Context Context Context – Lift Up Your Eyes!

Isaiah 8 and Context, Context, Context

I was greatly surprised by part of Isaiah 8. See if you notice it.

¹¹For the Lord spoke thus to me with his strong hand upon me, and warned me not to walk in the way of this people, saying: ¹²“Do not call conspiracy all that this people calls conspiracy, and do not fear what they fear, nor be in dread. ¹³But the Lord of hosts, him you shall honor as holy. Let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. ¹⁴And he will become a sanctuary and a stone of offense and a rock of stumbling to both houses of Israel, a trap and a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem. ¹⁵And many shall stumble on it. They shall fall and be broken; they shall be snared and taken.”

¹⁶Bind up the testimony; seal the teaching among my disciples. ¹⁷I will wait for the Lord, who is hiding his face from the house of Jacob, and I will hope in him. ¹⁸Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion. ¹⁹And when they say to you, “Inquire of the mediums and the necromancers who chirp and mutter,” should not a people inquire of their God? Should they inquire of the dead on behalf of the living? ²⁰To the teaching and to the testimony! If they will not speak according to this word, it is because they have no dawn. ²¹They will pass through the land,greatly distressed and hungry. And when they are hungry, they will be enraged and will speak contemptuously against their king and their God, and turn their faces upward. ²²And they will look to the earth, but behold, distress and darkness, the gloom of anguish. And they will be thrust into thick darkness.
Isaiah 8:11-22 ESV

It was this verse, which sounded familiar.

Behold, I and the children whom the Lord has given me are signs and portents in Israel from the Lord of hosts, who dwells on Mount Zion.
Isaiah 8:18 ESV

I checked, and yes it is in Hebrews 2, verse 13 specifically.

Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. ²For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, ³how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation? It was declared at first by the Lord, and it was attested to us by those who heard, ⁴while God also bore witness by signs and wonders and various miracles and by gifts of the Holy Spirit distributed according to his will.

⁵For it was not to angels that God subjected the world to come, of which we are speaking. ⁶It has been testified somewhere,

“What is man, that you are mindful of him,
    or the son of man, that you care for him?
⁷You made him for a little while lower than the angels;
    you have crowned him with glory and honor,
⁸    putting everything in subjection under his feet.”

Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. ⁹But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

¹⁰For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. ¹¹For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, ¹²saying,

“I will tell of your name to my brothers;
in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise.”

¹³And again,

“I will put my trust in him.”

And again,

“Behold, I and the children God has given me.”

¹⁴Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, he himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death he might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, ¹⁵and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery. ¹⁶For surely it is not angels that he helps, but he helps the offspring of Abraham. ¹⁷Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. ¹⁸For because he himself has suffered when tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.
Hebrews 2 ESV

Is Hebrews 2:13 quoting Isaiah 8:18? I could think of no other Old Testament reference so I looked for help. According to BibleGateway and BibleHub Isaiah 8:18 is the only Old Testament verse quoted.

I checked my seven different hardcopy Bibles that have cross references. All of them list Isaiah 8:18 as the only cross reference for “Behold, I and the children God has given me.” found in Hebrews 2:13.

This quote of Isaiah 8:18 in Hebrews 2:13 seems very out-of-context! I may have more to say after some more meditation.

Thoughts?

Now the Bereans were more noble-minded than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if these teachings were true.
Acts 17:11 BSB

Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a worker who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NASB

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

⁴But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. ⁵You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. ⁶Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:4-6 NKJV

³²“Now learn this parable from the fig tree: When its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near. ³³So you also, when you see all these things, know that it is near—at the doors! ³⁴Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all these things take place. ³⁵Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.”
Matthew 24:32-35 NKJV

³⁴“But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. ³⁵For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. ³⁶Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
Luke 21:34-36 NKJV

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Part 2 of N – Knowing Jesus’ Voice – Rhema Trumps Context

“When he has brought out all his own, he goes before them, and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice.”
John 10:4 ESV

“My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me.”
John 10:27 ESV

Much of Psalms 109 is a description of what will happen to David’s accusers, as shown by this wrap-up verse.

May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
of those who speak evil against my life!
Psalms 109:20 ESV

The reward is a long list of bad things, and please note the highlight in verse 8.

