Contrasting the way of the wicked and the righteous is a very common theme in the Old Testament. Here are a few Psalms where we find this theme.
The Righteous versus the Wicked in the Psalms
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Latest Blog Posts from Wednesday in the Word, the podcast about what the Bible means and how we know.
April 2021 Reflections
In May, we’ll start the beatitudes from the Sermon on the mount. We’ll talk about what they mean and how Jesus expects us to respond.
12 Why Jesus Rejected Satan’s Kingdom Offer (Matthew 4:8-11)
Discover why Jesus rejected Satan’s offer of the kingdoms in Matthew 4:8-11. Learn what “The Lord is one” really means, how to recognize modern idolatry, and why God calls us to suffer before glory.
righteousness, dikaiosuné, G1343
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for righteousness: dikaiosunē
righteous, dikaios, G1342
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for righteous: dikaios
11 Why Waiting on God Is Better Than Spectacular Acts (Matthew 4:5-7)
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.
gentle, praus, G4329
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for meek or gentle, praus, G4329
How to use e-sword as a concordance
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.
10 Why Jesus Chose Starvation Over Self-Reliance (Matthew 4:1-4)
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.
blessed, makarios, G3107
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for blessed makarios 63017.
Geography of the New Testament
Geography of the New Testament: Learn the important cities, regions, provinces, and lakes of New Testament Israel from Wednesday in the Word.
09 Why Did Jesus Get Baptized? (Matthew 3:13-17)
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.
test, peirazo, G3985
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for test, try, or tempt: peirazō.
baptism, baptizō, G907
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for baptism baptizō G907.
March 2021 Reflections
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.
Miracles of Elijah & Elisha
A comparison of the miracles of Elijah and Elisha recorded in 1&2 Kings.
08 What Does “Repent, for the Kingdom of Heaven Is at Hand” Mean? (Matthew 3:1-12)
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.
repent, metanoeō, G3440
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for repent: metanoeo.
07 Why Matthew Says Jesus Fulfilled a Prophecy That Doesn’t Exist (Matthew 2:19-23)
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.
love, agape, G26
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Greek word for love: agape.
06 Why Understanding Rachel’s Weeping is Important to the Gospel (Matthew 2:16-18)
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.
fulfill, pleroo, G5137
Tools and resources you need to do a word study on the Biblical Greek word for fulfill, pleroo, G5137.
05 Why Matthew Quotes Hosea When Hosea Isn’t Predicting Anything (Matthew 2:13-15)
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.
What does YAHWEH mean?
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?
February 2021 Reflections
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.
04 Why Your Nativity Scene Is Historically Wrong and Why It Matters (Matthew 2:1-23)
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.
What is the Septuagint?
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.
03 What Does “Fulfill” Mean in Matthew’s Gospel? (Matthew 1:18-25)
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.
Who were the Samaritans?
“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.
New Testament Priesthood
These are the principal religious and political offices in Judaism at the time of Jesus.
02 Stop Skipping Matthew’s Genealogy, You’re Missing the Point (Matthew 1:1-17)
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.
New Testament History from Alexander to Titus
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.
Bible Questions: Who is…
Answers to basic questions about people in the Bible and biblical history.
Who was James?
There are 4 “James” in the New Testament and 2 of them are among the 12.
01 Gospel of Matthew Introduction
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.
Old Testament Prophets in Chronological Order
Chronological list of Old Testament prophets: see when they ministered, which kings where in power and who their contemporary prophets were.