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Old & New Testament

These notes are compiled according to the YouTube series Bible Study with Father Mike.

 

Each day will have notes - a summary, important notes, question and answers, random musings.


 

Day 2 - The Fall of Adam and Eve - Genesis 3-4 & Psalm 104

 

Summary

 

Eve eats the fruit from the tree of knowledge, tempted by the serpent (or leviathan) which tells her God does not want her to eat it, as she will become wise like him and have his powers. She gives it to Adam, who eats it too. They see they are naked and they are ashamed, and cover themselves and hide from God. He knows what they’ve done, and casts them out of the Garden of Eden. He makes childbirth painful, makes it so Adam must work and toil the land. They lose immortality.

 

Adam and Eve have descendants. Cain and Abel, who are brothers, offer God sacrifices. Abel offers the ‘first of his fruit/flock’, the best sacrifice, which God accepts. Cain offers a measly sacrifice, without intention behind it. God rejects it. Cain kills his brother out of jealousy. God marks Cain and casts him out. Anyone that kills Cain will become cursed seventy times back.

 

Questions

 

Why did God reject Cain’s sacrifice?

 

This is not explicitly mentioned in the verse. Upon research, there are a few consensuses. The one I think is most likely is that Cain’s sacrifice did not have any ‘intention’ behind it, whereas Abel’s sacrifice was the ‘first of his fruit/flock’, meaning he gave God the best of the best, showing intention. Thus, Cain’s sacrifice is rejected.

 

Musings

 

None.




 

Day 3 - Noah’s Ark - Genesis 5-6 & Psalm 136


 

Summary

 

There are many descendents from Cain and Abel. They live for very long periods of time, many hundred years. The descendants of Cain tend to do bad things, whereas Abel’s descendants are good. Abel’s line are called Sethites, after Abel’s son Seth. Eventually both lines intermarry, which make them both stray from the way of God. God regrets creating man due to the bad things that happen on Earth. He decides to flood the Earth to reset mankind. He chooses Noah and his family to build an Ark of specific dimensions. He puts one pair of each animal in the Ark.


 

Questions

 

How did the patriarchs live so long?

 

Again, there are a few consensuses here. The one that I thought was most convincing was that they are descendants of Adam and Eve, and their long life comes from the remaining remnants of the ‘immortality’ their forebears experienced briefly. As such, we can see the remaining immortality slowly wear off. God says that humans will live 120 years after the flood. The flood also greatly shortened the lifespan of humans thereafter.


 

Musings


 

Day 4 - The Flood - Genesis 7-9 & Psalm 1

 

Summary

 

God commands Noah to take three sevens of all animals on Earth, in pairs of male and female to keep them alive on Earth. God would make it rain for forty days and forty nights, in order to destroy life on Earth. Noah was 600 at this time. He did as he was told, and took his wife, sons, and son’s wives, as well as the animals, both clean and unclean. These were Noah, Shem and Ham and Japheth, his sons. The second month of Noah’s 600th year of life, the seventeenth of that month, is when the windows of Heaven opened and flooded the Earth.

The flood destroyed everything. God made a wind pass over the land. After 150 days, the water level dropped. In the seventh month, on the seventeenth day, the Ark rested on the mountains of Ararat. On the tenth month, on the first day, tops of mountains were seen. At the end of forty days, Noah sent out a raven which flew back and forth until the water dried. He then sent out a dove, which returned with nothing. He waited 7 days, and sent it out again, until it returned with an olive branch. On the second month, on the seven and twentieth day of the month, the water dried. Noah opened the door, and let the animals out. He took feathers and fur from the clean animals, and burned them at an altar to God. God is pleased with the smell. He creates a covenant with Noah and his family, that he will not destroy the Earth again, and that as long as the Earth remains, so will all the seasons. Also, all animals will provide him flesh to eat, and plants will provide vegetables to eat. However, he does not permit any man to kill another. Every time a bow (rainbow) appears in the clouds, God will remember this covenant. 

 

Musings

 

Day 5 - The Tower of Babel - Genesis 10-11 & Psalm 2

 

Summary

 

The generations of the sons of Noah, Shem, Ham and Ja pheth after the flood. Ja pheth’s sons populated the coastlands. The sons of Ham: Cush, Put and Canaan. The sons of Cush: Seba, Hav ilah, Sabtah, Ra amah and Sab Teca. The sons of Ramaah: Sheba, and De dan. Cush became the father of Nimrod, the first to be a mighty man. He was a hunter. The beginning of his kingdom was Babel, E rech, Accad, all located in the land of Shi nar. From there, he went to Assyria, and built Nin eveh, Reho both-Ir, Ca lah and Re sen between Nin eveh and Ca lah. Egypt became the father of Lu dim, An amim, Leha bim, Naph tuhim, Pathru sim, Caslu him (from whom the Philistines came from) and Caph torim. Canaan became the father of Si don, and Heth, and Jeb usites, the Am orites, the Gir gashites, the Hi vites, the Arkites, the Si nites, the Ar vadites, the Zem arites and the Ha mathites.

 

After, the family of the Canaanites spread out, and their territory expanded from Si don, in the direction of Ge rar, as far as Gaza, and in the direction of Sodom, Gomor rah, Admah, Zeboi Im, as far as Lah Shah. These are the sons of Ham, their families, their languages, their lands and their nations. INSERT REST OF GENEALOGIES.