⁶Appoint a wicked man against him;
    let an accuser stand at his right hand.
⁷When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his prayer be counted as sin!
⁸May his days be few;
    may another take his office!
⁹May his children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
¹⁰May his children wander about and beg,
    seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
¹¹May the creditor seize all that he has;
    may strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
¹²Let there be none to extend kindness to him,
    nor any to pity his fatherless children!
¹³May his posterity be cut off;
    may his name be blotted out in the second generation!
¹⁴May the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
    and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out!
¹⁵Let them be before the Lord continually,
    that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth!

¹⁶For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued the poor and needy
    and the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
¹⁷He loved to curse; let curses come upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far from him!
¹⁸He clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it soak into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
¹⁹May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
²⁰May this be the reward of my accusers from the Lord,
    of those who speak evil against my life!
Psalms 109:6-20 ESV

The context of Psalms 109:6-20 is the consequences for David’s accusers. Yet Peter, speaking by the Holy Spirit, says that just one clause applies to Judas who betrayed Jesus!

¹⁵In those days Peter stood up among the brothers (the company of persons was in all about 120) and said, ¹⁶“Brothers, the Scripture had to be fulfilled, which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who became a guide to those who arrested Jesus. ¹⁷For he was numbered among us and was allotted his share in this ministry.” ¹⁸(Now this man acquired a field with the reward of his wickedness, and falling headlong he burst open in the middle and all his bowels gushed out. ¹⁹And it became known to all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the field was called in their own language Akeldama, that is, Field of Blood.) ²⁰“For it is written in the Book of Psalms,

“‘May his camp become desolate,
and let there be no one to dwell in it’;

and

“‘Let another take his office.’”
Acts 1:15-20 ESV

Therefore, Acts 1:20 quotes Psalms 109:8 out of its context.

Example two. Many Bible teachers believe “the law of first mention” is important. That is, much is to be learned by studying the first place in the Bible where a particular subject is mentioned. The first place in the Bible that I know of where God says “Be holy, for I am holy” is in Leviticus 11. God is giving rules for what can and cannot be eaten. Swarming things are out.

⁴¹“Every swarming thing that swarms on the ground is detestable; it shall not be eaten. ⁴²Whatever goes on its belly, and whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet, any swarming thing that swarms on the ground, you shall not eat, for they are detestable. ⁴³You shall not make yourselves detestable with any swarming thing that swarms, and you shall not defile yourselves with them, and become unclean through them. ⁴⁴For I am the Lord your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy. You shall not defile yourselves with any swarming thing that crawls on the ground. ⁴⁵For I am the Lord who brought you up out of the land of Egypt to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.”
Leviticus 11:41-45 ESV

Yet Holy Spirit revealed to Peter that “Be holy, for I am holy” applies to much more than just not eating swarming things, and Peter wrote it down.

¹³Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, ¹⁵but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶since it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 ESV

So the instruction to “be holy in all my conduct” comes from the context of “don’t eat swarming things.” Interesting.

I have several more examples where God seems to quote Himself out of context at this link.
Tag: Context Context Context

Therefore a principle of knowing Jesus’ voice is to know that sometimes God will make a part of a Bible passage “come alive” for one of His children, and sometimes that rhema may be out of context with the logos. The context of Exodus 23:25 has nothing to do with God healing someone’s stomach cancer or ulcer (I forget which) but for one person it did. I read that this person suddenly and definitely knew God was going to heal the sickness in his midst, his stomach, and God did! An out-of-context logos became rhema for that person.

And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
Exodus 23:25 KJV

Many say Philippians 4:13 only applies to getting through abundance and lack, because of the context.

¹⁰I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. ¹¹Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. ¹²I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. ¹³I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:10-13 ESV

But I recall one situation where “I can do all things through him who strengthens me” became rhema and God got me through that troubling situation. It had nothing to do with finances, abundance or lack.

I remember exactly where I was sitting when I suddenly knew God was **MY** refuge and **MY** fortress, the day when Ps 91:2 came alive to me.

He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
²I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”
Psalms 91:1-2 ESV

Look for rhema. Faith comes by rhema, not logos.

Jesus is coming very, very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Hebrews 13:5 and Context, Context, Context

Toward the end of Deuteronomy (and his life) Moses talks to the children of Israel.

Then Moses went and spoke these words to all Israel. ²And he said to them: “I am one hundred and twenty years old today. I can no longer go out and come in. Also the Lord has said to me, ‘You shall not cross over this Jordan.’ ³The Lordyour God Himself crosses over before you; He will destroy these nations from before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua himself crosses over before you, just as the Lord has said. ⁴And the Lord will do to them as He did to Sihon and Og, the kings of the Amorites and their land, when He destroyed them. ⁵The Lord will give them over to you, that you may do to them according to every commandment which I have commanded you. ⁶Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.”

