Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2025-01-04 Sat

2024-12-31 Tue

Exodus 30:1 - 33:23 (124 verses) NWB

Luke 2:1 - 3:38 (90 verses) NWB

2025-01-01 Wed

Exodus 34:1 - 36:38 (108 verses) YLT

Luke 4:1 - 5:39 (83 verses) WNT

2025-01-03 Fri

Exodus 37:1 - 40:38 (141 verses) YLT

Luke 6:1 - 7:50 (99 verses) WNT

2025-01-04 Sat

Leviticus 1:1 - 7:37 (171 verses) NET

Luke 8:1 - 9:62 (118 verses) WEB

NWB — Noah Webster Bible
YLT — Young's Literal Translation
WNT — Weymouth New Testament
WEB — World English Bible
NET — New English Translation

Overall Progress
OT = 2,927 / 23,145 verses (12.6 %)
NT = 2,219 / 7,957 verses (27.9 %)

I finished reading the Book of Exodus yesterday and began reading Leviticus today. Meanwhile, in the New Testament, I have read up to Luke chapter 9.

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Passage for Today

Luke 2:10 – 19

 

World English Bible

10 The angel said to them, 'Don't be afraid, for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be to all the people.
11 For there is born to you, this day, in the city of David, a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.
12 This is the sign to you: you will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth, lying in a feeding trough.'

13 Suddenly, there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
14 'Glory to God in the highest, On earth peace, good will toward men.'

15 It happened, when the angels went away from them into the sky, that the shepherds said one to another, 'Let's go to Bethlehem, now, and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has made known to us.'
16 They came with haste, and found both Mary and Joseph, and the baby lying in the feeding trough.

17 When they saw it, they publicized widely the saying which was spoken to them about this child.
18 All who heard it wondered at the things which were spoken to them by the shepherds.
19 But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.

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Luke 2 spans almost 30 years in NT history. Beginning at the birth of Jesus, from Luke 2: 1 when Caesar Augustus (Octavian 27BC - AD14) was in power to the incident in Luke 2: 51-52, when Jesus was 12 years old, who returned with his family to Nazareth and was submissive to them for the next 18 years, until Luke 3: 1 when Tiberius Claudius Caesar Augustus ruled (AD14 - 39), during the ministry of John the Baptist, when Jesus began his ministry at 30 years old (Luke 3: 23).
In this chapter, are recorded two instances of Mary having heard remarkable and astonishing words from others, and had kept those words in her heart.

Read more in the links below —

• 2009-12-27 What Mary kept in her heart, Part 1
• 2010-01-19 What Mary kept in her heart, Part 2
• 2010-01-19 What Mary kept in her heart, Part 3

Magnificat

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2024-12-30 Monday

2024-12-26 Thu

Exodus 14:1 - 16:36 (94 verses) WEB

Mark 10:1 - 52 (52 verses) WEB

2024-12-27 Fri

Exodus 17:1 - 20:26 (94 verses) WEB

Mark 11:1 - 12:44 (77 verses) WEB

2024-12-28 Sat

Exodus 21:1 - 24:18 (118 verses) BBE

Mark 13:1 - 14:72 (109 verses) BBE

2024-12-29 Sun

Exodus 25:1 - 26:37 (77 verses) NIV

Mark 15:1 - 16:20 (67 verses) NIV

2024-12-30 Mon

Exodus 27:1 - 29:46 (110 verses) BBE

Luke 1:1 - 80 (80 verses) BBE

WEB — World English Bible
NET — New English Translation
BBE — Bible in Basic English
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 2,383 / 23,145 verses (10.3 %)
NT = 1,829 / 7,957 verses (23.0 %)

I finished reading the Gospel according to Mark yesterday. Today, I have begun reading the Gospel according to Luke.

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Passage for Today

Luke 1:46 – 55

 

Bible in Basic English

And Mary said: My soul gives glory to God;
My spirit is glad in God my Saviour.

For he has had pity on his servant,
though she is poor and lowly placed:

and from this hour will all generations
give witness to the blessing which has come to me.
For he who is strong has done great things for me;

and holy is his name.
His mercy is for all generations in whom is the fear of him.

With his arm he has done acts of power;
he has put to flight those who have pride in their hearts.

He has put down kings from their seats,
lifting up on high the men of low degree.

Those who had no food he made full of good things;
the men of wealth he sent away with nothing in their hands;

His help he has given to Israel, his servant,
so that he might keep in mind his mercy to Abraham and his seed for ever,
As he gave his word to our fathers.