 

The whole world had one language, and few words. Men migrated from the East in Shi nar, and created bricks. They created a city and a large tower together. God came down and saw their creation, and that they were one people with one language. He confused their language, and scattered them across the world. The city that was built was named Ba bel, because there lord confused the language of the earth and scattered them across the earth. He did this because they did not want to create the tower out of a pursuit of excellence, but out of a pursuit of power, reputation - “build a name for ourselves”.

 

SKIPPED A LOT OF GENEALOGY HERE.

 

Musings

 

I skipped a lot of the genealogies as they were a bit long and I think I can go back and study these more if needed. This will be a basic overview for now.


 

Day 6 - Trust in the Lord - Genesis 12-13 & Job 1-2 & Proverbs 1:1-7


 

Summary

 

Genesis 12-13 Summary

God’s Call to Abram (Genesis 12:1-9)
God commands Abram to leave his homeland and go to a land that He will show him. God promises to make Abram into a great nation, bless him, and bless those who bless him while cursing those who curse him. Abram obeys, traveling to Canaan with his wife Sarai and nephew Lot. Upon arrival, God promises the land to Abram’s descendants, and Abram builds altars to worship God.

Abram in Egypt (Genesis 12:10-20)
A famine forces Abram to go to Egypt. Fearing for his life, he tells Sarai to say she is his sister. Pharaoh takes Sarai into his household, believing she is unmarried, and rewards Abram with wealth. However, God afflicts Pharaoh’s household with plagues. When Pharaoh learns the truth, he rebukes Abram and sends him away with Sarai and all his possessions.

Abram and Lot Separate (Genesis 13:1-18)
Abram returns to Canaan, where both he and Lot have large flocks. Their herdsmen begin to quarrel over land. Abram allows Lot to choose where to settle, and Lot picks the well-watered Jordan Valley near Sodom. After Lot leaves, God reaffirms His promise to give all the land to Abram’s descendants. Abram settles in Hebron and builds another altar to God.

 

Job 1-2 Summary

Job’s Righteousness and Satan’s Challenge (Job 1:1-12)
Job is a wealthy and righteous man who fears God. Satan challenges Job’s faithfulness, arguing that Job only serves God because of his blessings. God allows Satan to test Job by taking away his possessions and family but forbids harming Job himself.

Job’s Suffering Begins (Job 1:13-22)
Job loses his livestock, servants, and all his children in a series of disasters. Despite this, Job remains faithful, saying, "The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord."

Satan’s Second Test (Job 2:1-10)
Satan claims Job will curse God if his health is attacked. God permits Satan to afflict Job with painful sores but forbids taking his life. Job's wife urges him to curse God and die, but Job refuses, remaining steadfast in his faith.

Job’s Friends Arrive (Job 2:11-13)
Three friends—Eliphaz, Bildad, and Zophar—come to comfort Job. Seeing his great suffering, they sit with him in silence for seven days.

 

Proverbs 1:1-7 Summary

The book of Proverbs, written primarily by Solomon, aims to impart wisdom, discipline, and understanding. It teaches prudence to the simple, knowledge to the young, and guidance to the wise. The fear of the Lord is the foundation of true knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.

 

Questions

 

Why Did Abram Fear for His Life in Egypt?
Abram feared that the Egyptians would kill him to take Sarai because she was very beautiful. In ancient times, powerful men, including rulers, would sometimes kill a woman's husband to take her as their own. To protect himself, Abram asked Sarai to say she was his sister, hoping this would prevent harm while also allowing him to benefit from their hospitality.

Who Were Abram and Lot?
Abram was the son of Terah and the uncle of Lot. Lot was the son of Haran, Abram’s brother, making Lot Abram’s nephew. When God called Abram to leave his homeland, Lot traveled with him to Canaan. Over time, both men became wealthy, but their large flocks caused disputes between their herdsmen, leading them to separate, with Lot choosing the Jordan Valley near Sodom while Abram remained in Canaan.

Abram, Terah, and Lot’s Ancestry
Abram, Terah, and Lot are descendants of Adam and Eve through Noah’s son Shem. Their lineage follows this order:

Adam → Seth → Noah → Shem → Arphaxad → Shelah → Eber → Peleg → Reu → Serug → Nahor → Terah → Abram

  • Terah was the father of Abram, Nahor, and Haran.

  • Haran, Terah’s son, was the father of Lot, making Lot Abram’s nephew.

  • This family came from Ur of the Chaldeans, in Mesopotamia.

This lineage places them in the line of Shem, from whom the Israelites and many other Semitic peoples descend.

Musings

 

I had to use ChatGPT to sum this up, as I listened to the readings whilst at the gym. I also asked some questions to it and added them here.


 

Day 7 - God’s Covenant with Abram - Genesis 14-15 & Job 3-4 & Proverbs 1:8-19


 

Summary

 

Genesis 14-15:

  • Abram rescues his nephew Lot from invading kings and defeats them.
     

  • Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High, blesses Abram. Abram gives him a tenth of everything.
     

  • God makes a covenant with Abram, promising him countless descendants and the land from Egypt to the Euphrates.
     

  • Abram believes God's promise, and it is credited to him as righteousness.
     