⁷Then Moses called Joshua and said to him in the sight of all Israel, “Be strong and of good courage, for you must go with this people to the land which the Lordhas sworn to their fathers to give them, and you shall cause them to inherit it. ⁸And the Lord, He is the One who goes before you. He will be with you, He will not leave you nor forsake you; do not fear nor be dismayed.”
Deuteronomy 31:1-8 NKJV

The context is war, the taking of the promised land. Then in the first chapter of Joshua God speaks to Joshua.

After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lordspoke to Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ²“Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them—the children of Israel. ³Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses. ⁴From the wilderness and this Lebanon as far as the great river, the River Euphrates, all the land of the Hittites, and to the Great Sea toward the going down of the sun, shall be your territory. ⁵No man shall be able to stand before you all the days of your life; as I was with Moses, so I will be with you. I will not leave you nor forsake you. ⁶Be strong and of good courage, for to this people you shall divide as an inheritance the land which I swore to their fathers to give them. ⁷Only be strong and very courageous, that you may observe to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you; do not turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper wherever you go. ⁸This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success. ⁹Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:1-9 NKJV

Here too the context is war, the conquering and dividing of the promised land. But the writer of the New Testament book of Hebrews says the promise, “I will not leave you nor forsake you” also applies like Matthew 6:33.

³¹“Therefore do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ ³²For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. ³³But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. ³⁴Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
Matthew 6:31-34 NKJV

This is Hebrews 13:5 in three translations. Others: StudyBible | BibleGateway | BibleHub

Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
NKJV

Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, for God has said: “Never will I leave you, never will I forsake you.”
BSB

Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
ESV

Thus in my opinion the writer of Hebrews says the war promise of “I will never leave you nor forsake you” also applies to God’s provision for us.

One of the YouTube channels I no longer watch was very, “Context! Context! Context!” in Biblical understanding. IMO, if the pastor was consistent with how he taught about the importance of context, he would have to say the writer of Hebrews is in error. That is, it is impossible for a war-context promise to apply as a financial-provision promise.

As I continue to study my Bible, and look up the context of Old Testament Scripture quoted in the New Testament, I find little evidence that “Context! Context! Context!” is the primary factor.

My current understanding: Learn to hear Jesus’ voice. Learn to hear the rhema in the logos.

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Hebrews 10, Psalm 40, & Context, Context, Context

This quote, I believe, is an incorrect understanding of Scripture.

After Jacob had worked for Laban for seven years, do you know what happened? Laban fooled him and gave him his ugly daughter Leah. So to marry Rachel, Jacob was forced to work another seven years. So, you see, children, the Bible clearly teaches us you can never trust an employer.
Joseph Stein, Fiddler on the Roof

I have a great desire to correctly understand and use the Word of God.

Study and do your best to present yourself to God approved, a workman [tested by trial] who has no reason to be ashamed, accurately handling and skillfully teaching the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 AMP

I know the context of a Bible passage is important. I doubt I would ever feel led to sell something based on these words of Judas Iscariot.

“Why was this fragrant oil not sold for three hundred denarii and given to the poor?”
John 12:5 NKJV

But some people take the idea of context too far, IMO. For example, I had a brief online conversation with someone who rejected this verse.

For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also.
James 2:26 NKJV

His or her reasons was that the book of James wasn’t written to them.

James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings.
James 1:1 NKJV

So this year I have been researching Old Testament passages quoted in the New Testament to try to understand the importance of context. Here is another example those who shout, “Context, context, context!” may have trouble explaining.

Hebrews 10 discusses the significance of Jesus’ death and resurrection.

For the law, having a shadow of the good things to come, and not the very image of the things, can never with these same sacrifices, which they offer continually year by year, make those who approach perfect. ²For then would they not have ceased to be offered? For the worshipers, once purified, would have had no more consciousness of sins. ³But in those sacrifices there is a reminder of sins every year. ⁴For it is not possible that the blood of bulls and goats could take away sins.

⁵Therefore, when He came into the world, He said:

“Sacrifice and offering You did not desire,
But a body You have prepared for Me.
⁶In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin
You had no pleasure.
⁷Then I said, ‘Behold, I have come—
In the volume of the book it is written of Me—
To do Your will, O God.’ ”

⁸Previously saying, “Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings, and offerings for sin You did not desire, nor had pleasure in them” (which are offered according to the law), ⁹then He said, “Behold, I have come to do Your will, O God.” He takes away the first that He may establish the second. ¹⁰By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
Hebrews 10:1-10 NKJV

The writer of Hebrews quotes from Psalm 40.