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My thoughts for today — in the Magnificat, the words of praise to God Almighty uttered by Mary when she visited her cousin Elisabeth were expressed in synonymous parallelism typical of Hebrew poetry. I have grouped the verses from Luke chapter 1 above to show the parallelism more clearly.

May we learn to praise Our Father in Heaven for His mercy and His acts of power. Holy is His Name.

The Two Iesus : between judgment and reprieve

OT

 

7th Cycle.

  

NT

 

13th Cycle.

  

2024-12-25 Wednesday

2024-12-12 Thu

Genesis 29:1 - 30:43 (78 verses) WEB

Matthew 18:1 - 19:30 (65 verses) WEB

2024-12-13 Fri

Genesis 31:1 - 32:32 (87 verses) NET

Matthew 20:1 - 21:46 (80 verses) NET

2024-12-16 Mon

Genesis 33:1 - 35:29 (80 verses) NET

Genesis 36:1 - 37:36 (79 verses) WEB

Matthew 22:1 - 46 (46 verses) NET

Matthew 23:1 - 24:51 (90 verses) WEB

2024-12-17 Tue

Genesis 38:1 - 40:23 (76 verses) WEB

Matthew 25:1 - 46 (46 verses) WEB

2024-12-18 Wed

Genesis 41:1 - 42:38 (95 verses) WEB

Matthew 26:1 - 75 (75 verses) WEB

2024-12-19 Thu

Genesis 43:1 - 45:28 (96 verses) WEB

Matthew 27:1 - 66 (66 verses) WEB

2024-12-20 Fri

Genesis 46:1 - 48:22 (87 verses) WEB

Matthew 28:1 - 20 (20 verses) WEB

Mark 1:1 - 45 (45 verses) WEB

2024-12-21 Sat

Genesis 49:1 - 50:26 (59 verses) WEB

Exodus 1:1 - 2:25 (47 verses) NET

Mark 2:1 - 3:35 (63 verses) WEB

2024-12-22 Sun

Exodus 3:1 - 5:23 (76 verses) WEB

Mark 4:1 - 5:43 (84 verses) WEB

2024-12-24 Tue

Exodus 6:1 - 10:29 (151 verses) NET

Mark 6:1 - 7:37 (93 verses) WEB

2024-12-25 Wed

Exodus 11:1 - 13:22 (83 verses) NET

Mark 8:1 - 9:50 (88 verses) NET

WEB — World English Bible
NET — New English Translation

Overall Progress
OT = 1,890 / 23,145 verses (8.2 %)
NT = 1,444 / 7,957 verses (18.1 %)

Over the last two weeks of December, I have read the Old Testament from Genesis 29 up to Exodus 11. In the New Testament, I have finished reading Matthew and gone on to read the first nine chapters of Mark.

By today, I have covered about 8 % of the Old Testament and 18 % of the New Testament.

---

Passage for Today

Matthew 27:15 – 17

 

New English Translation

15 During the feast the governor was accustomed to release one prisoner to the crowd, whomever they wanted.
16 At that time they had in custody a notorious prisoner named Jesus Barabbas.
17 So after they had assembled, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Christ?”

---

My thoughts for today :

Pontius Pilate had to choose between two Iesus — Iesous Barabbas or Iesous Christos — to set free one, and to condemn the other.

Twenty days of quiet readings

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.   Friday 26Jan24

Sat 06Jan24

Exodus 25:1 – 28:43 (141 verses) GNB

Luke 12:1 – 59 (59 verses) NRSV

Sun 07Jan24

Exodus 29:1 – 32:35 (137 verses) WEB

Luke 13:1 – 14:35 (70 verses) ESV

Sat 13Jan24

Exodus 33:1 – 23 (23 verses) WEB

Sun 14Jan24

Exodus 34:1 – 37:29 (137 verses) WEB

Sat 20Jan24

Exodus 38:1 – 40:38 (112 verses) GNB

Leviticus 1:1 – 6:30 (134 verses) GNB

Luke 15:1 – 16:31 (63 verses) WEB

Sun 21Jan24

Leviticus 7:1 – 11:47 (165 verses) NIV

Luke 17:1 – 19:48 (128 verses) WEB

Mon 22Jan24

Leviticus 12:1 – 14:57 (124 verses) GNB

Luke 20:1 – 21:38 (85 verses) RSV

Thu 25Jan24

Leviticus 15:1 – 20:27 (177 verses) ESV

Luke 22:1 – 24:53 (180 verses) RSV

Fri 26Jan24

Leviticus 21:1 – 25:55 (179 verses) ESV

Mark 1:1 – 3:34 (107 verses) NIV

GNB — Good News Bible
NRSV — New Revised Standard Version
WEB — World English Bible
ESV — English Standard Version
NIV — New International Version
RSV — Revised Standard Version