  • God confirms the covenant through a ritual involving animal sacrifices and a vision.

Job 3-4:

  • Job laments his birth, wishing he had never been born due to his suffering.
     

  • Eliphaz, one of Job's friends, responds by suggesting that suffering comes to those who sin and encourages Job to seek God for help.


 

Proverbs 1:8-19:

  • A warning to listen to parents’ instruction and reject the temptation of sinners.
     

  • It cautions against joining violent people who seek to gain through harming others, stating such paths lead to destruction.

 

Day 8 - The Surrender of Abraham - Genesis 16-17 & Job 5-6 & Proverbs Chapter 1 Verses 20-33


 

Summary

 

Genesis 16 – Hagar and Ishmael

  • Sarai cannot have children and tells Abram to have a child with her servant Hagar.
     

  • Hagar becomes pregnant and tensions rise between her and Sarai.
     

  • Hagar flees, but an angel of the Lord tells her to return and promises her son will become a great nation.
     

  • Hagar names the Lord “God who sees me.”
     

  • Hagar’s son is born and named Ishmael.
     

Genesis 17 – God’s Covenant with Abraham

  • God appears to Abram, changes his name to Abraham and Sarai’s to Sarah.
     

  • God promises that Abraham will be the father of many nations.
     

  • Covenant sign: Circumcision for Abraham and all males in his household.
     

  • God promises Isaac, a son through Sarah, despite their old age.
     

  • Ishmael is also blessed, but the covenant is through Isaac.


 

Job 5 – Eliphaz Speaks

  • Eliphaz advises Job to seek God in suffering.
     

  • He claims that trouble comes to everyone and that God corrects those He loves.
     

  • God saves the poor and the humble, and those who turn to Him will have peace and protection.
     

Job 6 – Job Responds

  • Job says his suffering is heavier than the sand of the sea.
     

  • He wishes God would end his life because of his pain.
     

  • Job feels betrayed by his friends, who are like a dry riverbed that fails.
     

  • He asks for understanding and kindness, not judgment.
     

Proverbs 1:20-33 – Wisdom Calls Out

  • Wisdom is personified as a woman calling out in public places.
     

  • She warns fools and mockers to turn from their ways.
     

  • Those who ignore wisdom will face disaster and calamity.
     

  • Those who listen to wisdom will live in safety and without fear.







 

Day 9 - Sodom and Gomorrah - Genesis 18-19 & Job 7-8 & Proverbs Chapter 2 Verses 1-5


 

Genesis 18 – The Promise of Isaac & Abraham Intercedes for Sodom

  • Three visitors (angels) appear to Abraham; one foretells that Sarah will have a son within a year.
     

  • Sarah laughs in disbelief, but God reaffirms the promise.
     

  • God reveals to Abraham His plan to destroy Sodom and Gomorrah for their grave sin.
     

  • Abraham intercedes, asking if God will spare the city for 50, then 45, 40, 30, 20, and finally 10 righteous people.
     

  • God agrees He will not destroy it if 10 righteous are found.
     

Genesis 19 – The Destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah

  • Two angels arrive in Sodom and are welcomed by Lot.
     

  • Wicked men of the city surround the house; Lot offers his daughters instead, but the angels intervene.
     

  • The angels warn Lot to flee with his family and not look back.
     

  • Lot’s wife looks back and becomes a pillar of salt.
     

  • Sodom and Gomorrah are destroyed by fire and brimstone.
     

  • Lot’s daughters later make him drunk and bear his children, the ancestors of the Moabites and Ammonites.
     

 


 

Job 7 – Job’s Deep Suffering

  • Job laments the hardship and brevity of life.
     

  • He feels watched and targeted by God, longing for death to end his suffering.
     

  • Job’s words are raw and honest, expressing the weight of human pain.
     

Job 8 – Bildad’s Reply

  • Bildad argues that God is just and the wicked are punished.
     

  • He suggests Job’s children may have sinned and encourages Job to seek God for restoration.
     

  • Bildad appeals to the wisdom of the past to justify his view.
     

 

Proverbs 2:1‑5 – Pursuing Wisdom

  • Encouragement to seek wisdom as treasure and listen to God’s words.
     

  • Promises that those who seek understanding will gain knowledge of God and His ways.

 

Questions

1. Lot’s Daughters Sleeping with Him (Genesis 19:30‑38)

What happened:

  • After the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah, Lot and his two daughters lived in a cave.
     

  • Believing they were the last humans left and wanting to preserve their family line, the daughters got Lot drunk and slept with him on consecutive nights.
     

  • They each became pregnant:
     

    • The older daughter bore Moab → ancestor of the Moabites.
       

    • The younger daughter bore Ben‑Ammi → ancestor of the Ammonites.
       

What the Bible is telling us:

  • This story is descriptive, not prescriptive—it records what happened, not what God approves of.
     

  • It highlights:
     

    • The moral decay of Sodom’s influence on Lot’s family.
       

    • Fear and lack of faith—the daughters didn’t trust God to preserve the family line.
       

    • Origins of Israel’s neighboring nations (Moabites and Ammonites), often at odds with Israel.
       

 

2. Lot’s Wife Becomes a Pillar of Salt (Genesis 19:26)

What happened:

  • The angels warned Lot’s family: “Do not look back” as they fled.
     