⁶Sacrifice and offering You did not desire;
My ears You have opened.
Burnt offering and sin offering You did not require.
⁷Then I said, “Behold, I come;
In the scroll of the book it is written of me.
⁸I delight to do Your will, O my God,
And Your law is within my heart.”
Psalm 40:6-8 NKJV

The Septuagint, the translation of the Old Testament from Hebrew into Greek made in the 3rd and 2nd centuries BC, is closer to the Psalm text quoted in Hebrews in some parts.

⁶Sacrifice and offering thou wouldest not;
but a body hast thou prepared me:
whole-burnt-offering and sacrifice for sin thou didst not require.
⁷Then I said, Behold, I come:
in the volume of the book it is written concerning me,
⁸I desired to do thy will, O my God,
and thy law in the midst of mine heart.
Psalm 40:6-8 Brenton LXX Translation 1851

So in Psalm 40:6-8 David is writing about Jesus. Yet in verse 12 David has to be writing about himself, since Jesus never had any iniquities.

For innumerable evils have surrounded me;
My iniquities have overtaken me, so that I am not able to look up;
They are more than the hairs of my head;
Therefore my heart fails me.
Psalm 40:12 NKJV

Therefore the Holy Spirit sometimes pulls Scripture from one context and uses it in another, like this example from Peter.

¹³Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; ¹⁴as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; ¹⁵but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, ¹⁶because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.”
1 Peter 1:13-16 NKJV

The first use in the Old Testament I have found has the context of insects.

^{41 “‘}And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. ⁴²Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. ⁴³You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. ⁴⁴For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. ⁴⁵For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.‘”
Leviticus 11:41-45 NKJV

Therefore I caution discarding Scripture merely because of context. It might indeed apply to you!

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Jesus’ Temptation and Context, Context, Context

In Deuteronomy 5 Moses begins talking to the children of Israel, and he continues for many chapters.

And Moses called all Israel, and said to them: “Hear, O Israel, the statutes and judgments which I speak in your hearing today, that you may learn them and be careful to observe them.”
Deuteronomy 5:1 NKJV

Here are a couple of passages from Deuteronomy 6 and 8 of Moses’ continued speech. I have highlighted three portions.

¹⁰“So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, ¹¹houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— ¹²then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage. ¹³You shall fear the Lord your God and serve Him, and shall take oaths in His name. ¹⁴You shall not go after other gods, the gods of the peoples who are all around you ¹⁵(for the Lord your God is a jealous God among you), lest the anger of the Lord your God be aroused against you and destroy you from the face of the earth.

¹⁶“You shall not tempt the Lord your God as you tempted Him in Massah. ¹⁷You shall diligently keep the commandments of the Lord your God, His testimonies, and His statutes which He has commanded you. ¹⁸And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you, and that you may go in and possess the good land of which the Lord swore to your fathers, ¹⁹to cast out all your enemies from before you, as the Lord has spoken.”
Deuteronomy 6:10-19 NKJV

“Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the Lord swore to your fathers. ²And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not. ³So He humbled you, allowed you to hunger, and fed you with manna which you did not know nor did your fathers know, that He might make you know that man shall not live by bread alone; but man lives by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. ⁴Your garments did not wear out on you, nor did your foot swell these forty years. ⁵You should know in your heart that as a man chastens his son, so the Lord your God chastens you.“
Deuteronomy 8:1-5 NKJV

Jesus’ temptation in the wilderness is recorded in Mark 1, Matthew 4 and Luke 4. Here is Matthew’s version. I have highlighted Jesus’ quotes that correspond to the highlighted portions of Deuteronomy above.

Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. ²And when He had fasted forty days and forty nights, afterward He was hungry. ³Now when the tempter came to Him, he said, “If You are the Son of God, command that these stones become bread.”

⁴But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”

⁵Then the devil took Him up into the holy city, set Him on the pinnacle of the temple, ⁶and said to Him, “If You are the Son of God, throw Yourself down. For it is written:

‘He shall give His angels charge over you,’

and,

‘In their hands they shall bear you up,
Lest you dash your foot against a stone.’ ”

⁷Jesus said to him, “It is written again, ‘You shall not tempt the Lord your God.’ ”

⁸Again, the devil took Him up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory. ⁹And he said to Him, “All these things I will give You if You will fall down and worship me.”