Overall Progress
OT = 3,282 / 23,145 verses (14.18 %)
NT = 2,329 / 7,957 verses (29.27 %)

It has been about twenty days of quiet readings without posting anything on this blog. In the Old Testament, I covered the last sixteen chapters of Exodus followed by another twenty-five chapters of Leviticus. Simultaneously, in the New Testament, I read Luke chapters 12 to 24 followed by Mark chapters 1 to 3.

Beginning from tomorrow, I will stop reading various versions of the Bible available online but instead will read my old Bibles that have been lying idle on my bookshelf for a long time. Among the versions I have from my bookshelf at home are the NIV, NKJV, an old KJV, and a very old RSV which I bought back in 1978 during my Form Six school days.

Holding the Word tightly with honest and good heart

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.

Wed 03Jan24
Exodus 15:1 – 17:16 (79 verses) BBE
Luke 7:1 – 50 (50 verses) WNT

Thu 04Jan24
Exodus 18:1 – 20:26 (78 verses) JND
Luke 8:1 – 9:62 (118 verses) WEB

Fri 05Jan24
Exodus 21:1 – 24:18 (118 verses) WEB
Luke 10:1 – 11:54 (96 verses) NIV

BBE — Bible in Basic English
WNT — Weymouth New Testament
JND — J.N.Darby's Translation
WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version

Overall Progress
OT = 1,953 / 23,145 verses (8.43 %)
NT = 1,637 / 7,957 verses (20.57 %)

Shabbat Shalom.

The sun has set and we have entered into the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work and obey the Fourth commandment to remember and sanctify the Sabbath.

In my Old Testament readings this week, I have read through chapters 15 to 24 of the Book of Exodus. Meanwhile, my New Testament readings have seen me through the Gospel of Luke chapters 7 to 11.

---

Passage of the Day

Those in the good ground, these are those who with an honest and good heart, having heard the word, hold it tightly, and produce fruit with perseverance.
Luke 8:15  World English Bible

As I was reading the Parable of the Four Soils in Luke chapter 8, I asked myself what made the good soil bear fruit successfully. I wanted to find out what made the good soil, as narrated by our Lord in the Parable, distinctly different from the other grounds like the roadside, the rocky ground, and the thorny ground.

My answer was found in the Lord's explanation to his disciples in Luke 8:15 — the good soil (or good ground, WEB) are those who hear the Word with an honest and good heart, who hold the Word tightly, and who persevere in bearing fruit in life.

Dear Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, let us hold the Word tightly with honest and good hearts. Let us persevere in bearing the fruits of the Spirit.

Readings through December 2023

OT  6th Cycle.   NT  11th Cycle.

Tue 12Dec23
Genesis 29:1 – 31:55 (133 verses) NET
Matthew 18:1 – 20:34 (99 verses) KJV

Sun 17Dec23
Matthew 21:1 – 46 (46 verses) WEB

Tue 19Dec23
Genesis 32:1 – 34:31 (83 verses) NIV
Matthew 22:1 – 23:39 (85 verses) ASV

Wed 20Dec23
Genesis 35:1 – 38:30 (138 verses) GNB
Matthew 24:1 – 25:46 (97 verses) ASV

Thu 21Dec23
Genesis 39:1 – 41:57 (103 verses) NET
Matthew 26:1 – 28:20 (161 verses) KJV

Fri 22Dec23
Genesis 42:1 – 50:26 (280 verses) NKJV
Luke 1:1 – 2:52 (132 verses) KJV

Sat 23Dec23
Exodus 1:1 – 4:31 (100 verses) JND
Luke 3:1 – 4:44 (82 verses) NET

Sun 24Dec23
Exodus 5:1 – 9:35 (145 verses) ESV

Mon 25Dec23
Exodus 10:1 – 14:31 (143 verses) WEB
Luke 5:1 – 6:49 (88 verses) WEB

NET — New English Translation
KJV — King James Version
WEB — World English Bible
NIV — New International Version
ASV — American Standard Version
GNB — Good News Bible
NKJV — New King James Version
JND — J.N.Darby's Translation
ESV — English Standard Version

Overall progress
OT = 1,678 / 23,145 verses (7.25 %)
NT = 1,373 / 7,957 verses (17.26 %)

Over the remaining weeks of this month since my last blog post on 10Dec23, I have finished reading the Book of Genesis in the Old Testament and have gone on with the first fourteen chaptes of Exodus. In my New Testament readings, I have finished reading the Gospel according to Matthew and, skipping Mark for the time being, continued with six chapters of Luke's Gospel

By today, I have read about 7 % of the Old Testament and 17 % of the New Testament.

