March 31 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Judges 11-12; Luke 6.1-28
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Judges 9; Judges 10; Luke 6


Judges 10-12
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia Links: Judges 10; Judges 11; Judges 12

Judges 10
is the story of Jephthah and Five Other Judges. Tola was a judge who led Israel for twenty three years (v. 1-2). Jair was another judge who had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys. Between both of them they had forty five yers of peace.

The Story of Jephthah centers around Judges 10.6-18; 11; 12.1-7.
Because of peace, the people forgot God. In Judges 10.6-18 The Israelites sinned by worshiping Baals, Ashtoreths and other gods. God gave them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites. There are two types of confession given in Judges 11. The first confession in 10 is not genuine, originating from the people suffering. God refused to forgive them (v. 11-14). The second confession of sin is genuine, it was a 180 degree turn, they got rid of the foreign gods among them and serve the Lord..

Judges 11 Jephthah could not help having the mother, he had! She was a prostitute. Jephthah step brothers drove him away from his home when they grew up. Why be upset at the things that you cannot control. The Chinese word for crisis means opportunity. Jephthah was a worshipper of God, knew the Scriptures. He was even listed among the heroes of faith in Hebrew 11.32.
One of the difficult verses in the the Bible has to do with the vow that Jephthah made to God, that if God delivered the Ammonites to him, whatever comes out of his house, he would sacrifice to God. When he returned home, his daughter came running out of the house. Does God condone human sacrifice? What do you think? Jephthah's vow



Judges 12
(v. 1.7) The men of Ephraim always wanted recognition (Judges 6). They never rejoiced in another's victory. Jephthah tried to explain that he had asked the Ephraimites for help but they did not help. Jephthah called the men of Gilead and started a civil war that costed 42,000 lives! A litle argument or dispute cost so many men their lives. Jephthah led Israel for six years, died and was buried in Gilead. We need to settle our disputes as soon as possible before a mole hill turns into a mountain!

The other judges, Ibzan, Elon and Abdon were discussed in verses 8-15.

Judges 10, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 11, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 12, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands


Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page


Luke 6.1-26 with Commentaries, verse by verse

In Luke 6, Jesus and his disciples were going through the grainfield picking heads of grain and eating them (Luke 6.1-11; Matthew 12.1-4 and Mark 2.23-3.6). The Pharisees accused them of doing work. On another Sabbath, he healed a man whose right hand was shriveled. Here he was again accused of doing work on the Sabbath. The Pharisees got it all wrong they created all these rules and regulations more than the Law and had expected people to follow it. They had forgotten the meaning of the Sabbath. Who were the Pharisees?; The Pharisees

Jesus spent the night in prayer before coming with the decision to pick the Twelve Apostles. He had at least 72 men with him, and these twelve were with him regularly. Jesus was not a ‘YES Man’. He was a wise leader, knowing men’s heart and their potential than we would ever know. He picked people who would question Him not jump at his words. He had men from a wide spectrum of backgrounds, from fishermen to tax collector to Simon who was a Zealot. The Zealots were a revolutionary group who wanted to overthrow the Roman government.



In Luke 6.20-23; Matthew 5.3-12, Jesus spoke about blessedness and he also spoke about woes. We are familiar with the Beatitudes in Matthew 5, Luke just spoke of a few of them. Blessed, in the Greek, makarios, means more than happy because happiness is an emotion that is based on only on external circumstances. Blessed is based upon spiritual joy. Paul had joy in prison, regardless of the circumstances.

More Links in Luke
IVP Commentary on Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testamant
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

March 30 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Judges 7-8; Luke 5.1-16a
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Judges 9; Judges 10; Luke 5


Apostasy and the Judges
Today's reading from Judges 9-10

Gideon and His Son

Judges 9
God called Gideon as a leader. Abimelech appointed himself as leader and murdered his brothers to make sure that he was the leaders. Jothan gave a parable (7-13) of the olive tree, the fig tree and the vine. The parable showed that there is a price to pay for true leadership. True leaders have to sacrifice many things to serve the people. Ahimelech was only interested in himself. If good leaders will not sacrifice their somforts and lead them the people would have to settle for brambles. Abimelch reap what he sowed, his sins caught up with him, his family and people suffered for his selfishness.

