Hebrews 7:3 Without father, without mother, without genealogy, having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like the Son of God, [Melchizedek] remains a priest perpetually. Now in order to be a priest in Israel, a man had to be a physical descendant of Abraham through his son Isaac through his son Jacob through his son Levi. Yet even the men of Levi had to trace their lineage through...  Read More

Hebrews 7:1-2 For this Melchizedek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, who met Abraham as he was returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him, 2 to whom also Abraham apportioned a tenth part of all the spoils, was first of all, by the translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then also king of Salem, which is king of peace.In Judaism the patriarch Abraham was the fa...  Read More

Genesis 14:18-20 And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. 19 He blessed him and said, “Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; 20 And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.” He gave him a tenth of all. Genesis 14:18 speaks of king who also came to greet Abram (later Abraham) after his...  Read More

1 Timothy 1:19-20 keeping faith and a good conscience, which some have rejected and suffered shipwreck in regard to their faith. 20 Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. An example of two men who had neither ongoing faith nor a clear conscience in their service to Christ were “Hymenaeus and Alexander.” They “rejecte...  Read More

1 Timothy 1:18-19a This command I entrust to you, Timothy, my son, in accordance with the prophecies previously made concerning you, that by them you fight the good fight, 19 keeping faith and a good conscience,       The Greek literally says, “I set before you this command, child Timothy.” The “command” of v. 18 is a reference to what Paul said in vv. 3-7, namely that Timothy “instruct certain me...  Read More

1 Timothy 1:15-17 It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. 16 Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. 17 Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible,...  Read More

1 Timothy 1:12-14 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, 13 even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; 14 and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus.       If ...  Read More

Matthew 2:9-12 After hearing the king, they went their way; and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was. 10 When they saw the star, they rejoiced exceedingly with great joy. 11 After coming into the house they saw the Child with Mary His mother; and they fell to the ground and worshiped Him. Then, opening their treas...  Read More

Matthew 2:3-8 When Herod the king heard this, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 Gathering together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 They said to him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for this is what has been written by the prophet: 6 ‘And you, Bethlehem, land of Judah, Are by no means least among the leaders of Judah; For...  Read More

Matthew 2:7, 9 Then Herod secretly called the magi and determined from them the exact time the star appeared… and the star, which they had seen in the east, went on before them until it came and stood over the place where the Child was.Although the word for “star” (Gr. aster; Heb. kokab) in Scripture can be any shining point of light in the night sky, an actual star in the heavens is an enormous m...  Read More

Matthew 2:1b-2 Magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, 2 “Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we saw His star in the east and have come to worship Him.”The magi “from the east” (lit. “from the rising”) appear to be a remnant of God-fearing Gentiles influenced by the prophecies of Daniel, dating back to the sixth century BC. As they came into town, they were “saying,” Where...  Read More

Matthew 2:1 Now after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea in the days of Herod the king, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem…Sometime after the events of Luke 2:21-38, after Mary completed her purification rites related to childbirth, she and Joseph settled in Bethlehem before “magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem.” Though legends of their identity abound, the Bible does not even reveal ho...  Read More