Praying alone

OT— 5th Cycle.  NT— 9th Cycle.

Mon 23Jan23
Exodus 36:1 – 37:29 (67 verses) BBE
Luke 1:1 – 80 (80 verses) WNT

Tue 24Jan23
Exodus 38:1 – 40:38 (112 verses) BBE
Luke 2:1 – 3:38 (90 verses) WNT

Sun 29Jan23
Leviticus 1:1 – 6:30 (134 verses) NIV
Luke 4:1 – 6:49 (131 verses) NIV

BBE — Bible in Basic English
WNT — Weymouth New Testament
NIV — New International Version

I managed to read the Bible only on three days this past week — Monday, Tuesday and today.

Over these three days of short readings, I finished the last five chapters of Exodus and went on with the first six chapters of Leviticus in the Old Testament.

For my New Testament reading, I covered chapters 1 to 6 of the Gospel according to St Luke.

---

Passage of the Day

But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed.
Luke 5:16  New International Version

One of those days, Jesus went out into the hills to pray, and spent the night praying to God.
Luke 6:12  New International Version

Dear Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us follow the example of our Lord Iesus who often withdrew to lonely places to pray alone. Let us find time to pray alone by ourselves too.

Treasured up, dwell in mind

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  9th Cycle.

Mon 23Jan23
Exodus 36:1 – 37:29 (67 verses) BBE
Luke 1:1 – 80 (80 verses) WNT

Tue 24Jan23
Exodus 38:1 – 40:38 (112 verses) BBE
Luke 2:1 – 3:38 (90 verses) WNT

Over yesterday and today, I finished reading the last five chapters of Exodus along with the first three chapters of the Gospel of Luke.

---

Passage of the Day

19 But Mary treasured up all these things, often dwelling on them in her mind.
Luke 2:19  Weymouth New Testament

51b His mother carefully treasured up all these incidents in her memory.
Luke 2:51b  Weymouth New Testament

Mary heard some strange things after her child Iesus the Son of God was born.

A group of exultant shepherds had come to see the little new-born baby in the manger where Mary had laid him, all wrapped up. They told her a strange story about the announcement made by an Angel of the birth of the Anointed Lord, born that day in Bethlehem the town of David, and signified by being wrapped in swaddling cloths and lying in a manger. They told Mary that they had also seen a multitude of Angels praising and glorifying God after that.

Luke 2:19 tells us that Mary treasured up all these things, and after that she dwelled on them often.

Twelve years later, Mary heard some strange things again, this time from her son Iesus himself.

The twelve year old Iesus had stayed back in Jerusalem after attending a Feast, without his parents' knowledge. His parents had left Jerusalem with the travelling group of friends and relatives and realised it only after a day's journey. They returned to look for their son in Jerusalem and, after three days, found him engaged in a discussion with the Rabbis in the Temple.

When Mary admonished the boy for making them search in anguish, he replied that it was his duty to be engaged in "his Father's business" (Luke 2:49).

Luke 2:51b tells us that again Mary treasured up all these in her memory.

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I have made several observations about these accounts of Mary keeping these incidences "treasured up" in her heart twelve years ago, back in Dec2009 and Jan2010, and briefly again in April last year, links below —

• What Mary kept in her heart, Part One (Dec2009)
• What Mary kept in her heart, Part Two (Jan2010)
• What Mary kept in her heart, Part Three (Jan2010)
• Mary pondered in her heart while the shepherds glorified God (Apr2021)

The Name of God . . .

OT  5th Cycle.   NT  9th Cycle.

