February 12-18
Discussion Questions
Old Testament
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Why does God caution the Israelites to have nothing to do with the foreigners they will encounter (Exodus 34:11-16)?
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Why did God require the fire on the altar to be kept burning; and not allowed to go out? (Leviticus 6:12-13)?
New Testament
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What do we make of the message from the wife of Pontius Pilate? Matthew 27:19
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Why did Pontius Pilate wash his hands after ordering that Jesus be crucified (Matthew 27:24)?
- What are the consequences of the Jews saying His blood be on us and
on our children: Are any/all of these views on the Jews guilt really
just disguised anti-semitism?? Is it a fair statement to say that the
Jews killed Christ? Matthew 27:25
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What is the importance of the Resurrection to Christians? Matthew 28:1-10
Notes and Commentary
Old Testament
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)?
Exodus 34:11-16 (NIV) [11] Obey what I command you today. I
will drive out before you the Amorites, Canaanites, Hittites,
Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. [12] Be careful not to make a treaty
with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a
snare among you. [13] Break down their altars, smash their sacred
stones and cut down their Asherah poles. [14] Do not worship any other
god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God. [15]
“Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land; for
when they prostitute themselves to their gods and sacrifice to them,
they will invite you and you will eat their sacrifices. [16] And when
you choose some of their daughters as wives for your sons and those
daughters prostitute themselves to their gods, they will lead your sons
to do the same.
God knew the people would imitate the bad behavior of these foreign
people. He knew if these enemies weren’t destroyed they would “be
the means of drawing them into the same sinful practices with
themselves, especially into idolatrous ones, and so of bringing ruin
and destruction on them.”
[Keil and Delitzsch Biblical Commentary on the Old Testament] The
warning against friendship with the idolatrous Canaanites (Exo
34:11-16) is more fully developed and more strongly enforced than in
Exo 23:23. The Israelites, when received into the covenant with
Jehovah, were not only to beware of forming any covenant with the
inhabitants of Canaan (cf. Exo 23:32-33), but were to destroy all the
signs of their idolatrous worship, such as altars, monuments (see Exo
23:24), and asherim, the idols of Astarte, the Canaanitish goddess of
nature, which consisted for the most part of wooden pillars (see my
Comm. on 1Ki 14:23), and to worship no other god, because Jehovah was
called jealous, i.e., had revealed Himself as jealous (see at Exo
20:5), and was a jealous God. This was commanded, that the Israelites
might not suffer themselves to be led astray by such an alliance; to go
a whoring after their gods, and sacrifice to them, to take part in
their sacrificial festivals, or to marry their sons to the daughters of
the Canaanites, by whom they would be persuaded to join in the worship
of idols. The use of the expression "go a whoring"
in a spiritual sense, in relation to idolatry, is to be accounted for
on the ground, that the religious fellowship of Israel with Jehovah was
a covenant resembling the marriage tie; and we meet with it for the
first time, here, immediately after the formation of this covenant
between Israel and Jehovah. The phrase is all the more expressive on
account of the literal prostitution that was frequently associated with
the worship of Baal and Astarte (cf. Lev 17:7; Lev 20:5-6; Num 14:33,
etc.). We may see from Num 25:1. how Israel was led astray by this
temptation in the wilderness.
Ultimately, the Israelites did not follow God’s orders. Of course what God told them would happen did happen.
Why did God require the fire on the altar to be kept burning; and not allowed to go out? (Leviticus 6:12-13)?
[Kretzmann Popular Commentary] It signified the continual,
uninterrupted fellowship of the children of Israel with the covenant
God. In the heart of the Christians the flame of love toward God should
burn at all times with unabated vigor, until the worshiper passes from
believing to seeing.
[Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible] The
priest must take care of the fire upon the altar. The first fire upon
the altar came from heaven, Lev. 9:24; by keeping that up continually,
all their sacrifices might be said to be consumed with the fire from
heaven, in token of God’s acceptance. Thus should the fire of our holy
affections, the exercise of our faith and love, of prayer and praise,
be without ceasing.
[Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible] We may
suppose that no day passed without some extraordinary sacrifices, which
were always offered between the morning and evening lamb; so that from
morning to night the fire on the altar was kept up of course. But to
preserve it all night unto the morning ( 9) required some care. Those
that keep good houses never let their kitchen fire go out; therefore
God would thus give an instance of his good house-keeping. The first
fire upon the altar came from heaven (ix. 24),
so that by keeping that up continually with a constant supply of fuel
all their sacrifices throughout all their generations might be said to
be consumed with that fire from heaven, in token of God’s acceptance.