¹⁰Then Jesus said to him, “Away with you, Satan! For it is written, ‘You shall worship the Lord your God, and Him only you shall serve.’ ”

¹¹Then the devil left Him, and behold, angels came and ministered to Him.
Matthew 4:1-11 NKJV

Jesus is the Word and He is perfect so we know He is speaking accurately. I find it noteworthy that He did not quote any of Moses’ full thoughts, but instead He said ‘It is written’ using just parts of them.

May I too be led of the Spirit to use the Word of God accurately!

Work hard so you can present yourself to God and receive his approval. Be a good worker, one who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly explains the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 NLT

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Job’s Friends and Context, Context, Context

I have heard sermons that used these verses from the book of Job.

“Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.”
Job 8:7 NKJV

“You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;
So light will shine on your ways.”
Job 22:28 NKJV

The trouble is Bildad the Shuhite said the first quote , and Eliphaz the Temanite said the second, and God Himself said they didn’t speak what is right about Him.

⁷And so it was, after the Lord had spoken these words to Job, that the Lord said to Eliphaz the Temanite, “My wrath is aroused against you and your two friends, for you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has. ⁸Now therefore, take for yourselves seven bulls and seven rams, go to My servant Job, and offer up for yourselves a burnt offering; and My servant Job shall pray for you. For I will accept him, lest I deal with you according to your folly; because you have not spoken of Me what is right, as My servant Job has.” ⁹So Eliphaz the Temanite and Bildad the Shuhite and Zophar the Naamathite went and did as the Lord commanded them; for the Lord had accepted Job.
Job 42:7-9 NKJV

Also, I cannot confirm those verses other places in the Bible.

?? “Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” ??

“Success” in this life is not guaranteed. It’s the treasures in heaven that matter.

¹³These all died in faith, not having received the promises, but having seen them afar off were assured of them, embraced them and confessed that they were strangers and pilgrims on the earth. ¹⁴For those who say such things declare plainly that they seek a homeland. ¹⁵And truly if they had called to mind that country from which they had come out, they would have had opportunity to return. ¹⁶But now they desire a better, that is, a heavenly country. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for He has prepared a city for them.
Hebrews 11:13-16 NKJV

¹⁷He said to him the third time, “Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?” Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, “Do you love Me?”

And he said to Him, “Lord, You know all things; You know that I love You.”

Jesus said to him, “Feed My sheep. ¹⁸Most assuredly, I say to you, when you were younger, you girded yourself and walked where you wished; but when you are old, you will stretch out your hands, and another will gird you and carry you where you do not wish.” ¹⁹This He spoke, signifying by what death he would glorify God. And when He had spoken this, He said to him, “Follow Me.”
John 21:17-19 NKJV

⁸“And to the angel of the church in Smyrna write,

‘These things says the First and the Last, who was dead, and came to life: ⁹“I know your works, tribulation, and poverty (but you are rich); and I know the blasphemy of those who say they are Jews and are not, but are a synagogue of Satan. ¹⁰Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life.” ’ ”
Revelation 2:8-10 NKJV

?? “You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;” ??

For awhile when I was a young Christian, and a victim of the KJV-Only teaching, I did think I could “make anything I wanted happen.” Here are two KJV verses that supported the notion. The first is the KJV of the second of the two verses from Job under consideration.

Thou shalt also decree a thing, and it shall be established unto thee: and the light shall shine upon thy ways.
Job 22:28 KJV

Thus saith the LORD, the Holy One of Israel, and his Maker, Ask me of things to come concerning my sons, and concerning the work of my hands command ye me.
Isaiah 45:11 KJV

The Expanded Bible (EXB) is a better translation of the Isaiah verse, IMO.

This is what the Lord,
    the Holy One of Israel, and its Maker, says:
“You ask me about what will happen.
    ·You [or Do you…?; or How dare you…!] question me about my children.
    ·You [or Do you…?; or How dare you…!] give me orders about ·what I have made [the work of my hands].”
Isaiah 45:11 NKJV

I cannot find any other Scripture that supports the idea that I can decree anything I want and have it happen. I could decree ten thousand times that I’m a World War One pilot ace but I am not and never will be. That war was over decades before I was born. My job is to follow Jesus.

“My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me.”
John 10:27 NKJV

The Speaker & Context, Context, Context

Therefore knowing who said what is important to understanding the Bible. I am very leery of taking anything Job’s friends Eliphaz, Bildad and Zophar said as promises I can apply to my own life. The speaker context does matter. It is part of accurately handling God’s Word.