Judges 10 deals with the story of Jephthah and Five Other Judges. Tola was a judge who led Israel for twenty three years (v. 1-2). Jair was another judge who had thirty sons who rode thirty donkeys. Between both of them they had forty five yers of peace.

The Story of Jephthah centers around Judges 10.6-18; 11; 12.1-7.
Because of peace, the people forgot God. In Judges 10.6-18 The Israelites sinned by worshiping Baals, Ashtoreths and other gods. God gave them over to the Philistines and the Ammonites. There are two types of confession given in Judges 11. The first confession in 10 is not genuine, originating from the people suffering. God refused to forgive them (v. 11-14). The second confession of sin is genuine, it was a 180 degree turn, they got rid of the foreign gods among them and serve the Lord..

Link on Gideon
More on Gideon
More on Gideon

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands
Judges 9, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 10, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page


Luke 5.17-39 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Another day, some men brought a paralytic into the house where Jesus was at (Luke 5.18-26; Matthew 9.2-8; Mark 2.3-12). Since they could not find a way to get into the house, they went on the roof and lowered him on his mat through the roof. Jesus said something radical, he said in verse 20, Friend your sins are forgiven. The Pharisees amd the teachers of the law were thinking that Jesus was blaspheming. jesus said that he He had the authority to forgive sins (v.24). No one can forgive sins except God alone (v.21). He then healed the paralytic man. Which did the man need at that moment for his sins to be forgiven or to be healed. Jesus is the great Physician and knew what the man needed. What about us? What do we need Jesus to do for us at this moment. He has the authority from God to heal us or forgive us of our sins.
After that, Jesus was walking, and saw at the tax boot, a tax colletor by the name of Levi. He said to him to follow him. Levi got up, left everything and followed Jesus. When Jesus tells us to follow Him, He wants us to leave everything and follow Him.

Continuing from last time about the calling of Levi (Luke 5.27-32; Matthew 9.9-13; Mark 2.14-17) After Levi had left everything, he had a feast for his tax-collector colleagues and other friends including sinners. To the Jews, the tax collector was considered among the worst people to associate with. They collected taxes for Rome, their enemy, and some even collected more than they should. They even use extortion against their own people.Ancient tax collector Sinners according to the NIV Study Bible include 'Notoriously evil people as well as those who refused to follow the Mosaic laws...This term includes tax collectors, adulterers, robbers and the like. To eat with them was a sign of friendship. Jesus was not ashamed to be seen with them. It would be interesting to know what was going through the minds of the disciples. Jesus answered them 31 'And Jesus answered and said to them, "It is not those who are well who need a physician, but those who are sick. 32"I have not come to call the righteous but sinners to repentance." We need to realize that Christ came to save sinners! Even though some of us have been Christians for a while we have become religious and sanctimonious and do not want to associate with the world. May God open our eyes to that.

Jesus was questioned about fasting (Luke 5.33-39; Matthew 9:14-17; Mark 2.18-22) and He told them that his disciples do not need to fast now, but when He goes away then they will fast. He gave a parable of old wine in new wineskin and a patch from a new garment place on an old garment. It does not work. Either they follow Jesus 100% or follow the Law 100%.


More Links in Luke
IVP Commentary on Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testamant
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

March 29 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Judges 7-8; Luke 5.1-16a
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Judges 7; Judges 8; Luke 5


Gideon and His Son
Judges 7 - God told Gideon that he had too many men for Him to deliver Midian into their hands. Those whou were fearful may leave. Twenty-two thousand men left while ten ten thousand remained. Finally only three hundred men were left to take on the army of Midian! What can we learn here? God uses small things to accomplish His purpose. (1 Corinthians 1.26-29). Here he used three hundred men to take on the whole army of the Midianites. The Lord told Gideon 'In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her.' Judge 7.2

Gideon and His Son
Judges 8.1-3
People were critical and angry with Gideon since they were not included in the defeat of the Midianites. They wanted to share in the glory.