If, through carelessness, they should ever let it go out, they could
not expect to have it so kindled again. Accordingly the Jews tell us
that the fire never did go out upon the altar, till the captivity in
Babylon. This is referred to Isa. xxxi. 9, where God is said to have
his fire in Zion, and his furnace in Jerusalem. By this law we are
taught to keep up in our minds a constant disposition to all acts of
piety and devotion, an habitual affection to divine things, so as to be
always ready to every good word and work. We must not only not quench
the Spirit, but we must stir up the gift that is in us. Though we be
not always sacrificing, yet we must keep the fire of holy love always
burning; and thus we must pray always.
Note the seriousness of disregarding God’s command in this matter. The sons of Aaron were killed for violation of God’s rule:
Leviticus 10: 1-2: (WEBME). [1] Nadab and Abihu, the sons
of Aaron, each took his censer, and put fire in it, and laid incense on
it, and offered strange fire before the LORD, which he had not
commanded them. [2] Fire came out from before the LORD, and
devoured them, and they died before the LORD.
New Testament
What do we make of the message from the wife of Pontius Pilate?
Matthew 27:19 (WEB). “When he
was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have
thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things
this day in a dream because of him.”
[Barnes’ New Testament Notes] The word “just” here has the
sense of innocent; or not guilty. She might have been satisfied of his
innocence from other sources, as well as from the dream. It is possible
that the woman might have been a worshiper of the true God, and that
she might therefore have desired that the Messiah should be released. I
have suffered many things, etc. Dreams were occasionally considered as
indications of the Divine will; and, among the Romans and Greeks, as
well as the Jews, great reliance was placed on them. Her mind--
probably agitated with the subject; satisfied of the innocence of
Jesus; and knowing that the Jews would make every effort to secure his
condemnation--was also excited during her sleep, perhaps with a
frightful prospect of the judgments that would descend on the family of
Pilate if Jesus was condemned. She therefore sent to him to secure if
possible his release.
[Adam Clarke’s Commentary on the Bible] There is no doubt
that God had appeared unto this woman, testifying the innocence of
Christ, and showing the evils which should pursue Pilate if this
innocent blood should be shed by his authority.
[The New John Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible ] Her
name, according to the Ethiopians, was Abrokla ; who might be a Jewess,
as the wife of Felix was, Ac 24:24, and a favourer of Jesus, or, at
least, a religious person; and if, only a mere Heathen, yet had some
notion of justice being to be done; and however, pressed by her dream,
sent a messenger to her husband, as he was trying this cause... Some have thought, that this dream was from the devil,
willing to hinder the death of Christ, and so man’s redemption and
salvation by it; but had he had any such intention, the most effectual
method would have been to have persuaded the chief priests and elders
off of it, and in attempting it; whereas, on the contrary, they were
instigated by him to it: and whatever natural causes there might be of
this dream, as the chief priests coming over night to desire a band of
soldiers to take Jesus, and the discourse they might have with Pilate
about him; which things might run in her mind in her sleep; yet, doubtless, this was of God,
and with a design that a testimony should be bore to the innocency of
Christ every way; as by Judas that betrayed him, by Pilate his judge,
and by his wife.
[Matthew Henry’s Complete Commentary on the Whole Bible] Pilate’s
lady sent him this warning, out of the love she had to him; she feared
not a rebuke from him for meddling with that which belonged not to her;
but, let him take it how he would, she would give him the caution.
Note, It is an instance of true love to our friends and relations, to
do what we can to keep them from sin; and the nearer any are to us, and
the greater affection we have for them, the more solicitous we should
be not to suffer sin to come or lie upon them.
What are the consequences of the Jews saying His blood be on us
and on our children: Are any/all of these views on the Jews guilt
really just disguised anti-semitism↓?? Is it a fair statement to say that the Jews killed Christ? Matthew 27:25
Matthew 27:24-25 (WEB). [24] When Pilate saw that he could
prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and
washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the
blood of this just person: see ye to it. [25] Then answered all the
people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.
[THE PEOPLE’S NEW TESTAMENT] His blood [be] on us. That is,
let us have the responsibility and suffer the punishment. A fearful
legacy, and awfully inherited. The history of the Jews from that day on
has been the darkest recorded in human annals.
[John Wesley’s Notes on the Bible] ...it was peculiarly
fulfilled by Titus the Roman general, on the Jews whom he took during
the siege of Jerusalem. So many, after having been scourged in a
terrible manner, were crucified all round the city, that in a while
there was not room near the wall for the crosses to stand by each other.
[Barnes’ New Testament Notes] To this day, also, the curse
has remained. They have been a nation scattered and peeled; persecuted
almost everywhere, and a hissing and a by-word among men. No single
nation probably has suffered so much; and yet they have been preserved.
All classes of men; all the governments of the earth, have conspired to
overwhelm them with calamity, and yet they still live as monuments of
the justice of God, and as proofs, going down from age to age, that the
Christian religion is true-- standing demonstrations of the crime of
their fathers in putting the Messiah to death, and in calling down
vengeance on their heads.
What is the importance of the Resurrection to Christians?