  • Lot’s wife looked back longingly at the city, and she turned into a pillar of salt.
     

Meaning:

  • Literal event in the narrative, possibly involving natural disaster phenomena (sulfur, ash, salt deposits).
     

  • Symbolic meaning:
     

    • Disobedience to God’s clear command.
       

    • Attachment to a sinful past—her heart was still in Sodom.
       

    • A warning for future generations about turning away from sin but still longing for it.

 

Lot’s Wife

  • Yes, she is gone in the story.
     

  • Genesis 19:26 says she looked back and became a pillar of salt.
     

  • She does not appear again in the Bible after this—her story is a warning about disobedience and attachment to sin.
     

  • Jesus mentions her in Luke 17:32: “Remember Lot’s wife”—as a caution not to look back when God calls you to move forward.
     

 

Modern-Day Moabites and Ammonites

  • Moabites and Ammonites were ancient peoples east of the Jordan River.
     

    • Moab: in what is now west-central Jordan.
       

    • Ammon: in what is now northwest Jordan, around modern Amman (named after them).
       

  • Modern descendants:
     

    • As distinct nations, Moabites and Ammonites no longer exist.
       

    • Over time, they were absorbed into other regional peoples (Arabs and other Near Eastern groups).
       

    • Modern Jordanians inhabit much of their former land, but they are not considered direct ethnic Moabites or Ammonites today.


 

Day 10 - Hagar and Ishamel - Genesis 20-21, Job 9-10, Proverbs 2:6-8

 

Summary

 

Genesis 20 – Abraham and Abimelech

Abraham and Sarah move to the land of Gerar. Out of fear, Abraham tells people that Sarah is his sister, not his wife. King Abimelech takes Sarah into his household, but before he can approach her, God appears to him in a dream. God warns him that Sarah is a married woman and that taking her would bring guilt upon him. Abimelech protests his innocence, saying Abraham deceived him and he did not touch Sarah. God acknowledges this and commands him to return Sarah to Abraham, assuring him that Abraham is a prophet who will pray for him.

The next day, Abimelech confronts Abraham, asking why he lied and nearly caused great sin. Abraham explains that he feared for his life because he thought there was no fear of God in the place. He adds that Sarah is his half-sister as well as his wife. Abimelech then restores Sarah, gives Abraham gifts of livestock and servants, and invites him to settle in the land. Abraham prays for Abimelech, and God heals Abimelech’s household so they can bear children again.

 

Genesis 21 – Birth of Isaac & Hagar Sent Away

The Lord fulfills His promise, and Sarah gives birth to Isaac in her old age, when Abraham is one hundred years old. The child is circumcised on the eighth day, as God commanded. Sarah rejoices, saying God has brought her laughter and all who hear will laugh with her.

When Isaac grows and is weaned, Abraham holds a feast. But Sarah sees Ishmael, the son of Hagar the Egyptian, mocking Isaac. She insists Abraham send Hagar and Ishmael away so that Ishmael will not share in Isaac’s inheritance. Abraham is distressed, but God tells him to listen to Sarah, because the covenant will come through Isaac. Still, God promises to make Ishmael into a nation, since he is Abraham’s son.

Abraham sends Hagar and Ishmael away with bread and water. They wander in the desert until the water runs out. In despair, Hagar places Ishmael under a bush and weeps, unable to watch him die. God hears the boy’s cries and an angel reassures Hagar, promising Ishmael will become a great nation. God opens her eyes to see a well, and she gives Ishmael water. He grows up in the wilderness, becomes an archer, and his mother finds him a wife from Egypt.

The chapter ends with Abimelech and Abraham making a covenant at Beersheba. They swear an oath concerning a well Abraham dug, and the place is named after their oath: Beersheba, “well of the oath.” Abraham plants a tree there and calls on the name of the Lord, the Eternal God.

 

Job 9 – Job: God’s Greatness and Human Powerlessness

Job answers his friends, acknowledging that God is wise and mighty, and that no one can contend with Him. God moves mountains, shakes the earth, commands the sun and stars, and does wonders beyond number. Job feels that compared to God’s greatness, no human can claim to be righteous. Even if Job were innocent, he says he could not answer God—he would need a mediator to plead his case.

Job laments that God destroys both the blameless and the wicked, that human life is fleeting, and that he cannot wash away his guilt before God. He wishes for someone who could stand between them, an arbitrator to bring them together, since he feels crushed by God’s power and unable to justify himself.

 

Job 10 – Job’s Plea for Mercy

Job continues, speaking directly to God. He asks why God gave him life only to bring him suffering. He feels God carefully created him, knitting him together, but now turns against him to afflict him. Job wonders why God brought him into the world if this was his fate. He longs for God to simply let him be, to allow him a little peace before he dies and goes to the land of darkness.

 

Proverbs 2:6-8 – Wisdom Comes from the Lord

These verses remind us that the Lord is the source of wisdom. He gives knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright and is a shield to those who walk with integrity. God guards the paths of the just and protects the way of His faithful ones.

 

Questions

 

Why did Abraham tell people Sarah was his sister out of fear?


 

1. Abraham’s Fear for His Life

  • In ancient times, a powerful ruler could kill a husband to take his wife into his household.
     