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 BSB

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Acts 1:20 – Context, Context, Context?

In Psalms 109 David is talking to God about people coming against him falsely.

Do not keep silent,
O God of my praise!
²For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful
Have opened against me;
They have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
³They have also surrounded me with words of hatred,
And fought against me without a cause.
⁴In return for my love they are my accusers,
But I give myself to prayer.
⁵Thus they have rewarded me evil for good,
And hatred for my love.
Psalm 109:1-5 NKJV

Then David prays for God’s judgment. Here is the the first part of what he prays.

⁶Set a wicked man over him,
And let an accuser stand at his right hand.
⁷When he is judged, let him be found guilty,
And let his prayer become sin.
⁸Let his days be few,
And let another take his office.
⁹Let his children be fatherless,
And his wife a widow.
¹⁰Let his children continually be vagabonds, and beg;
Let them seek their bread also from their desolate places.
¹¹Let the creditor seize all that he has,
And let strangers plunder his labor.
¹²Let there be none to extend mercy to him,
Nor let there be any to favor his fatherless children.
¹³Let his posterity be cut off,
And in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
Psalm 109:6-13 NKJV

In Acts 1 Peter is talking about the need to replace Judas, who had betrayed Jesus and then killed himself. Peter cites two Scriptures.

“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it’;

and,

‘Let another take his office.’ ”

Acts 1:20 NKJV

Consider the phrase, ‘Let another take his office.’ It is written by David as just part of a long prayer against his false accusers. Yet the Holy Spirit through Peter in Acts 1:20 shows this single phrase, ‘Let another take his office,’ from David’s long prayer, applies to replacing Judas!

What’s the point?

Yesterday I watched a couple YouTube videos where the speakers were big into the “Context, context, context!” style of Bible interpretation. Yet I think this Psalms 109 – Acts 1:20 example shows there are times the Holy Spirit will take a single phrase out of context and apply it in a different context. Consider this verse, and look up the context if you wish.

And ye shall serve the LORD your God, and he shall bless thy bread, and thy water; and I will take sickness away from the midst of thee.
Exodus 23:25 KJV

Years ago I read about someone who had some kind of stomach problem. I don’t recall if it was cancer, an ulcer, or something else. When he read that verse from Exodus he got the “knowing” that “I will take sickness away from the midst of thee” meant that God was going to heal him, that God was going to take the sickness from the middle, the midst, of him. His pastor told him that wasn’t what the verse was talking about (context, context, context,) but the sick man believed anyway and was healed.

So be prepared for the Bible to speak to you in short, out-of-context ways. But of course, test everything!

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ²By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, ³and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spiritof the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.

⁴You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:1-4 NKJV

Make every effort to present yourself approved to God, an unashamed workman who accurately handles the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 BSB

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

By Whose Stripes You Were Healed

Some people on social media say “by whose stripes you were healed” from 1 Peter 2 has nothing to do with physical healing, because the context has to do with sin.

²¹For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps:

²²“Who committed no sin,
Nor was deceit found in His mouth”;

²³who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; ²⁴who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. ²⁵For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.
1 Peter 2:21-25 NKJV

I believe “by whose stripes you were healed” does apply to physical healing. Many, many times I have prayed and confessed like this, and have felt much better as a result.

“By Jesus’ stripes I am healed. I are healed. I was healed. I is healed. Healed be me!”

I know some of that isn’t proper English. 😉 But running through the tenses like that helps me grasp what Jesus did for me.

I have no problem believing there is physical healing Scripture in the midst of redemption-from-sin Scripture, but you make up your own mind. Here are some items for your consideration.

Strong’s G2390 – iaomai

Study for yourself: 1 Peter 2:24 – Interlinear – Strong’s G2390

Context, Context, Context?

In the previous chapter Peter says we should live wholly holy and quotes the Old Testament.

The context Peter is quoting has to do with insects.

^{41 “‘}And every creeping thing that creeps on the earth shall be an abomination. It shall not be eaten. ⁴²Whatever crawls on its belly, whatever goes on all fours, or whatever has many feet among all creeping things that creep on the earth—these you shall not eat, for they are an abomination. ⁴³You shall not make yourselves abominable with any creeping thing that creeps; nor shall you make yourselves unclean with them, lest you be defiled by them. ⁴⁴For I am the Lord your God. You shall therefore consecrate yourselves, and you shall be holy; for I am holy. Neither shall you defile yourselves with any creeping thing that creeps on the earth. ⁴⁵For I am the Lord who brings you up out of the land of Egypt, to be your God. You shall therefore be holy, for I am holy.'”
Leviticus 11:41-45 NKJV

Ok, maybe Peter was quoting from a few chapters later, which isn’t talking about insects.