Matthew 28:1-10 (WEB). [1] Now after the Sabbath, as it began
to dawn on the first day of the week, Mary Magdalene and the other Mary
came to see the tomb. [2] Behold, there was a great earthquake, for an
angel of the Lord descended from the sky, and came and rolled away the
stone from the door, and sat on it. [3] His appearance was like
lightning, and his clothing white as snow. [4] For fear of him, the
guards shook, and became like dead men. [5] The angel answered the
women, “Don’t be afraid, for I know that you seek Jesus, who has been
crucified. [6] He is not here, for he has risen, just like he said.
Come, see the place where the Lord was lying. [7] Go quickly and tell
his disciples, ‘He has risen from the dead, and behold, he goes before
you into Galilee; there you will see him.’ Behold, I have told you.”
[8] They departed quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, and
ran to bring his disciples word. [9] As they went to tell his
disciples, behold, Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice!” They came and
took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. [10] Then Jesus said to them,
“Don’t be afraid. Go tell my brothers that they should go into Galilee,
and there they will see me.”
The resurrection is the key to the Christian faith. It is the
fulfillment of Old Testament prophecy (Psalm 16:10) and of Jesus’
statements (Matthew 20:19; John 10:18). The resurrection is verified by
the Bible itself in several ways: (1) by the eleven apostles: “To
them he presented himself alive after his passion by many proofs,
appearing to them during forty days, and speaking of the kingdom of
God.” (Acts 1:3); (2) by Paul (Acts 9:3-8; 1 Corinthians 15:8;
Galatians 1:12); by the five hundred Christian brothers (1 Corinthians
15:6); and by Thomas, who wanted to see proof (John 20:24-29).
Zombie Connection in the Bible? By Tom Truex
I am a Christian who is a fan of the zombie
↓
genre of fiction. I wish there was a scriptural basis to justify my
interest in this “art” form. So I ask, “Does Matthew 27:51-53 give rise
to the zombie mythology in popular culture, particularly films, such as
Night of the Living Dead,
Dawn of the Dead, etc?”
[51b]The earth quaked and the rocks were split. [52] The tombs were
opened, and many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were
raised; [53] and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection, they
entered into the holy city and appeared to many. Matthew 27:51-53 (WEB)
Alas, the zombies of pop culture have nothing to do with the people
resurrected in this Bible story. First of all, zombies are almost
always portrayed as being reanimated shortly after dying from the bite
of another zombie. Zombies don’t usually “come out of their graves.”
But, more importantly, zombies are almost exclusively evil, flesh
eating monsters. The tagline for one popular zombie movie says, “when
there is no more room in hell, the dead will walk the earth.”
Conversely, the reanimated individuals in Matthew 27:51-53 are referred
to a “saints.” The context and description of their “resurrection” all
indicate these “saints” were brought back from the dead in positive
demonstration of God’s power—not as some other-worldly abomination.
Barclay’s commentary says,
“The tombs were opened. The symbolism of this is that Jesus
conquered death. In dying and in rising again he destroyed the power of
the grave. Because of his life, his death and his resurrection, the
tomb has lost its power, and the grave has lost its terror, and death
has lost its tragedy. For we are certain that because he lives we shall
live also.”
Matthew Henry’s commentary notes that the incident in Matthew 27:52-53
raises more questions than it answers. Specifically, who were these
saints? Some say ancient patriarchs, though others maintain they were
modern saints, recently departed. And we can’t be sure whether the
people who were resurrected, lived and testified to God’s greatness,
before dying again, by natural means, and being buried a second time;
or whether they ascended into Heaven with Christ.
Jamieson’s commentary takes the latter view:
It must be observed, however, that the resurrection of these
sleeping saints was not like those of the widow of Nain’s son, of
Jairus’ daughter, of Lazarus, and of the man who "revived and stood
upon his feet," on his dead body touching the bones of Elisha (2 Kings
13:21) —which were mere temporary recallings of the departed spirit to
the mortal body, to be followed by a final departure of it "till the
trumpet shall sound." But this was a resurrection once for all, to life
everlasting; and so there is no room to doubt that they went to glory
with their Lord, as bright trophies of His victory over death.
Conclusion: it’s difficult to know what inspires fiction writers
or film makers. Perhaps some of them have Biblical resurrection in mind
as they write fictional stories about zombies. Dead people did rise
from their graves in Matthew 27:51-53. But it’s safe to say that the
people who were resurrected in this Bible story were not the same as
zombies of popular culture and modern movies.
Random Quotes
"As far as we know, our computer has never had an undetected error."
— unknown
"All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure."
— Mark Twain (1835-1910), Letter to Mrs Foote, Dec. 2, 1887
"Beware of the young doctor and the old barber."
— Benjamin Franklin (1706 – 1790)
"Better late than early."
— Tom Truex
"Being stupid is its own reward"
— unknown
Notes:
© Tom Truex 2014, Davie, FL