Judges 8.4-9 There were the officials of Succoth who were cynical of Gideon did not want anything to do with Gideon or his men or had faith in God. There attitude was since you do not have Zebah and Zalmunna, kings of Midian why should we help you? They paid for this attitude.
Gideon and his men finally captured Zebah and Zalmunna. there were the cowardly (10-21) killing two famous kings was difficult for Jether, Gideon eldest son to do.
Finally Gideon, had wanted an earring from the share of the plunder from each of thr Israelites. Gideon received a large amount of gold, jewelry and clothing. The people compromised: the gold use use to make an ephod. Gideon placed the gold in Oprah and people ended up worshipping this ephod. Does this sound familiar? It is very similar to the golden calf that Aaron created in Exodus 32. When Gideon died (v. 28-35), the people prostituted themselves to the Baals (v. 33-25).

Link on Gideon
More on Gideon
More on Gideon
Judges 7, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 8, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page


Luke 5.1-16 with Commentaries, verse by verse

In Luke 5.1-11; Matthew 4.18-22; Mark 1.16-20; John 1.40-42, Jesus called his first disciples. We must be convinced that the mission in life is to make disciples NOT converts. Making a disciple takes time, it takes years for one to become a disciple. His first disciples were fishermen. among them was Simon, who would later have the name Peter, a natural leader. notice the sensitivity that Simon had around Jesus, "Go away from me, Lord, I am a sinful man!" along with him was James and John the sons of Zebedee, these were the inner circle of the twelve apostles. Why those three? Why not persons of a better profession, more knowledge of the Scripture? And then the question, why us/ Why did Jesus ever picked any of us to be his disciples. And the answer would be it is GRACE. None of us deserves to follow Jesus, we are all sinners but we have been saved NOT by good works but by GRACE to do good works. Jesus saw something in us and in Peter, James, and John, He sees a rough diamond which through the patience and teaching of the Holy Spirit will one day become a precious stone in His sight (1Peter 2.4-5).

(Luke 5.12-14; Matthew 8.2-6; Mark 1.40-44)
A man with leprosy asked Jesus to heal him. Jesus did something against the Levitical law of that day, he touched the leper. Luke was the only one to talk of the xtent of his disease, perhaps because Luke was a physician. Jesus told the leper not to tell anyone who healed him and to present hemself to the priest and go through the ceremonial cleansing as required by Leviticus 14.2-12. We may not have leprosy but we do need the touch of Jesus in our lives to cleanse us from the sins that we have.

Notice that news were spreading about Jesus healing the people. Many came to seek him yet He often withdrew to pray by Himself. What can we learn from this. It is easy to get involve with ministry and yet really forget to see things in perspective, this is why Jesus went to pray.


IVP Commentary on Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testamant
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

March 28 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Judges 4-6; Luke 4.31-44
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Judges 4; Judges 5; Judges 6;Luke 4

Deborah and Barak
Judges 4
The Israelites did not conquer the Plain of Wsdraelon (Jezreel) in the north central Region of Canaan. The Israelites sinned again. God gave the Israelites over to the local Canaanites forces which were united under Jabin and Sisera. God raised up Deborah (v. 4-10), she sent for Barak and told him to get the troops ready and God willgive them the victory. In verse 12-16, Sisera is defeated by Barak and as Deborah said God will give the Canaanites over to Barak. In Judges 4.17, 11, 18-22, Sisera had escaped the carnage that Barak and his army gave to the Canaanites. Sisera was killed by Jael with a tent peg and hammer. Jabin was also destroyed by the Israelites.

Judges 5
Deborah and Barak sung a song of victory over the Canaanites. The song

What can we learn here? God uses small things to accomplish His purpose. (1 Corinthians 1.26-29). Here he used two women, a jug of milk, a hammer, a tent peg and a storm to defeat the Canaanites. Women back in 1200 B.C. were regarded as insignificant, it was humilating for a woman to be a leader! Deborah said to Bark 'the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman. The woman was Jael not Deborah.

