“To suppose (νομίζω)” expresses following a practice that is customary or common in use, leading to the concept of forming an idea or making a tentative supposition concerning something in a traditional manner.
During the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus tells the Jews not to form a common opinion that He is seeking to release the Law or the Prophets for He came to fulfill, not loose, them, Matthew 5:17. As Jesus sends out twelve disciples, He instructs them to not go to the Gentiles or the Samaritans. Instead, they are only to go to the household of Israel preaching the Kingdom of the Heavens. They are to be wise as serpents, yet as harmless as a dove, for many will deliver them to councils and scourge them in their synagogues. However, they are not to fear them because those who verbally agree that Jesus is the Messiah, He will confess them before the Father in heaven. They are not to suppose that He came to bring peace to the earth, which was the customary way of thinking concerning the Messiah’s coming; instead, He brings a sword, for brother will be against brother, and a son against his father concerning the message of the Kingdom of the Heavens, Matthew 10:34.
Speaking concerning the Kingdom of the Heavens, Jesus uses a parable in which He speaks of a landowner who hired laborers to work in his vineyard for the day. He did this three times throughout the day, gathering more laborers each time. At the end of the day, when the laborers came to receive payment for their work, those who started work in the morning supposed they should get more money than they agreed upon because the two other groups were also being paid the same amount, but did not work as long, Matthew 20:10.
Following a day’s journey from Jerusalem after the feast of Passover, Jesus’ parents supposed that He was in the company of travelers with them, which was customary since they did this every year; however, after seeking for Him among their relatives and acquaintances they did not find Him. Three days later they found Him in the Temple in Jerusalem among the teachers listening and asking questions of them, Luke 2:44.
Although Moses grew up in Pharaoh’s house, he was aware that his roots were from the Jews. At the age of forty, it came into his heart to visit his people. During this time, he comes upon an Israelite who was suffering wrong by an Egyptians; therefore, Moses defended his brethren and struck down his oppressor. Moses supposed concerning this matter that his brethren would understand God would deliver them by his hand; however, they did not put it together, Acts 7:25.
Those who teach contrary to the healthy words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teachings of godliness are puffed up and mentally grasping nothing but are morbidly sick with disputing and arguing with words, out from which comes envy, strife, blasphemy, malignantly evil suspicions, constant arguments from men of spoiled minds and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness, 1 Timothy 6:5.
