Perspectives

What does this gift really mean? All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues as the Spirit enabled them. Acts 2:4 It seems that in American culture, speaking in tongues is primarily practiced in charismatic and Pentecostal churches. The more

Do we take this at face value or is it an idiom? Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Jesus’ plea to God on the cross About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” (which means “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?”). Matthew 27:46; also Mark 15:34 It was 3 p.m. when Jesus cried out

The place where Jesus was crucified They brought Jesus to the place called Golgotha (which means “the place of the skull”). Mark 15:22 Jesus was crucified just outside the walls of Jerusalem at a place called Golgotha. This is an Aramaic word, which gruesomely means “the place

The horrific practice of flogging Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one. 2 Corinthians 11:24 In this passage in 2 Corinthians, Paul recounted a litany of the many ways he had suffered for the sake of the Gospel. Perhaps foremost on the

Was there just one cup at the Last Supper? Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness

Is Jesus condoning life-threatening activities? They will pick up snakes with their hands; and when they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them at all; they will place their hands on sick people, and they will get well. Mark 16:18 The last part of the book

Understanding some currency of Jesus’ day “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others.” Luke 21:3 The Bible talks a lot about money – hundreds and hundreds of verses in fact. One could easily conclude, then, that God

What Jewish men wore and why Everything they do is done for people to see: They make their phylacteries wide and the tassels on their garments long. Matthew 23:5 Let’s stay in this same passage as yesterday where Jesus was scolding the Pharisees and teachers of the

What was the purpose of the Seat of Moses? Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: “The teachers of the law and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat.” Matthew 23:1-2 Jews gathered in the synagogue or house of assembly, where the people met for