Deborah
When women wage war by Steve Zeisler
Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Gideon and His Son
Judges 6 -Because the Israelites sinned, God gave them into the hand of the Midianites for seven years. The Israelites ended up living in caves, and the Midianites raided their farms. God called Gideon, an unlikely candidate to be a judge. Gideon pointed out that although God delivered them from Egypt, He has now abandoned them. His clan was the weakest in Manasseh and he was the weakest in his family. Gideon wanted a sign that it was Gid really speaking to him. The angel gives Gideon a sign by touching the rock on which the meat and unleavened bread was on. A fire coming out of the rock consuming the meat and the bread. Gideon tested God again this time with a fleece (6.36-40) twice. Should we put out 'fleece' to see if God's will should be done in a certain way? What do you think?

Link on Gideon
More on Gideon
More on Gideon

Judges 4, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 5, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 6, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page


Luke 4.31-44 with Commentaries, verse by verse
In Luke 4.31-37; Mark 1:21-28; Luke showed Jesus as the Son of Man showing compassion to his fellow men. He cast out a demon out of aman, and He healed Peter's mother-in-law, (Luke 4.38-41; Matthew 8.14-17) and he healed many Luke 4.38-43; Mark 1.20-38. Luke, himself been a doctor was interested in rcording these miracles. The verse that caught my attention today is verse 43: But he said, "I must preach the good news of the kingdom of God to the other towns also, because that is why I was sent." Jesus knew His mission in life. It was to preach the good news. To use whatever talents and spiritual gifts that He had at His disposal to fulfill His mission. What is your mission in life? It is the same as Jesus to preach the good news to the saved and making disciples of men (Matthew 28.18-20). If you don't know what you mission is, you will be wandering around aimlessly.

More Links in Luke
IVP Commentary on Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testamant
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

March 27 Reading

Today is Easter Sunday!! We Remember the Resurrection Today. Jesus is Risen, HE IS RISEN INDEED

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Judges 1-3; Luke 4.1-30
King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Judges 1; Judges 2; Judges 3;Luke 4

Three Burials
Pick the Version from Today's reading from Judges 1-2
The information below was compiled from the Daily Bible in Chronological Order.
There were three burials.
DEATH OF JOSHUA Judges 2.8-9; Joshua 24.29-30
DEATH OF ELEAZAR Joshua 24.33
JOSEPH BONES BURIED Joshua 24.32

Just because a tribe receive an allotment of land did NOT mean that the land could be occupied immediately. In Joshua's lifetime some of the land were conquered during his lifetime. But after his lifetime other lands were conquered. This is seen as Additional Conquests
JUDAH AND SIMEON JOIN FORCES Judges 1.1-10; 16-19
CALEB TAKES TERRITORY Joshua 15.13-14;
GIFT TO CALEB'S DAUGHTER Judges 1.11-15; Joshua 15.15-19
EPHRAIM CAPTURES BETHEL Judges 1.22-28

While Joshua was a book of victory, Judges was a book of defeat. the people could not possess the remaining cities, and villages in some cases. Note that despite the conquest there were also failures to reach victory. a list is given below.

Apostasy and the Judges
In Judges 2.8-3.6. There is this cycle that the people go through. first they sin, God punishes them by allowing oppression by the inhabitant of the land. The people repent of their sins and then God raise up a judge to rescue the. Then the vicious cycle repeats itself. This is very similar in the Christian life. We sin, God allows us affliction in our life, we repent, God delivers us.

Failure to Complete Conquests
FAILURE OF EASTERN TRIBES Joshua 13.13
FAILUR OF EPHRAIM Joshua 16.10; Judges 1.29
FAILURE OF MANASSEH Joshua 17.11-13; Judges 1.27-28
FAILURE OF JUDAH joshua 15.63
FAILURE OF BENJAMIN Judges 1.21
FAILURE OF ZEBULUN Judges 1.30
FAILURE OF ASHER Judges 1.32-32
FAILURE OF NAOHTHALI Judges 1.33
FAILURE OF DANITES JUDGES 1.34-36
FAILURES BREACH CONTRACT Judges 2.1-5

In the Christian Life, we have the victory because of what Jesus did on the cross, but on a day by experience some of us live DEFEATED life, we even wallow in sin. This is what we see in Judges 1.