  • Abraham feared that, because Sarah was beautiful, someone might kill him in order to take her.
     

  • By calling her his sister, he hoped to protect himself and avoid conflict.
     

 

2. Half-Truth but Still Deception

  • Genesis 20:12 explains that Sarah was indeed Abraham’s half-sister (same father, different mother).
     

  • So Abraham was not lying outright, but he was being misleading, concealing that she was also his wife.
     

  • This shows Abraham’s struggle with fear, even though God had already promised to protect him.
     

 

3. What It Reveals Spiritually

  • It highlights Abraham’s human weakness—even a man of great faith sometimes acted out of fear.
     

  • It shows that God’s protection does not depend on Abraham’s perfection. Even though Abraham faltered, God intervened (by warning Abimelech in a dream).
     

  • The episode is a reminder of the tension between trusting God’s promises and relying on our own schemes.

Matthew 1–4 and Proverbs 18:17–20

✝️ Matthew 1–4

Chapter 1 – The Genealogy and Birth of Jesus

Matthew begins with a genealogy that traces Jesus’ ancestry from Abraham through King David down to Joseph, the husband of Mary. This shows that Jesus is the true heir of the promises given to Abraham and David. It roots Him firmly in Israel’s story and identifies Him as the long-awaited Messiah. The chapter then recounts the virgin birth: Mary conceives through the Holy Spirit. Joseph, initially troubled, is reassured by an angel in a dream and accepts Mary and the child. Jesus is named by divine instruction — His name means “The Lord saves” — because He will save His people from their sins. Matthew notes that this fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy of a virgin bearing a son called Emmanuel (“God with us”).

Chapter 2 – The Visit of the Magi and Early Threats

Wise men (Magi) from the East follow a star to Jerusalem, seeking the newborn “king of the Jews.” King Herod, threatened by this, secretly plots against the child. The Magi, guided to Bethlehem, worship Jesus and offer gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh, symbolizing His kingship, divinity, and future suffering. Warned in a dream, they avoid returning to Herod. Joseph is likewise warned to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus, fulfilling Hosea’s prophecy, “Out of Egypt I called my son.” Herod, enraged, orders the massacre of Bethlehem’s infants, recalling Jeremiah’s lament of Rachel weeping for her children. After Herod’s death, Joseph is directed to return, but out of caution he settles in Nazareth, fulfilling the prophecy that Jesus would be called a Nazarene.


Chapter 3 – John the Baptist and Jesus’ Baptism

John the Baptist appears in the wilderness preaching repentance, preparing the way for the Messiah. Crowds come to him, confessing their sins and being baptized in the Jordan River. John warns the Pharisees and Sadducees that true repentance requires changed hearts, not reliance on ancestry. He speaks of one greater than himself who will baptize with the Holy Spirit and fire. Then Jesus comes to be baptized. Although John hesitates, Jesus insists, saying it is fitting to fulfill all righteousness. As Jesus is baptized, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and a voice from heaven declares: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.” This affirms Jesus’ divine sonship and mission.


Chapter 4 – The Temptation and Beginning of Ministry

After His baptism, Jesus is led into the wilderness by the Spirit, where He fasts forty days and nights. The devil tempts Him three times: to turn stones into bread (testing physical need), to throw Himself from the temple (testing trust in God), and to gain the kingdoms of the world by worshiping Satan (testing devotion). Jesus resists each temptation by quoting Scripture, showing His obedience and reliance on God’s word. Afterward, angels minister to Him. Jesus then begins His public ministry in Galilee, fulfilling Isaiah’s prophecy about light shining in darkness. He calls for repentance because the kingdom of heaven is near. Jesus begins gathering disciples, calling Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John to leave their nets and follow Him. His ministry spreads throughout Galilee as He teaches, proclaims the good news, and heals the sick, drawing large crowds.

​

📜 Proverbs 18:17–20

This section emphasizes wisdom in judgment, conflict, relationships, and speech. Verse 17 cautions against making quick judgments, since the first argument often seems convincing until another perspective is heard. Verse 18 suggests impartial ways of settling disputes, like casting lots, acknowledging the need for fairness. Verse 19 highlights the difficulty of reconciling with an offended brother, comparing it to breaching the walls of a fortified city — once trust is broken, reconciliation is hard. Verse 20 reminds us that words have consequences: just as food sustains the body, the words we speak “feed” our lives, shaping whether they are filled with good or harm.

​

Questions

​

Who is John the Baptist? how did he gain the power to baptize? What is his origin?

John’s Origins

  • Parents: Zechariah (a priest) and Elizabeth (a relative of Mary, the mother of Jesus).
     

  • Problem: They were old and childless.
     

  • Angel’s Message: The angel Gabriel appeared to Zechariah while he was serving in the temple (Luke 1). Gabriel said their prayers were heard and Elizabeth would bear a son, John, who would be “great before the Lord” and filled with the Holy Spirit even from the womb.
     

  • Birth: Elizabeth did conceive. When Mary visited her, John leapt in her womb at the presence of the unborn Jesus — the first recognition of Christ. At his birth, Zechariah prophesied that John would prepare the way for the Lord.
     

So John’s life was marked as divinely chosen from the start.

​

🕊️ His Mission and Authority to Baptize

  • John didn’t “gain” the power to baptize from himself — his mission came directly from God.
     

