Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.
Discover what Jesus’ second temptation in Matthew 4:5-7 teaches about testing God. Learn the difference between faith and presumption, and why waiting on God is greater faith than spectacular acts.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for meek or gentle, praus, G4329
One of the basic parts of a word study is finding and comparing the uses of the word in the rest of Scripture. Before the internet, we used a physical concordance. Here’s how to locate quickly accomplish this task using my favorite Bible study software: e-sword.
Discover why Jesus refused to turn stones into bread in Matthew 4:1-4. Learn how trusting God in trials matters more than meeting immediate needs—and how to apply this lesson in your wilderness.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for blessed makarios 63017.
Geography of the New Testament: Learn the important cities, regions, provinces, and lakes of New Testament Israel from Wednesday in the Word.
Discover why Jesus was baptized, what “Son of God” really means, and how this event proves Jesus is the Messiah. A clear, in-depth study of Matthew 3:13-17.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for test, try, or tempt: peirazō.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for baptism baptizō G907.
In April, we’ll study the temptations of Jesus from Matthew’s gospel. While I’ve taught this passage many times, the podcast gives me the ability to teach it without a time constraint for the first time! I will finally be able to really explain the Old Testament background, the parallels to the Exodus, and how Jesus fulfills God’s promises to the children of Israel.
A comparison of the miracles of Elijah and Elisha recorded in 1&2 Kings.
Explore Matthew 3:1-12 and John the Baptist’s call to repentance. Learn what it means to prepare for the kingdom of heaven and be baptized with the Holy Spirit and fire.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for repent: metanoeo.
Discover why Matthew says Jesus was “called a Nazarene” even though the phrase isn’t in the Old Testament. Learn how geography, prophecy, and fulfillment reveal God’s plan.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for love: agape.
In this third fulfillment passage, Matthew compares the murder of the young boys in Bethlehem to the Rachel weeping in her tomb for the captives about to be deported to Babylon. In both events, all hope seems lost.
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for fulfill, pleroo, G5137.
Discover why Matthew quotes Hosea 11:1 in Matthew 2:15 and what “fulfill” really means. Learn how the Exodus connects to Jesus and why Matthew expects you to know the Old Testament.
When God reveals Himself to Moses at the burning bush), He identifies Himself as “Yahweh” or “Jehovah”, which is often translated “I am who I Am.” What does that name mean?
What should we do when Scripture annoys us? This is my best advice on handling difficult passages like the ones coming up in Matthew 2.
Matthew draws many parallels between the early life of Jesus and the Old Testament to reinforce his main point: Jesus is the Christ, the son of Abraham and son of David, who will fulfill God’s promises.
The Septuagint (often abbreviated LXX) is a translation of the Hebrew Bible into Greek in the 3rd century BC. The LXX was made for the Jewish community when Greek was the common language of the day, and for many Jews was their primary language.
You would think that a passage covering the birth of Jesus would be easy “Christmas stuff” we’re all familiar with. Don’t be fooled. Matthew’s account raises some interesting theological questions.
“Samaritans” can refer to either: natives of the region of Samaria or members of a Jewish sect. The Samaritans date their history to Joshua building an altar at Shechem (Joshua 24). They saw themselves as the true Jewish religion.
These are the principal religious and political offices in Judaism at the time of Jesus.
Discover why Matthew starts his Gospel with Jesus’s genealogy. Learn how the family tree of Jesus proves He’s the promised Messiah, Son of David, and Son of Abraham, fulfilling God’s ancient promises to bless all nations.
When the Old Testament ends, Israel is under control of the Persian empire. When the New Testament begins, Israel is under Roman control. The switch occurred because of Alexander the Great. This historical background helps explain the political situation at the time of the New Testament.
Answers to basic questions about people in the Bible and biblical history.
There are 4 “James” in the New Testament and 2 of them are among the 12.
Jesus claimed that “all authority in heaven and on earth” has been given to him (Mt 28:18). If that’s true, and I believe it is, then we benefit by learning all we can about Jesus. Matthew wrote this gospel to tell us who Jesus is and what that means for us.
Chronological list of Old Testament prophets: see when they ministered, which kings where in power and who their contemporary prophets were.
Teaching through a gospel has long been on my teaching “bucket list”. I decided to tackle Matthew’s Gospel because he is famous for his use of the Old Testament and including 5 long discourses from Jesus.
He held the coats at Stephen’s stoning. Decades later he still called himself a blasphemer and a violent aggressor and said that was exactly why God chose him. Here’s who Paul was, and how we know.
A 40-week Bible Study podcast series on the Gospel of Matthew chapters 1-7. Matthew wrote this book to tell us who Jesus is and what that means for us — something we all want to know.
Bible Study 101: Understand the practical steps and building blocks of doing good Bible study from Wednesday in the Word.
Ever wondered what a cubit is? When is the third watch? How much is a denarius, an omer or a talent? Here’s a chart of time, weights and measures found in Scripture and how to convert them.