As described in the Bible, the Jewish sect of the Pharisees was made up of individuals who were very religious and followed the letter of the law as they interpreted it.  Two notable instances relate to the Sabbath and the tithe (giving a tenth).  The Law of Moses gave specific commands relative to these.  The […]

The apostle Paul was in a Roman prison because the Jews were opposed to him preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ.  There was an initial trial before Felix, the Roman governor, but he delayed making a decision.  Felix had been born a slave but had been freed by the emperor Claudius and had now become […]

In the church of Rome in the first century, some of the Christians were Jews who had come to believe in Jesus Christ.  To explain to the Jews how they were dead to the law, the Apostle Paul used the example of a woman married to a man. It appears that the first century Christians […]

Luke 6:12-16 “Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray, and continued all night in prayer to God. And when it was day, He called His disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: Simon, whom He also named Peter, […]

Mark 2:14-17 “As He passed by, He saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the tax office. And He said to him, ‘Follow Me.’ So he arose and followed Him. Now it happened, as He was dining in Levi’s house, that many tax collectors and sinners also sat together with Jesus and His disciples; […]

All sin has some attraction or people wouldn’t be tempted to sin.  Eve is a great example.  She saw the desirability of eating of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil after the serpent pointed out the benefits. Genesis 3:4-6 “Then the serpent said to the woman, ‘You will not surely die. For […]

There is a road that we occasionally use where the posted speed limit is very slow.  When the road was first paved, it was level and smooth and we could travel fast.  But then the road settled in multiple places so that we must travel slowly to avoid damaging our car or hurting ourselves.  When […]

Luke 17:11-19 “Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, ‘Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!’ So when […]

The Israelites were in bitter slavery in Egypt.  Here is what God told Moses.  Exodus 6:5-7 “And I have also heard the groaning of the children of Israel whom the Egyptians keep in bondage, and I have remembered My covenant.  Therefore say to the children of Israel: ‘I am the Lord; I will bring you […]

Our actions demonstrate our faith.  James 2:14-18 “What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him?  If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, ‘Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,’ but […]