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Apostasy and the Judges
In Judges 3.1-6. There is a cycle of sin and restoration that everyone goes through. First they sin, God punishes them by allowing oppression by the inhabitant of the land. The people repent of their sins and then God raise up a judge to rescue the. Then the vicious cycle repeats itself. This is very similar in the Christian life. We sin, God allows us affliction in our life, we repent, God delivers us.

Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar
In Judges 3.7-11, the people are oppressed by the Mesopotomites and delivered by Othniel.
In Judges 3.12-25, the people are oppressed by the Moabites and are delivered by Ehud killing Eglon, the king of Moab.
In Judges 3.26-32, the people are oppressed again by the Moabites and are delivered this time by Shamgar.

Judges 1, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Judges 2, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
OT Gateway Links on Judges
Introduction to Judges by Malik
Malik Argument of Judges
Israel's Dark Age by Deffinbaugh
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Zeisler on Judges, scroll down
Spurgeon on Judges
Biblebb.com Website
Ritchie on Judges - 9 sermons

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page

Luke 4.1-30 with Commentaries, verse by verse

The Temptation of Jesus Luke 4.1-13; Matthew 4.1-11; Mark 1.12-14
Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted for forty days. The number forty is a sign for testimg. We must point out emphatically that temptation is NOT sin, but YIELDING to temptation is SIN. Martin Luther said: I cannot stop the birds flying over my head, but I can stop them from building their nests in my hair. So it is with temptation. Jesus was tempted yet He did not yield to temptation. How do you resist temptation? FILL YOUR MIND WITH GOD' WORD. I mean to MEMORIZE SCRIPTURE. If you notice in all the instances when Satan tempted Jesus, He QUOTED scripture back at Satan! He did rationalize with Satan as we do when we are tempted. According to some commentaries, Satan probably tempted him in the later days of the 40 days when he was in the wilderness. So that was when Jesus would be the most vulnerable. Jesus quoted from Deiteronomy 4.4; 6.13 and 6.10. The first temptation has to do with food, since Jesus was fasting for forty days, The second and third to do with power. Temptation would be only useful to the devil if it attractive to the one being tempted! Temptation usually comes in forms of money, sex and power or some variations thereof. In verse 13 said he (the devil) left him until an opportune time. Satan was waiting to tempt Jesus again. We are to flee from temptation! A perfect example was when Joseph fled from Potiphar's wife (Genesis 39), we are to FLEE youthful lusts 2Timothy 2.22, we are to resist the devil 1Peter 5.8-9! What does the word FLEE mean"? it means to RUN away not to walk away, it is a verb of action!!! Jesus was tempted as we were yet He did not sin and He is our High Priest interceding on our behalf (Heb 4.15-16).15For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are–yet was without sin. 16Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Jesus was rejected at Nazareth (v. 14-30). The application is sometimes it ivery difficult to witness in your own home if you are the only Christian there!

Here is a link to memorize Scripture
Deffinbaugh on the Baptism and Temptation of the Messiah
Temptation

More Links in Luke
IVP Commentary on Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testamant
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

March 26 Reading

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Joshua 22-24; Luke 3

King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Joshua 22;Joshua 23;Joshua 24;Luke 3

Joshua 22
Joshua addresses the Trans-Jordan Tribes, The Reubenites, the Gadites and the half tribe of Mannaseh and praise them for keeping their word. God had granted their vow,now they could return and inherit their land (1-9). The tribes returned to Gilead (7-9). They built an alar on the border of Canaan (v. 10-12) at Geliloth near the Jordan on the Israelite side, the whole assembly wanted to declare war on them!
The western tribes were angry (13-20), they sent Phineas and ten men, one from each tribe. The dispute was about building the altar which the ten tribes saw as an altar of rebellion. The eastern tribe explain in detail why they built the altar as a witness between all the tribes that they would all worship and sacrifice to the Lord together. They were thus united.(30-34). This chapter shows us before we jump to conclusion about an issue and go off the deep end, we need to COMMUNICATE with each other to clear the air and avoid a confrontation.

