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To Set Upon or Recline (κεῖμαι)

To set upon or recline (κεῖμαι) is used in a literal and metaphorical sense to express that which is laid upon something for a purpose.

In response to the Pharisees coming to John for immersion, John states that even now the axe has been laid on the roots of the tree, indicating their false religious system was about to fall because the Messiah is coming, for they had usurped the law of Moses for the traditions of their fathers, Matthew 3:10. After the birth of Christ, when He was taken to the Temple, Simon the Priest blessed Joseph and Mary and said to her, this child is laid for the fall and rise of many in Israel and for a sign that will be spoken against, Luke 2:34.

As a child is rocked in his mother’s arms or laid to rest in a manger, as Christ was after his birth, Luke 2:12, laid is also used of how Satan pacifies the world system to control it, 1 John 5:19. Satan placates the world system to maintain control, for he is the father of it.

There is a veil that lays upon the hearts the Jews when they read the Mosaic law, 2 Corinthians 3:15. The glory of the law fades away at the coming of Christ because the law was not laid down for a righteous man, 1 Timothy 1:9-10. Moses indicated this when he would cover his face with a veil so that the sons of Israel did not see the glory of God that was upon him fade, 2 Corinthians 3:13. However, this veil is taken away when they turn to the Lord, 2 Corinthians 3:16.

Although Christ’s body was laid in a tomb, three days […]

To Set Upon or Recline (κεῖμαι)Luther Walker2024-09-19T06:34:54-07:00

To Suppose (νομίζω)

“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 […]

To Suppose (νομίζω)Luther Walker2024-06-20T05:43:15-07:00

Happy and Joy

Happy (μακάριος) is an attitude of enjoyment and delight, whereas Joy (χαρά) is contentment. In action, joy is rejoicing; however, it is different from exultation (ἀγαλλιάω), Matthew 5:12.

When the magi of the east saw the star of David rise, they knew the King of the Jews was born. They responded to this finding by rejoicing with very great joy because their discovery brought them happiness, Matthew 2:10. Zacharias is informed by an angel that the Lord has heard his supplication for a son. Elizabeth will bear him a boy, and he will have joy and gladness along with many others who will rejoice at his birth, Luke 1:14. In addressing the saints of Philippi, Paul expresses that they are his joy, Philippians 4:1. For they bring him a sense of delight just as the saints in Thessalonica, 1 Thessalonians 2:19, even though Paul has been separated from them through the persecution he was facing. Not only did they receive the gospel of the Christ, but they also took hold of eternal life through obedience to the gospel. During Christ’s ministry, as He proclaimed the gospel of the Kingdom of the Heavens, some of the Jews immediately received the message with joy; however, they were like seeds on stony ground that have no root, so they only endure for a short time, Matthew 4:16. Joy is not emotionally centered because it is also shown by the spirit beings, who do not possess a soul. There is great joy in heaven over one sinner changing his mind, Luke 15:7.

Unlike joy, which is often expressed in rejoicing because of satisfaction, happy is more of a state of mind. Happy is the man to whom the Lord does not […]

Happy and JoyLuther Walker2023-12-21T05:51:30-08:00

Scandalize (σκανδαλίζω)

Scandalize is to shockingly offend a person’s moral sensibility.

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus speaks of a man scandalizing himself when he looks at a woman for the purpose of desiring her for adultery, for in doing so he has already committed adultery in his heart, Matthew 5:28. The kingdom of the heavens is what Jesus is preaching. After the Messiah comes, is cut off, the Temple is desecrated by Satan, and the Messiah returns in glory, He sets up a Kingdom that will last for 1000 years, Daniel 9:24-27. In setting up this kingdom, God makes a new covenant with Israel in which He writes His law within their heart, Jeremiah 31:33. In the Sermon on the Mount Jesus is giving instructions concerning the rules of this kingdom, not for today. This man scandalizes himself because he intentionally violated the law of God that is written in his heart by acting upon a thought to desire another woman by glancing at her for this purpose. Unlike under the Mosaic Law where the act of adultery, which is a sin, would be punished, he is held liable for scandalizing himself by using his members in a way that is contrary to what he knows is right even though the physical act of adultery has not been committed, for sin and scandalizing are not the same thing. This is not referring to today, for we are in a period of time in which we must learn the law of God, which for the Church is to live by grace through faith. Therefore, such desires, although we may strongly desire not to have them, do not scandalize us, for we expect to have to deal with […]

Scandalize (σκανδαλίζω)Luther Walker2023-12-23T11:33:57-08:00

Filled and Filling

There are two terms in Scripture used for filling that uniquely describe how something or someone is filled. The differences between these two concepts for filling are very important to understand concerning the Christian life and how the Holy Spirit interacts with us today compared to saints prior to the dispensation of grace.

Pimplemi (πίμπλημι) describes filling in a way that controls or saturates. It is used of the sponge filled with wine given to Christ on the cross, Matthew 27:48, of a King having his servants fill his wedding hall with guests, Matthew 22:10, a woman’s time for giving birth, Luke 1:57, and even the completion of days of service for a Levitical priest, Luke 1:23. All of these occurrences are describing a permeating of what is filled. It is this type of filling that describes how the Holy Spirit interacted with Old Testament saints, such as John the Baptist was mentally controlled by the Holy Spirit from his mother’s womb, Luke 1:15; however, once his ministry had finished the Holy Spirit no longer filled him, which can be seen with him questioning Jesus if He is the One coming, Luke 7:18-20. In the upper room, on the day of Pentecost when the Church began, the Holy Spirit filled (πίμπλημι), mentally controlled, the disciples making it possible for them to speak in other dialects the wonders of God, Acts 2:4. This is not the Spiritual gift of speaking in tongues, which was given to the early Church as a sign to the unbelieving Jews along with other gifts for signs, wonders, confirmation, and edification of the body of the Christ, 1 Corinthians 12:10. The gifts given to the Church are not from a filling of […]

Filled and FillingLuther Walker2023-11-25T07:38:47-08:00

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