  • Prophecies in Isaiah 40:3 and Malachi 3:1 foretold a “voice in the wilderness” preparing the way of the Lord.
     

  • John was that voice. His baptism was a baptism of repentance — symbolic washing to show a turning away from sin and readiness for God’s coming kingdom.
     

  • His authority was prophetic: God Himself had appointed him as the forerunner to the Messiah.
     

​

🌿 His Life and Role

  • John lived in the wilderness, wore camel’s hair with a leather belt, and ate locusts and wild honey (Mark 1:6). His lifestyle recalled Old Testament prophets, especially Elijah.
     

  • He preached repentance and warned of God’s coming judgment.
     

  • Crowds came from all Judea to hear him, confess their sins, and be baptized.
     

  • Most importantly: John pointed away from himself and toward Jesus, saying “I baptize you with water, but one more powerful than I is coming… He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”
     

 

⚖️ How He’s Seen in the Bible

  • As a Prophet: The last great prophet bridging the Old and New Testaments.
     

  • As Forerunner: The one preparing Israel for the Messiah.
     

  • As Example: Humble, obedient, fearless — even when it cost him his life (Herod eventually had him executed).

 

What do the temples refer to?

 

 

🏛️ The Temples in the Bible

1. The Tabernacle (before the temple)

  • Before any temple was built, Israel had a portable sanctuary called the Tabernacle during their wilderness journey (Exodus 25–40).
     

  • It was a tent with an inner sanctuary (the Holy of Holies) where God’s presence rested above the Ark of the Covenant.
     

  • This was the blueprint for the future temple.
     

 

2. Solomon’s Temple (First Temple)

  • Built by King Solomon around 960 BC in Jerusalem.
     

  • Permanent, glorious structure to replace the Tabernacle.
     

  • Contained the Ark of the Covenant in the Holy of Holies.
     

  • Place of sacrifice, prayer, and God’s presence for Israel.
     

  • Destroyed by the Babylonians in 586 BC when Jerusalem was conquered.
     

 


 

3. Zerubbabel’s Temple (Second Temple, early form)

  • After exile in Babylon, Jews returned and rebuilt a more modest temple around 516 BC under Zerubbabel (a descendant of David).
     

  • Not as grand as Solomon’s, but it restored worship.
     

  • The Ark of the Covenant was lost by this time — the Holy of Holies was empty.
     

  • Later prophets (Haggai, Zechariah) encouraged its rebuilding and expansion.
     

 

4. Herod’s Temple (Second Temple, expanded)

  • Around 20 BC, King Herod the Great massively renovated and expanded Zerubbabel’s temple.
     

  • This is the temple of Jesus’ time.
     

  • Known for its grandeur — one of the wonders of the ancient world.
     

  • Jesus taught here, and it’s where events like His cleansing of the money changers happened.
     

  • Destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD during the Jewish revolt.
     

 

5. Future / Spiritual Temples

  • Ezekiel’s Vision (Ezekiel 40–48): Some Jews expected a future temple where God’s glory would return.
     

  • Jesus’ Teaching: He identified Himself as the true temple (“Destroy this temple, and I will raise it in three days” — John 2:19), meaning His body.
     

  • The Church: Paul says believers are now the “temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Corinthians 6:19). God’s presence dwells in people, not buildings.
     

 

🕌 Temples Today

Jewish Perspective

  • Since 70 AD, there has been no physical temple in Judaism.
     

  • Worship centers on the synagogue and Torah study.
     

  • Many Jews still pray for the rebuilding of the temple in Jerusalem.
     

  • On the Temple Mount today:
     

    • The Western Wall (retaining wall of Herod’s temple complex) is a sacred site for prayer.
       

    • The Dome of the Rock and Al-Aqsa Mosque (Islamic sites) now stand where the ancient temple once was.
       

Christian Perspective

  • Christians believe Jesus fulfilled the temple system (sacrifice, priesthood, presence of God).
     

  • The temple is no longer needed because Christ is the ultimate sacrifice and mediator.
     

  • Worship happens in churches, but the church itself is not seen as a temple in the same sense — instead, believers are the temple.
     

Islamic Perspective

  • Muslims believe the Prophet Muhammad ascended to heaven from the Temple Mount (the reason for the Dome of the Rock).
     

  • The site is the third holiest in Islam, after Mecca and Medina.






 

Matthew 8, 9 and 10, Proverbs 19:1–4

✝️ Matthew 8 – Jesus’ Power Over Sickness, Nature, and Spirits
After the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew highlights Jesus’ authority not just in teaching but in action. Jesus heals a leper who approaches Him in faith, demonstrating His willingness and power to cleanse. Next, a Roman centurion asks Jesus to heal his servant. The centurion’s humility and recognition of Jesus’ authority — believing He can heal with just a word — astonishes Jesus, who praises his faith.

Jesus then heals Peter’s mother-in-law of a fever, and many others come to Him for healing and deliverance. Matthew notes this fulfills Isaiah’s prophecy: “He took our illnesses and bore our diseases.”

That evening, Jesus and His disciples set sail, and a sudden storm threatens to sink the boat. The disciples cry out in fear, but Jesus rebukes the wind and waves, showing authority over creation itself. They marvel, asking, “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?”

