PHall | October 7, 2019
Where’s the gospel in the conflict of Matthew 12 between the Pharisees and Jesus? Is it found in Jesus making two claims of divinity? If so, no wonder the Pharisees plotted his death.1. Matthew 12:6 – “I tell you that something greater than the temple is here.” (CSB).2. Matthew 12:8 – “For the Son of […]
Category: Matthew |
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PHall | October 2, 2019
What kind of arguments do you find intellectually challenging? If we are honest, we close our minds, just like most people, to arguments we have already heard and discarded. That is why it is essential to keep studying.If we want to help others, we cannot have the attitude said to me, “Well if they won’t […]
Category: Matthew |
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PHall | September 27, 2019
Don’t read this if you think chiasms are Perry’s imaginary friend. What they can do is lead us to see both surface truths and the deeper meanings; along with seeing things as we are meant to see (and maybe miss because of our Western eyes). I will present two chiasms on the same narrative. Sometimes […]
Category: Matthew |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | September 11, 2019
““Do not judge, so that you won’t be judged.”• Ahh, the most popular Bible verse by those who don’t believe in the Bible! Ironic, no?!“For you will be judged by the same standard with which you judge others, and you will be measured by the same measure you use.”• Judged by who? Like much of […]
Category: Matthew |
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Tags: Judging, Sermon on the Mount
PHall | August 23, 2019
You know the story. God’s son is born into an oppressive world, including the king trying to kill him. There is a famous scene between the murderous king and wise men. These wise men showed their fealty to their king. They did this by using gifts they had, that others did not. You remember what […]
Category: Matthew, Exodus |
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PHall | August 16, 2019
4 Directions of the Gospel to Stay on CourseThe gospel has a history – MatthewThe gospel has a challenge – MarkThe gospel has a compassion – LukeThe gospel has a theology – John None of the above exhausts how each writer explores the gospel of Jesus. What my synopsis does is focus on the beginning of […]
Category: Matthew, Mark, Luke, John |
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Tags: Gospel
PHall | August 2, 2019
Can you keep one hand from knowing what the other is doing (Matthew 6)? Common sense says “no”. And common sense tells you the other time Jesus uses “hand” in the Sermon on the Mount, He isn’t being literal then either. Remember that the next time someone says Jesus literally commands us to cut off […]
Category: Matthew |
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Tags: Sermon on the Mount
PHall | July 26, 2019
There are days I wish I could spend doing nothing else than seeing the structures, including the chiastic structures, within the Bible. (ASV) A – TIME CREATED: 1) In the beginning B – PHYSICAL DUALITY: God created the heavens and the earth. C – DISORDER: 2) And the earth was waste and void; D – […]
Category: Matthew, II Corinthians, Genesis |
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Tags: Chiasm
PHall | July 25, 2019
Fundamental Misunderstandings of the Golden Rule Do we have a fundamental misconception of one of Jesus’s fundamental “rules”?“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” is another way of phrasing the 2nd Great Command – “Love your neighbor as yourself.” The difference between them is “love” is worded as action – “do”. First […]
Category: Matthew |
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PHall | July 19, 2019
Before reading the text understand the following:1. A disciple is a student. 2. Students are taught.3. Students are taught what the teacher teaches.4. Teachers teach what they are authorized to teach.All of that is straight forward. Students in a math class are taught math, not biology; that’s what the teacher is paid to teach. Again straight […]
Category: Matthew |
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Tags: Baptism, Chiasm