by Paul Apple | Jun 26, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: TEMPLE MAGNIFICENCE WOULD SOON BE REDUCED TO TEMPLE RUBBLE INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Impending judgment has been the dominant theme since the symbolic actions of the cleansing of the temple and cursing of the fig tree in 21:12–22. This theme culminates in...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: SORROW OVER JERUSALEM’S DESERVED JUDGMENT CANNOT CANCEL THE EXECUTION OF THAT JUDGMENT (DESPITE THE HOPE OF ESCHATOLOGICAL RESTORATION) INTRODUCTION: Craig Blomberg: The harsh tone of vv. 1-36 lessens dramatically. Verses 37-39 disclose Jesus’ profound...
by Paul Apple | Jun 24, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HYPOCRITICAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS DESERVE SEVERE DENUNCIATION FOR THEIR IMPACT OF DESTRUCTIVE CORRUPTION INTRODUCTION: Donald Hagner: The seven woes that make up the centerpiece of the denunciation of the scribes and Pharisees are constructed by Matthew for...
by Paul Apple | Jun 22, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HYPOCRITICAL RELIGIOUS LEADERS ELEVATE SELF AND SEEK NOTEREITY INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: The issue as to whether ch. 23 belongs to the previous or following section has already been discussed. . . it was decided that this chapter serves as a transition,...
by Paul Apple | Jun 13, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE SON OF DAVID MUST ALSO BE ACKNOWLEDGED AS THE AUTHORITATIVE SON OF GOD INTRODUCTION: The greatest question each individual must answer is “Who is Jesus Christ and how will you respond to His authority in your life?” The secularists and the humanists and...
by Paul Apple | Jun 12, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS PROVES HIS AUTHORITY BY DEFINING LOVE AS THE HEART OF SPIRITUAL ETHICS – BOTH IN RELATION TO GOD AND MAN INTRODUCTION: Charles Swindoll: Some questions are asked to make us think . . . not to be answered. In fact, some of life’s best questions are...
by Paul Apple | Jun 9, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE DOCTRINE OF THE RESURRECTION CAN BE DEFENDED BY UNDERSTANDING BOTH GOD’S WORD AND GOD’S POWER INTRODUCTION: The issue at stake in this controversy with the Sadducess is the doctrine of the resurrection. The hypothetical case study of how to handle...
by Paul Apple | Jun 8, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: BEGIN WITH YOUR PRIMARY OBLIGATION TO SUBMIT TO GOD AND YOU WILL HAVE NO STRUGGLE SUBMITTING TO CIVIL GOVERNMENT INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Matthew now returns to the controversies that are the core of this section. The three parables have established the...
by Paul Apple | Jun 7, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: CONTEMPT FOR KINGDOM INVITATION AND KINGDOM REQUIREMENTS RESULTS IN FATAL CONSEQUENCES INTRODUCTION: Definition of Contempt: a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of any respect or approval; lack of respect accompanied by a feeling of intense...
by Paul Apple | Jun 6, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE WICKEDNESS OF ISRAEL’S RULERS IN REJECTING GOD’S PROPHETS AND EVENTUALLY HIS OWN SON HAS CAUSED A RADICAL SHIFT AWAY FROM A KINGDOM FOCUS ON THE NATION OF ISRAEL INTRODUCTION: This parable must be interpreted from the perspective of the Apostle Paul’s...
by Paul Apple | Jun 4, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: ACTIONS MEAN MORE THAN MERE WORDS – GOOD INTENTIONS CANNOT BE SUBSTITUTED FOR GENUINE REPENTANCE AND THE OBEDIENCE OF FAITH INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: This is a parable about rejection and unbelief, a reluctance and yet a final willingness to do the...
by Paul Apple | Jun 3, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: HARD HEARTS THAT REFUSE TO SUBMIT TO THE LEGITIMATE AUTHORITY OF JESUS CANNOT OBJECTIVELY JUDGE HIS CLAIMS INTRODUCTION: Warren Wiersbe: This series of three parables grew out of the demand of the chief priests and elders for Jesus to explain what authority...
by Paul Apple | Jun 2, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JUDGMENT ON THE HYPOCRISY OF ISRAEL FORESHADOWED IN THE CURSING OF THE FRUITLESS FIG TREE INTRODUCTION: Jeffrey Crabtree: Commentators divide over the significance of this miracle. Hagner (33B:604) says this miracle can only be understood as anticipation of...
by Paul Apple | Jun 1, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: THE MESSIAH KING ASSERTS HIS AUTHORITY OVER THE TEMPLE IN ANTICIPATION OF IMPENDING JUDGMENT INTRODUCTION: Daniel Doriani: We call this episode “the cleansing of the temple” but that phrase understates the significance of Jesus’ action. By taking such...
by Paul Apple | Jun 1, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: GRAND ENTRANCE OF THE MESSIAH KING INTO JERUSALEM ACCOMPANIED BY POPULAR PRAISE BUT BLIND PERCEPTION INTRODUCTION: Michael Wilkins: The crescendo of Jesus’ messianic ministry occurs as he enters Jerusalem, the city of the great King (Ps. 48:1–2), the center...
by Paul Apple | May 30, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: BLIND PEOPLE CAN HAVE THEIR SIGHT RESTORED BY CALLING UPON JESUS FOR HIS COMPASSIONATE MERCY INTRODUCTION: D. A. Carson: It reminds us that the one going up to Jerusalem to give his life as a ransom for many is the Messiah, the Son of David, whose great...
by Paul Apple | May 28, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: TRUE GREATNESS IN THE KINGDOM DERIVES FROM HUMBLE SERVICE AS MODELED BY JESUS, NOT THE SELFISH AMBITION OF THE WORLD INTRODUCTION: Donald Hagner: After the immediately preceding announcement of the suffering and death that await Jesus, the two disciples’...
by Paul Apple | May 28, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: JESUS CONTINUES TO PUT THE FOCUS ON HIS UPCOMING BETRAYAL, CRUIFIXION AND RESURRECTION (WHILE HIS FOLLOWERS ARGUE OVER WHO IS THE GREATEST) INTRODUCTION: Grant Osborne: Jesus is aware of his destiny and deliberately chooses the cross, while the disciples,...
by Paul Apple | May 26, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: RATHER THAN INSECURITY OR ENVY REGARDING REWARDS FOR SPIRITUAL SERVICE, BELIEVERS SHOULD FOCUS ON GOD’S GRACE IN GRANTING ETERNAL LIFE AND HIS JUSTICE AND SOVEREIGN DISCRETION INTRODUCTION: This passage raises a number of difficult interpretative questions?...
by Paul Apple | May 25, 2023 | Bible-NT
BIG IDEA: LOVERS OF WEALTH MUST CHOOSE BETWEEN FOLLOWING CHRIST OR CLINGING TO THEIR MATERIALISTIC VALUE SYSTEM (THE IDOLS OF POSSESSIONS) INTRODUCTION: Donald Hagner: The narrative now turns to the story of a young man whose great riches kept him from the full and...
