion points: Why does God caution the Israelites to have nothing to do with the foreigners they will encounter (Exodus 34:11-16)? Is this instruction contrary to what Jesus Christ later says is the second most important commandment–“You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39 ESV)?

Psalms: Psalm 33:12-37:11

Proverbs: Proverbs 9:1-10:4

Themes and stories: Jesus was brought before Pilate. There was a custom at the Passover festival for the governor to release one prisoner for the crowd—anyone they wanted. Pilate asked the crowd if they wanted him to release Barabbas or Jesus. “[W]hile he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, ‘Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream.'” (Matthew 27:19) Too late. The chief priests and elders persuaded the mob to demand Barabbas, and to have Jesus killed. Pilate asked him again. They responded, “crucify him!” Pilate asked what Jesus had done. The mob’s response was to shout all the more, “crucify him!” Mobs haven’t changed much in the past 2,000 years.

[24] So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.” [25] And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” [26] Then he released for them Barab’bas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. Matthew 27:24-26 (RSV)

The Roman soldiers mocked Jesus. They stripped him. They put a crown of thorns on his head, spat on him, struck him. As they lead him to be crucified, they compelled a man from Cyrene named Simon to carry his cross. They crucified Jesus at a place called Golgotha, which means “Place of the Skull.”

Jesus was crucified between two bandits, who, unlike Jesus, deserved to die for their crimes, according to the criminal laws of the day. People passing by mocked Jesus, as did the other men being crucified. Darkness came early, at noon, that day.

After three hours of daytime darkness, Jesus cried out, “My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?” Jesus is quoting from Psalm 22:1. Jesus cried out again in a loud voice before he died. As he did so, there was an earthquake. The curtain in the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom.

[51b] The earth shook, the rocks split [52] and the tombs broke open. The bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. [53] They came out of the tombs after Jesus’ resurrection and went into the holy city and appeared to many people

A rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, asked Pilate for Jesus’ body. Joseph wrapped Jesus’ body in a clean linen cloth and laid it in his own tomb. He rolled a great stone in front of the door. The religious leaders were afraid that Jesus’ followers would steal the body and claim that Jesus had been resurrected. Have you ever noticed that dishonest people are often the first to accuse others of dishonesty? Pilate placed a guard detail outside the tomb.

On the third day there was a great earthquake. An angel rolled back the stone blocking the door to the tomb. Jesus arose from the dead. He appeared first to the women who had followed him. Later he appeared to the eleven remaining disciples. He gave them a great commission:

[18] And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. [19] Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: [20] Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. Matthew 28:18-20 (KJV).

Mark. The gospel writer begins by quoting the prophet, Isaiah:

“Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, who shall prepare thy way; the voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight — ” (Mark 1:2-3, which is quoting Isaiah 40:3)

John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness, proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. John was clothed with camel’s hair, and had a leather girdle around his waist, and ate locusts and wild honey. John baptized Jesus. A dove ascended from Heaven onto Jesus. A voice came from heaven saying, “Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased.” Mark 1:11 (RSV). Jesus went to the wilderness for 40 days. Satan tempted Jesus. After John the Baptist was arrested, Jesus began to preach.

Jesus asked two fishermen, Simon and Andrew, to follow Him, saying, “Follow me and I will make you become fishers of men.” Two more fishermen, James and Zebedee, also followed him. Jesus began teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum. He spoke with such great authority that the people were astonished. Jesus healed many people, and cast out demons. He preached throughout Galilee. He healed a man with leprosy. The crowds grew so great, that it was hard to get close to Jesus. One group of friends cut a hole in the roof and lowered a paralyzed man through the roof to Jesus. Jesus healed the paralyzed man. The religious leaders accused Jesus of blasphemy because he told the paralyzed man, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” Mark 2:5 (RSV)

The religious leaders complained that Jesus dined with sinners. Jesus told them that it was the sinners who needed Him most. The religious leaders looked for other ways to criticize Jesus. They complained that his followers weren’t fasting, that the disciples picked wheat on the sabbath, and that Jesus healed a man on the sabbath. Crowds followed Jesus in such large numbers that it was difficult for him to move about. Jesus selected his twelve disciples:

[13]And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth unto him whom he would: and they came unto him. [14]And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, [15]And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils:  [16]And Simon he surnamed Peter; [17]And James the son of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder:  [18]And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the son of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, [19]And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. Mark 3:13-19 (KJV)

The religious leaders continued to deny Jesus. They accused him of being Satan.