Arriving in the region of the Gadarenes, Jesus encounters two demon-possessed men. The demons recognize Him as the Son of God and beg to be cast into a herd of pigs. Jesus permits it, and the pigs rush into the sea and drown. Instead of rejoicing, the townspeople, overwhelmed by fear, beg Jesus to leave their region.

 

✝️ Matthew 9 – Forgiveness, Mercy, and Compassion
Jesus returns and heals a paralyzed man, first declaring his sins forgiven. Religious leaders accuse Him of blasphemy, but Jesus proves His authority by healing the man physically, causing amazement among the crowd.

Passing by a tax booth, Jesus calls Matthew, who leaves his post to follow Him. At a meal with tax collectors and sinners, the Pharisees question why He associates with such people. Jesus replies that He came not for the righteous but for sinners, and that God desires mercy more than sacrifice.

Jesus uses the image of new cloth and new wineskins to explain that His mission is not about patching old systems but bringing something new.

He then performs a series of miracles that demonstrate compassion and power: a woman suffering from bleeding for twelve years touches His cloak in faith and is healed; He raises a synagogue leader’s daughter from death; He gives sight to blind men who call out to Him as “Son of David”; He restores speech to a mute man oppressed by a demon.

The chapter closes with a glimpse of Jesus’ heart: He looks at the crowds, harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. He tells His disciples that the harvest is plentiful but the workers are few, urging prayer for more laborers.

 

✝️ Matthew 10 – Instructions to the Twelve
Jesus calls and names His twelve apostles, sending them out to proclaim the kingdom of heaven. He grants them authority to heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse lepers, and drive out demons. They are to go first to the lost sheep of Israel, preaching freely, just as they have freely received.

He instructs them to travel simply, without money or extra supplies, relying on the hospitality of those who receive them. But He also warns of persecution: they will be handed over to councils, flogged, and hated because of His name. Yet they are not to fear, for the Spirit will give them words when they stand before rulers.

Jesus explains that allegiance to Him will cause division, even within families. To follow Him requires taking up the cross — a life of surrender, sacrifice, and faithfulness. Yet He promises that those who lose their life for His sake will find it, and that anyone who receives His disciples receives Him, and ultimately the Father who sent Him. Even a small act of kindness, like giving a cup of water to His followers, will not go unrewarded.

 

📜 Proverbs 19:1–4 – Integrity, Knowledge, and Wealth

  • Verse 1: Better to be poor and walk in integrity than to be a fool with corrupt speech. True worth lies in character, not wealth.
     

  • Verse 2: Desire without knowledge leads to error. Zeal must be guided by wisdom; haste brings mistakes.
     

  • Verse 3: A person’s own folly ruins their life, yet they rage against the Lord, blaming Him for their misfortune.
     

  • Verse 4: Wealth attracts many friends, but the poor are deserted by those close to them. Riches bring influence, while poverty often leads to isolation.







 

Matthew 11, 12 and 13, Proverbs Chapter 19, 5-8

 

✝️ Matthew 11 – John the Baptist and the Invitation of Jesus
John the Baptist, imprisoned, sends disciples to ask Jesus if He is truly the Messiah. Jesus replies by pointing to His works: the blind see, the lame walk, the deaf hear, lepers are cleansed, and the poor hear the good news. These are signs fulfilling the prophets. Jesus then praises John, calling him more than a prophet and the greatest born of women, yet teaching that the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater, because they share in the new covenant blessings.

Jesus rebukes the towns where He performed miracles — Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum — because they did not repent. He declares that even pagan cities like Tyre, Sidon, and Sodom would have responded better.

The chapter closes with one of the most tender invitations of Jesus: He thanks the Father for revealing truth to the humble and weary, and He calls all who are burdened to come to Him. He promises rest for their souls, for His yoke is easy and His burden is light.

 

✝️ Matthew 12 – Conflict with the Pharisees and Jesus’ True Authority
The chapter begins with Jesus’ disciples plucking grain on the Sabbath. The Pharisees accuse them of breaking the law, but Jesus reminds them that mercy is greater than sacrifice and that the Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath. He then heals a man with a withered hand on the Sabbath, further angering His opponents.

Aware of their growing hostility, Jesus withdraws, yet continues healing. Matthew again notes this fulfills prophecy about the gentle Servant who brings justice. When Jesus heals a demon-possessed man who was blind and mute, the crowd wonders if He could be the Son of David. But the Pharisees accuse Him of casting out demons by Satan’s power. Jesus responds with a powerful argument: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand, and His works show that the kingdom of God has come.

He warns against blasphemy of the Holy Spirit — attributing God’s work to evil — which reveals a hardened heart against God’s truth. He teaches that words flow from the heart, and every careless word will be accounted for.

When asked for a sign, Jesus points to Jonah: just as Jonah was three days in the fish, so the Son of Man will be three days in the heart of the earth. The chapter closes with Jesus redefining family: those who do the will of His Father are His true brothers and sisters.

 

✝️ Matthew 13 – Parables of the Kingdom
This chapter is filled with parables that reveal the nature of God’s kingdom. Jesus tells the parable of the sower: seed falls on different types of ground, representing hearts that either reject or receive the word. He explains that parables both reveal and conceal — they enlighten the receptive but harden the resistant.