Joshua 23
Joshua now address the western tribes and gave his farewell. What does someone say when he knows that he will die soon? Obviously, the most important priorities he wants to pass on his family and friends. In a similar way, Joshua encourage the people to obey and follow Him wholeheartedly and warned them not to turn away frim God. He also reminded them what God has done for them.

Joshua 24
He addressed them at Shechem, and encouraged them to commit to God (14-15). The famous verse 'But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord' was said here. Israel's third covenant was agreed upon (16-18). Joshua tested the commitment of the people, by warning them them that they were a sinful people and He is a holy and jealous God. He told them them that they were witnesses to serve the Lord. if that was the case then they must throw away foreign Gods and give their hearts to the Lord. Joshua set up a monument to the covenant that they just made. This was a large stone and set it under the oak tree near the holy place of God which was to be a witness against them if they were unfaithful to Him.

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Joshua 22, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Joshua 23, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Joshua 24, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
Arthur Pink-Gleanings in Joshua
OT Gateway Links on Joshua
Introduction to Joshua by Malik
Malik Argument of Joshua
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Calvin on Joshua 1-18
Calvin on Joshua 19-24
Doug Goins on Joshua, scroll down
Spurgeon's Sermons on Joshua
Biblebb.com Website
Studies in the Life of Joshua by J. Hampton Keathley III

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Teatament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page

Luke 3 with Commentaries, verse by verse

Luke 3 speaks about John the Baptist. Some passages related to John the Baptist are: (Luke 3.2-10; Matthew 3.1-10; Mark 1.3-5). Isaiah spoke of John some 700 years before (Luke 3.3-6; Isaiah 40.3-5). Isaiah announce John was the forerunner, that is, he prepared the way for the Messiah to make his arrival go smoothly. It is the same way, in the Washington, D.C. area, when the President goes somewhere, he has an escort and police on motorcycles way ahead, stopping traffic and making sure that he arrives at his destination as expeditious and safe. John was the forerunner for Christ in the First Coming, when He came as a Lamb (John 1.29), as Christians, we should be like John and be forerunners to announce that the Kingdom of heaven is at hand because He is coming back as a King and as a Judge. We must do the Great Commission.
We need to be bold like John as Gabriel told his father Zechariah in Luke 1:17 And he will go on before the Lord, in the spirit and power of Elijah, to turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the disobedient to the wisdom of the righteous–to make ready a people prepared for the Lord.” We must be fearless like John and tell people to produce fruit in keeping with repentance. What we need more than anything in the Evangelical Christian circles is for people to produce fruit that leads to repentance. If we do, the fruits of the Spirit will follow as well. Repentance is 180 degree turn from the direction from which we were going. So if we are in sin we are now going in the direction of righteousness.
Finally we must be humble like John, he said that he was not worthy even to untie the thongs of Jesus' sandals See (Mark 3.16-17; Matthew 3.11-12; Mark 1.7-8).

John the Baptist, the One Who Goes Before

Luke 3.23-38: This section speaks about the genealogy of Jesus. There is also a genealogy also mentioned in Matthew 1.2-16). Here is an excellent link discussing both genealogies.

More Links in Luke
IVP Commentary on Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.

March 25 Readings

You can also check out all these Reading Plans Blogs to go through the Bible in a year from Back to the Bible Reading Lists:the Chronological Reading Plan blog; OT and NT Together blog; Historical Readings blog; Blended Readings blog and Beginning to End blog In addition, there is the Theophilus1 blog in the One Year Bible format and The Daily Bible in Chronological Order

The Back to the Bible OT and NT Together Reading Plan

Index of OT + NT Together

Joshua 19-21; Luke 2.25-52

King James Version with Web Encyclopedia links: Joshua 19;Joshua 20;Joshua 21;Luke 2

Joshua 19
Simeon ended up in Southern Judah (v. 1-9); Zebulun in the North Central (v. 10-16); Issachar, East of Zebulun (v. 17-23); Asher onth enorthwest Coast (v. 24-31); Naphthali in the Northeast; Dan in the Central Coast (v. 40-48). Joshua received the town of Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim.