And the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, ^{2 “}Speak to all the congregation of the children of Israel, and say to them: ‘You shall be holy, for I the Lord your God am holy.'”

I don’t know which Scripture Peter quoted. For me the lesson is when led by the Holy Spirit pulling a rhema from logos is fine.

(Jehovah) Rapha

If the text in 1 Peter is talking about healing from sin, then the Old Testament Scripture must also be talking about sin, right?

⁴Surely He has borne our griefs
And carried our sorrows;
Yet we esteemed Him stricken,
Smitten by God, and afflicted.
⁵But He was wounded for our transgressions,
He was bruised for our iniquities;
The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,
And by His stripes we are healed.
⁶All we like sheep have gone astray;
We have turned, every one, to his own way;
And the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.
Isaiah 53:4-6 NKJV

I don’t think so! The Hebrew word for “healed” is rapha, the same rapha that shows up in other verses “Jehovah Rapha.” Check it out.

Isaiah 53:5 – Interlinear – Strong’s H7495

Are Sins Healed?

Lastly, are sins healed? I have read the Bible through many times, but I can’t recall a Scripture where sins are said to be healed. There may be verses, but I don’t remember them. Instead, sins are forgiven, or we are not condemned.

Then He said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.”
Luke 7:48 NKJV

When Jesus saw their faith, He said to the paralytic, “Son, your sins are forgiven you.”
Mark 2:5 NKJV

Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”
John 8:11 NKJV

I am content to apply “by whose stripes you were healed” to my body’s aches and pains. It has worked well for me. 🙂

Jesus is coming very soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

Picture Credit.

Bible Interpretation – Context, Context, Context?

One thing I plan to do in my Bible study this year of 2020 is to better understand how Jesus and others in the New Testament quoted and applied Scripture from the Old Testament. See, there are many who believe in Once Saved, Always Saved who ignore many Scriptures because, for example, “Jesus was speaking just to the Jews of His day,” and “Hebrews was written for Hebrews so none of it applies to Gentile me.” I think this practice is both dangerous and wrong, and looking in more depth at Old Testament Scripture in the New Testament will prove me right, at least for my peace-of-mind’s sake.

Consider Peter’s speech in Acts where he talks about the need to replace Judas. In one verse Peter quotes from two Psalms, Psalms 69:25 and 109:8.

²⁰“For it is written in the Book of Psalms:

‘Let his dwelling place be desolate,
And let no one live in it’;

and,

‘Let another take his office.’

²¹“Therefore, of these men who have accompanied us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, ²²beginning from the baptism of John to that day when He was taken up from us, one of these must become a witness with us of His resurrection.”
Acts 1:20-22 NKJV

Here are his quotes in context.

¹⁹You know my reproach, my shame, and my dishonor;
My adversaries are all before You.
²⁰Reproach has broken my heart,
And I am full of heaviness;
I looked for someone to take pity, but there was none;
And for comforters, but I found none.
²¹They also gave me gall for my food,
And for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink.

²²Let their table become a snare before them,
And their well-being a trap.
²³Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see;
And make their loins shake continually.
²⁴Pour out Your indignation upon them,
And let Your wrathful anger take hold of them.
²⁵Let their dwelling place be desolate;
Let no one live in their tents.
²⁶For they persecute the ones You have struck,
And talk of the grief of those You have wounded.
²⁷Add iniquity to their iniquity,
And let them not come into Your righteousness.
²⁸Let them be blotted out of the book of the living,
And not be written with the righteous.

