In the Old Testament God made provision for the person who committed manslaughter–the unintentional killing of another individual. In five separate passages (Ex. 21:12-14; Num. 35:6-34; Deut. 4:41-43; 19:1-13; and Josh. 20:1-9) God gives thorough instruction for the establishment and use of cities of refuge–places designated as a safe haven for the manslayer. Needing protection […]
“Melchizedek, king of Salem, brought forth bread and wine, and he was the priest of the most high God” (Gen. 14:18). The first war which darkens history’s page is ended. Abraham is moving homewards, crowned with success, laden with spoil. Suddenly a scene breaks on us, marvelous in what it reveals, marvelous in what it […]
The Lord Jesus Christ is greater than any office which He fills. With men it is usually the office which makes the man. Not so with the Lord Jesus. He Himself gives glory to the offices He occupies. For Him to fill an office is to transform it into another of His many glories. As […]
Down through the years men have grappled with the mystery of the Incarnation. How could God become man? How can an infinite person become finite? How can the Creator become a part of creation? How can the Almighty compress Himself into the form of helpless babe nursing at the breast of His mother? Was He […]
The boldness of Jesus in breaking the Pharisees’ traditions had brought their growing suspicion and opposition to a head, and they determined to seize Him. Petty officers were sent to arrest him when he was present in Jerusalem at the Feast of Tabernacles (Jn. 7), and the appearance of these policemen led Jesus to say […]
Names in the Scriptures form an interesting study. For instance, the various names that God uses to describe Himself: Elohim, Jehovah, The Lord God, Almighty God, The Most High God, Father–all convey different truths about the same Person. And so it is with those in connection with the Saviour. Sometimes we read of Him as […]
Unity is not a feeling, but a fact. It was central in the prayer of our Lord in John 17. His desire was that believers should be “one” (Jn. 17:21). Paul picks up the theme in Ephesians 4 where we are given the fullest explanation of unity in the epistles. He describes unity as “the […]
Matthew Henry (1662-1714) was born into a model Christian home. When Philip Henry was courting Miss Matthews of Worthenbury, her family objected to the engagement because they did not know much about his background. When told that they hardly knew where Philip was from, she replied, “Yes, that is more or less true; but I […]
Some time ago, I began to read the Bible carefully to study Bible characters. I read through the four Gospels, and my heart was moved. When I look over an audience and think of the wretchedness and misery that you and I do not see, that He does see, I think I can understand what […]