Discussion points: What is the importance of the Resurrection to Christians?

• Why does God caution the Israelites to have nothing to do with the foreigners they will encounter? (Exodus 34:11-16) Is this instruction contrary to what Jesus Christ later says is the second most important commandment–“You shall love your neighbor as yourself?” (Matthew 22:39)
• What was the significance of the curtain in the Temple splitting from top to bottom? (Matthew 27:51)
• What is the importance of the Resurrection to Christians? (Matthew 28:1-10)
• Why did Jesus need to be baptized, if John’s baptism was for the repentance of sin?

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, February 19, 2011 are now online — ”The Offering”. When the Israelites constructed the Tabernacle in Exodus, they began the formalized system of animal sacrifices. This week we look at those practices and at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which ended the need for animal sacrifice Discussion verses: Exodus 34:11-16 and Matthew 28:1-10

A women’s study group meets in Davie, FL on the 2nd Friday morning of the month. Contact Janet Truex, or use the Contact tab at CONTACT form on ReadTheWholeBible.COM.

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, February 19, 2011 are now online — ”The Offering”. When the Israelites constructed the Tabernacle in Exodus, they began the formalized system of animal sacrifices. This week we look at those practices and at the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ, which ended the need for animal sacrifice. Discussion verses: Exodus 34:11-16 and Matthew 28:1-10

Week 6

February 5 to 11, 2011[1. The notes, summaries and points on this page are intended as bookmarks of important matters which are covered in this week’s readings. They are not intended as complete summaries of readings. Please forgive me if some of my summaries are not 100% on point. Read the manual–i.e. Bible–so that you will get a more clear understanding of the material. Thank you.
–Tom Truex]

This is the “One Year Bible Challenge:” to read the entire Bible in one year. Assuming a normal reading level, this can be done by spending about 10-15 minutes per day, each and every day. See ReadTheWholeBible.COM for more information. If you would like details so you can join us, or if you have any other questions, please call Tom Truex. Or send an email by using the CONTACT form on K-Line.ORG.

Themes and stories: God gives Moses more laws. Some of the laws deal with stealing, carelessness or damaging the property of another. Then there’s the rule about having to to pay the bride-price for enticing a virgin who is not betrothed, to have sex with you. The bride price is paid to the father. Sounds like an odd rule by today’s standards. You might even be inclined to object on the ground that the woman is dealt with as little more than property. But consider the position of the virgin who had been “enticed.” Her chances of being married to another, were now greatly diminished, and society held no place for a single woman. Adam Clarke says:

This was an exceedingly wise and humane law, and must have operated powerfully against seduction and fornication; because the person who might feel inclined to take the advantage of a young woman knew that he must marry her, and give her a dowry, if her parents consented; and if they did not consent that their daughter should wed her seducer, in this case he was obliged to give her the full dowry which could have been demanded had she been still a virgin.

God gives laws letting the land rest every seven years. God instructs the Israelites to maintain three annual feasts: Feast of the Unleavened Bread, Feast of Harvest; and Feast of Ingathering. The Israelites promised to follow all of God’s laws.

Moses went up the mountain for forty days and forty nights. God told Moses about offerings for the Sanctuary. God describes the construction of the Ark. The Ark was a chest, overlaid with gold, in which the two tablets of the law were to be kept. The size was actually about three feet nine inches in length, two feet three inches in breadth.

Next, God gives Moses instructions on how to make the Tabernacle, including it’s altar and the court. It’s a really, really fancy tent where the Israelites could worship God. The Tabernacle was constructed to be taken down and moved, as the Israelites moved.

God also gave specific instructions on the clothing of the priests. Again, very fancy. In fact, these garments made liberal use of valuable gemstones and gold. Next God gave instructions on the dedication of the priests. The Israelites used blood sacrifice. They started with a bull as a sin offering, and continued with other animal sacrifices. God directed that these sacrifices continue through future generations.

God also gave instructions on how to prepare the altar for worship. God told Moses again to rest on the Sabbath. The penalty for profaning the Sabbath was death. This was a sign between God and the Israelites, reminding them how God had made the world in 6 days, and rested on the 7th day. When God finished speaking with Moses, he gave him two tablets of stone, “written with the finger of God.”