Other parables follow:

  • The weeds among the wheat — the righteous and wicked will grow together until the final judgment.
     

  • The mustard seed and yeast — the kingdom starts small but grows to influence everything.
     

  • The hidden treasure and pearl of great price — the kingdom is worth giving up everything to obtain.
     

  • The net — at the end of the age, angels will separate the wicked from the righteous.
     

Returning to His hometown, Jesus teaches in the synagogue, but the people take offense, saying, “Is this not the carpenter’s son?” Because of their lack of faith, He does not perform many miracles there.

 

📜 Proverbs 19:5–8 – Truthfulness, Justice, and Wisdom

  • Verse 5: A false witness will not go unpunished; lies will eventually be exposed.
     

  • Verse 6: Many seek favor from rulers, and everyone is a friend to the one who gives gifts. Human relationships are often swayed by self-interest.
     

  • Verse 7: The poor are shunned even by their family, while wealth attracts many companions. Poverty often isolates, while riches bring superficial ties.
     

  • Verse 8: The one who gets wisdom loves their own soul; cherishing understanding leads to true prosperity.
     





 

Matthew 14, 15, 16 and 17, Proverbs Chapter 19, 5-8

 

 

✝️ Matthew 14 – Feeding the Five Thousand & Walking on Water
Herod hears about Jesus and recalls his role in the execution of John the Baptist, who had condemned Herod’s unlawful marriage. John’s death foreshadows the opposition Jesus will face.

After hearing the news, Jesus withdraws to a solitary place, but crowds follow Him. Out of compassion, He heals the sick. As evening falls, the disciples worry about food, but Jesus multiplies five loaves and two fish, feeding over five thousand people, with twelve baskets of leftovers collected — a sign of God’s abundance.

That night, Jesus walks on the water toward the disciples’ boat in a storm. They are terrified, but He reassures them. Peter steps out in faith but falters when he looks at the wind. Jesus saves him, showing that faith must keep its eyes on Him. The disciples worship, declaring, “Truly you are the Son of God.”

 

✝️ Matthew 15 – What Truly Defiles & The Canaanite Woman
Pharisees and scribes confront Jesus about His disciples not following ritual hand-washing traditions. Jesus teaches that it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles, but what comes out — words and actions that flow from the heart. This shifts focus from external rituals to inner purity.

Traveling to Tyre and Sidon, Jesus encounters a Canaanite woman who begs Him to heal her demon-possessed daughter. At first, He seems to resist, saying He was sent to Israel, but her persistent faith wins His praise: “O woman, great is your faith!” Her daughter is healed instantly.

Jesus then heals many by the Sea of Galilee and performs another miracle of feeding — this time four thousand men, plus women and children — again multiplying bread and fish.

 

✝️ Matthew 16 – Peter’s Confession & Jesus Predicts His Death
The Pharisees and Sadducees demand a sign, but Jesus refuses, calling them blind to the signs already given.

At Caesarea Philippi, Jesus asks His disciples who people say He is. Peter confesses: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Jesus blesses him and says, “On this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.” He gives Peter the “keys of the kingdom.”

Soon after, Jesus predicts His suffering and death. Peter rebukes Him, but Jesus calls him a stumbling block, showing the disciples must think according to God’s plan, not human comfort. Jesus then calls His followers to deny themselves, take up their cross, and follow Him, promising glory for those who are faithful.

 

✝️ Matthew 17 – The Transfiguration & Healing
Jesus takes Peter, James, and John up a mountain where He is transfigured before them — His face shines like the sun, His clothes white as light. Moses and Elijah appear, representing the Law and Prophets, and a voice from the cloud declares, “This is my beloved Son, listen to Him.” The disciples fall in fear, but Jesus comforts them.

Descending the mountain, they find a boy possessed by a demon that the disciples could not cast out. Jesus rebukes their little faith, drives out the spirit, and teaches that faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains.

Jesus again predicts His death and resurrection, reminding the disciples of the cost of His mission. The chapter ends with the temple tax episode: Jesus tells Peter to catch a fish, in whose mouth is a coin, to pay the tax for them both — showing His sovereignty even over earthly obligations.

📜 Proverbs 19:9–12 (NKJV / ESV wording blended for clarity)

Verse 9:
A false witness will not go unpunished, and he who speaks lies shall perish.

  • Truthfulness is central to justice.
     

  • Those who lie in court or spread falsehoods will face consequences — both earthly and divine.
     

Verse 10:
Luxury is not fitting for a fool, much less for a servant to rule over princes.

  • Lavish living doesn’t suit someone without wisdom.
     

  • Likewise, when authority is placed in unworthy or unprepared hands, it brings disorder.
     

Verse 11:
The discretion of a man makes him slow to anger, and his glory is to overlook a transgression.

  • Wisdom shows itself in patience and self-control.
     

  • Choosing to forgive or let go of offense, rather than seek revenge, is honorable and God-pleasing.
     

Verse 12:
The king’s wrath is like the roaring of a lion, but his favor is like dew on the grass.

  • Rulers’ moods carry great weight: their anger is dangerous, but their kindness brings life and refreshment.
     

  • This verse reflects both practical politics in ancient times and a broader truth: authority can either crush or bless, depending on how it is exercised.
     

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