Joshua 20 The Cities of refuge were assigned as instructed to Moses (v.1-8), six cities were named (v. 7-9).

Joshua 21 The Levites were given towns (v. 1-7). The descendants of Aaron was given Hebron with its surrounding pastureland (v. 8-19), in the hill country of Judah. The fields and villages around Hebron was given, however, to Caleb. The other Kohathites were alloted towns from the tribes of Ephraim (v. 20-26). The Gershonites were given towns from the half-tribe of Manasseh; the Merarites were given towns from Zebulun. The total number of Levites cities were given was forty eight in all. God gave the Israelites all the land He has promised them (v. 43-45)

Division of the Land
Tribal Lands

Joshua 19, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Joshua 20, with Commentaries, verse by verse
Joshua 21, with Commentaries, verse by verse

Other Links
Arthur Pink-Gleanings in Joshua
OT Gateway Links on Joshua
Introduction to Joshua by Malik
Malik Argument of Joshua
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Calvin on Joshua 1-18
Calvin on Joshua 19-24
Doug Goins on Joshua, scroll down
Spurgeon's Sermons on Joshua
Biblebb.com Website
Studies in the Life of Joshua by J. Hampton Keathley III

With the Word Commentary-Warren Wiersbe
Wycliffe Bible Commentary
Keil & Delitzsch Commentaries on the Old Teatament
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary
J. Vernon McGee Commentaries
Evangelical Commentary on the Old Testament
The Commentary Page

Luke 2.25-52 with Commentaries, verse by verse
In v. 21-35, we encounter Simeon, a devout man who is filled with the Holy Spirit. He prophesied that Jesus would become 'a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for the glory to your people Israel' Simeon was sensitive to the Holy Spirit in his life. What about us? We should emulate Simeon and be devout, spending time in His word and praying but also DOING what we hear from Scripture, and be sensitive to the Holy Spirit in our lives.
Simeon finished his prophecy: Verse 34-35:Then Simeon blessed them and said to Mary, his mother: "This child is destined to cause the falling and rising of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be spoken against, so that the thoughts of many hearts will be revealed. And a sword will pierce your own soul too."

Anna the prophetess was devout and was a widow for at least sixty years! She never left the temple but worshiped night and day fasting and praying. She had other priorities in her life than getting remarried. Anna saw Joseph and Mary with Jesus and prophesied to all who were looking forward to the redemption in Jerusalem. She is a role model for us to follow.
In verses 41 to 51, we see the childhood of the Perfect Man. 'and the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom and the grace of God was upon him.' We need to pray for our children that they would be like Jesus, growing up with wisdom and the grace of God would be upon them. At the age of twelve they went up to Jerusalem during the Feast. Joseph and Mary had lost Jesus. They found Him eventually, in the temple courts sitting and talking with teachers. The teachers were astonished at the wisdom and spiritual perception that he had. Mary and Joseph were astonished to see Jesus with the teachers. Jesus asked Mary and Joseph "didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?' Notice that He went back to Nazareth with them and was obedient to them. And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.
The Twelve-Year-Old Jesus Goes to the Temple-IVP Commentaries

More Links in Luke
Introduction to Luke-Malik
Argument for the Gospel of Luke-Malik
Deffinbaugh on Luke
Lightfoot on Luke
Ritchie on Luke
Dr. Thomas Constable Study Notes is a PDF file, open with Adobe Acrobatic Reader
Sermons on Luke by Ryle, Spurgeon, and Whitefield
John Piper Sermons on Luke

More Commentary Links for the New Testamant
Expositor's Bible Commentary
Pulpit Bible Commentary on the New Testament
With the Word Commentary NT-Warren Wiersbe
The New Commentary
Through the Bible-Matt-Acts-J. Vernon McGee
Benson's Commentary on the NT-Matt-Acts
Evangelical Commentary on the New Testament

Jesus Saves
This Posting is NOT a commentary of the passages read today but it is a devotional. Please send a comment if something spoke to you today from the passages, links or thoughts that I have shared with you.