Jews would not keep herds of pigs. The territory into which Jesus takes his disciples now is Gentile territory; more, it’s culturally Greek. Greek thought owed nothing to and had…
Most of the time, if you invite someone over, it’s because you want to cultivate the relationship. The Pharisees were clearly a mixed group and not all of the same…
Not quite a century ago, Louis Berkhof, Professor of Dogmatic Theology and president of Calvin Seminary in Grand Rapids, Michigan, wrote his Systematic Theology, which remained influential probably even into…
“It is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins” (10:4). So much, then, for the entire sacrificial system established in the first books in the Bible. …
“They went to Capernaum, and when the Sabbath came, Jesus went into the synagogue and began to teach” (1:21). From the shores of Galilee, Jesus and his four new disciples…
It’s not judging when one person says to another: that’s a really rotten thing you just did. It’s not judging to say you’re hurting our relationship and you’re hurting yourself. …
Mercy forgives. Forgiveness does not undo the consequences of our sin; this is why you and I must struggle, continually, against those impulses to sin that come and knock, like…
I’ve been speaking about joy and light lately, not only because it’s Advent, not only because I feel the need for these blessings in my own life, but because…