While the Israelites were waiting for Moses to return from talking with God, they built an image of a golden calf to worship. This was a serious violation of God’s first and second Commandments – (I) “Thou shalt have no other gods before me;” and (II) “Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth.” Moses was so mad when he saw this false idol that he threw the tablets God had given him, breaking them at the foot of the mountain. “And he took the calf which they had made, and burnt it with fire, and ground it to powder, and scattered it upon the water, and made the people of Israel drink it.” Exodus 32:20 (RSV)

Moses plead with God to forgive the Israelites for making gods of gold. God sent a plague, as punishment.
Discussion points: What was the purpose of the blood sacrifices in Exodus 29? Why don’t Jews or Christians still sacrifice animals on an altar?
Psalms: Psalm 29:1-33:11
Proverbs: Proverbs 7:6-8:36

Themes and stories: Jesus tells about the future. Specifically, the destruction of the Temple, the end of the age, persecu­tion, a great tribulation and the coming of the son of man. Jesus cautions that we do not know when he will return. Not even the angels in heaven know when he will return. (Hint: be ready for Jesus’ return ANY time—because you want to be prepared for that day.)

Jesus tells the parable of the ten virgins. Five of them didn’t have enough oil in their lamps as they waited for the bridegroom. They were shut out of the wedding banquet.

Jesus told another parable about loaned money (“the parable of the talents”). The servant who was loaned the most money invested it and made the greatest profit for his master. But the man who was lent a small amount was fearful and buried his money. He made NO profit. Upon his return, the master praised the servants who made him a profit. But he was angry with the man who made him no profit. The master cast this “servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”

Jesus tells about the final judgment. He also says that how we treat the least “important” people is how we are treating Him.

A woman anointed Jesus with some very expensive perfume. The disciples denounced the “waste.” Jesus responds that she is preparing him for his earthly death and burial. Judas betrays Jesus for thirty pieces of silver.

Jesus and the disciples ate their “last supper” together. They did not all sit on the same side of the table. Jesus said to them:

[26] Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed, and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, “Take, eat; this is my body.” [27] And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you; [28] for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. [29] I tell you I shall not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Jesus predicts that Peter will deny him three times “before the cock crows.” Peter says he would die before he denies Jesus even once.

Jesus goes in the night to pray in the garden called Gethsemane. The disciples can’t stay awake for even a short period of time as Jesus goes off to pray. Judas brings the guards to arrest Jesus. Judas identified Jesus with a kiss. Be careful who you kiss. As the guards moved to arrest Jesus, one of the disciples drew a sword and whacked off the ear of the slave of the High Priest. Jesus disapproved of the sword play, but asked why they had come to arrest him under the cover of darkness. Jesus’ disciples all ran away.

Jesus was taken to the High Priest, Caiaphas. Jesus was accused of blasphemy. Meanwhile, Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard, of the place where Jesus was taken. Peter denied he was with Jesus. He denied Jesus three times before the cock crowed, just as Jesus has predicted.

In the morning the religious leaders condemned Jesus. They plotted Jesus’ execution. But as the religious leaders had no legal authority to execute Jesus, they sent him to the Roman Governor. Pontius Pilate.

Judas showed remorse and tried to give the thirty pieces of silver he’d earned by betraying Jesus, back to the religious leaders. Judas threw the money at the religious leaders, and went off to hang himself. They couldn’t put the money back into the treasury because it was blood money. Instead they used the silver to buy a “potter’s field” as a burial place for strangers.

Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate to stand trial. Legal rights and rules of procedures were different in those days.

Discussion points: Both Judas and Peter denied Christ. How and why did the consequences of their sins differ so completely?

• Why did God institute the law “eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot, burn for burn, wound for wound, bruise for bruise;” and does this rule still apply to Christians today? (Exodus 21:24-25. See also, Matthew 5:38-48)
• Why was there a curtain inside the Tabernacle? (Exodus 26:31-33)
• Why would Judas want to betray Jesus? (Matthew 26:14-15)

The discussion notes ( PDF / TEXT ) for breakfast on Saturday, February 12, 2011 are now online — ”BLOOD”. Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. Peter denied Jesus three times in one night. Why were the consequences of their sins so different? Discussion verses: Exodus 29:10-22 and Matthew 27:1-10