²⁹But I am poor and sorrowful;
Let Your salvation, O God, set me up on high.
³⁰I will praise the name of God with a song,
And will magnify Him with thanksgiving.
³¹This also shall please the Lord better than an ox or bull,
Which has horns and hooves.
³²The humble shall see this and be glad;
And you who seek God, your hearts shall live.
³³For the Lord hears the poor,
And does not despise His prisoners.
Psalm 69:19-33 NKJV

¹⁴Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
And let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
¹⁵Let them be continually before the Lord,
That He may cut off the memory of them from the earth;
¹⁶Because he did not remember to show mercy,
But persecuted the poor and needy man,
That he might even slay the broken in heart.
¹⁷As he loved cursing, so let it come to him;
As he did not delight in blessing, so let it be far from him.
¹⁸As he clothed himself with cursing as with his garment,
So let it enter his body like water,
And like oil into his bones.
¹⁹Let it be to him like the garment which covers him,
And for a belt with which he girds himself continually.
²⁰Let this be the Lord’s reward to my accusers,
And to those who speak evil against my person.
Psalm 109:1-20 NKJV

On a casual read of both passages, I don’t see much “context” to link to the disciple Judas who would betray Jesus. As a working hypothesis, it appears the Holy Spirit told Peter these two bits of logos are rhema concerning Judas.

As another example, here is one of my (many 🙂 ) favorite passages in Psalms.

⁸Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good;
Blessed is the man who trusts in Him!
⁹Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints!
There is no want to those who fear Him.
¹⁰The young lions lack and suffer hunger;
But those who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing.

¹¹Come, you children, listen to me;
I will teach you the fear of the Lord.
¹²Who is the man who desires life,
And loves many days, that he may see good?
¹³Keep your tongue from evil,
And your lips from speaking deceit.
¹⁴Depart from evil and do good;
Seek peace and pursue it.

¹⁵The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶The face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
To cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
Psalms 34:8-16 NKJV

Peter quotes part of this, but he completely omits that this is how one fears the Lord!

⁸Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; ⁹not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. ¹⁰For

“He who would love life
And see good days,
Let him refrain his tongue from evil,
And his lips from speaking deceit.
¹¹Let him turn away from evil and do good;
Let him seek peace and pursue it.
¹²For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous,
And His ears are open to their prayers;
But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.”
1 Peter 3:8-12 NKJV

I have wondered much about this omission, with no real understanding yet.

In 2020, I’m looking forward to studying these things. 🙂 And now I’m going to “recycle” a post from last May because it fits.

This is a well-known and often-quoted KJV verse.

Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
2 Timothy 2:15 KJV

Look at the Greek, the Strong’s, Webster’s 1828, and Dictionary. Without deeply researching, I’m willing to grant that the King James translators had no desire to confuse modern English readers. I’m willing to suppose they used the word dividing in the sense we today would understand a divided highway. We are not cutting up the highway, but more driving our cars in the appropriate lanes. Click on these links to see that most modern translations use words like “correctly handles” and “rightly handling.” These phrases make it hard to have a doctrine that one is to slice-and-dice Scripture to decide which parts of the Bible do not apply to his or her life. BibleHub BibleGateway

But a lot of people are doing just that. I have people respond to me that this very serious warning Scripture does not apply to them because it is “Old Covenant.”

“But when a righteous man turns away from his righteousness and commits iniquity, and does according to all the abominations that the wicked man does, shall he live? All the righteousness which he has done shall not be remembered; because of the unfaithfulness of which he is guilty and the sin which he has committed, because of them he shall die.”
Ezekiel 18:24 NKJV

I find such thinking dangerous, especially in view of these passages.

For I am the LORD, I change not; therefore ye sons of Jacob are not consumed.
Malachi 3:6 KJV

Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8 BSB

One person strongly implied I wasn’t saved, because Jesus spoke these words to and for Jews, before He had died and risen from the dead.

“But if I do them, even though you do not believe me, believe the works, that you may know and understand that the Father is in me, and I in the Father.”
John 10:38 NIV

(For why this is one of my salvation Scriptures see How I Got Saved!)

I am no longer Facebook friends or a YouTube subscriber of people who teach that major sections of the Bible don’t apply for us today. But you make your own choice. “Study to show …”

Jesus is coming soon. Be ready!

Has the rapture happened?
   You can still be saved and go to heaven!
---
Are you following God's plan for your life?    
   You should.
     Your plan is not going to work. 
     It is a really, really bad plan. 
     Please come to Jesus to escape your plan! 

Most people are WRONG! WRONG! WRONG!

Jesus is coming.
   Are you ready to meet Him?
   Give your life to Jesus Christ.
   Time is running out.

?? “Though your beginning was small,Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” ??

?? “You will also declare a thing,And it will be established for you;” ??

The Speaker & Context, Context, Context

Strong’s G2390 – iaomai

Context, Context, Context?

(Jehovah) Rapha

Are Sins Healed?

?? “Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly.” ??

?? “You will also declare a thing,
And it will be established for you;” ??