Sun 08Jan23
Genesis 36:1 – 40:23 (155 verses) NIV
Mark 1:1 – 3:35 (108 verses) NIV

Thu 12Jan23
Genesis 41:1 – 50:26 (337 verses) WEB

Fri 13Jan23
Mark 4:1 – 5:43 (84 verses) RBV

Sat 14Jan23
Exodus 1:1 – 12:51 (335 verses) WEB
Mark 6:1 – 8:38 (131 verses) RBV

Sun 15Jan23
Exodus 13:1 – 19:25 (184 verses) WEB
Mark 9:1 – 10:52 (102 verses) KJV

Fri 20Jan23
Exodus 20:1 – 29:46 (331 verses) WEB
Mark 11:1 – 12:44 (77 verses) JND

Sat 21Jan23
Exodus 30:1 – 35:35 (183 verses) WEB
Mark 13:1 – 16:20 (176 verses) JND

NIV – New International Version
WEB – World English Bible
RBV – Revised Berkeley Version
KJV – King James Version
JND – J.N.Darby's Translation

Through these second and third weeks of January, I finished reading the last five chapters of Genesis and went on to read the first thirty-five chapters of Exodus. In the New Testament, I finished reading all sixteen chapters of the Gospel according to St Mark.

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Passage of the Day

20 Behold, I send an angel before you, to keep you by the way, and to bring you into the place which I have prepared.
21 Pay attention to him, and listen to his voice. Don’t provoke him, for he will not pardon your disobedience, for my name is in him.
Exodus 23:20–21  World English Bible

Today I learned that the Angel of the LORD, sent ahead of Moses and the Children of Israel as they sojourn in the wilderness, carried the Name of the LORD (Yehovah). This implies that the Angel carried the power and authority of the LORD Himself. In other words, wherever the Angel went, the Presence of the LORD was with him, even in him. One can say that the Angel of the LORD represented the LORD Himself.

This passage also reminds me of the words of our Lord Iesus in his High-priestly Prayer recorded in John 17:11 – 12a:

11 I will remain in the world no longer, but they are still in the world, and I am coming to you. Holy Father, protect them by the power of your name, the name you gave me, so that they may be one as we are one.
12 While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe by that name you gave me.
Exodus 23:20–21  World English Bible

I can observe that just as the Name of the LORD was given to His Angel who accompanied the Children of Israel in their wandering in the wilderness, the same Name of God was also given to His Messiah. It was by the power of "that Name you gave me" (Jn 17:12a), that our Lord Iesus kept his disciples safe throughout his ministry on earth. Our Lord also prayed for his disciples, and for all who would believe in him (see John 17:20), that the Father will protect all believers by the power of His Name.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us remind ourselves — that we who have put our faith in the Lord Iesus are protected by the power of the Name of God. Thanks be to God.

Put salt on all your offerings

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Wednesday 06Jul2022
Exodus 38:1 - 40:38 Good News Bible (112 verses)
Leviticus 1:1 - 2:16 Good News Bible (33 verses)
Mark 13:1 - 14:72 J.N.Darby (109 verses)

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I reached the end of the book of Exodus today and went on to read the first two chapters of Leviticus.

In the New Testament, I continued reading chapters 13 and 14 of the Gospel according to Mark.

Passage of the day

A verse in Leviticus chapter 2 is particularly noteworthy in today's OT reading.

In verse 13, it is recorded that the LORD commanded Moses to ensure that salt is put on all offerings, including grain offerings, because "salt represents the covenant between you and God".

Put salt on every grain offering, because salt represents the covenant between you and God. (You must put salt on all your offerings.)
Leviticus 2:13  Good News Bible 

This requirement of putting salt on all offerings to God is mentioned by the Lord Iesus in Mark chapter 9 where it is applied to his teaching that we should "have salt" (i.e. faithfulness to the covenant of God) in ourselves.

Salt is faithful. It never loses its flavour. If salt loses its flavour, it becomes useless. Likewise our Lord taught his disciples to have the faithfulness of salt in themselves.

. . . every sacrifice will be seasoned with salt. Salt is good, but if the salt loses its flavour, how will you season it? Have salt in yourselves, and have peace with one another.
Mark 9:49 - 50  New King James Version 

Thirteen years ago, I wrote briefly on the meaning of salt in the context of faithfulness to God:

• Salt: flavour or fidelity? (09Apr2009)

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One. Let us have the unchanging faithfulness of salt in ourselves. Let us never lose our flavour.

Filled with wisdom, understanding, knowledge, and workmanship

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Tuesday 05Jul2022
Exodus 34:1 - 37:29 World English Bible (137 verses)
Mark 10:1 - 12:44 World English Bible (129 verses)

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In my New Testament reading today, I reached chapter 12 of the Gospel of Mark, while in the Old Testament, I am approaching the end of the book of Exodus, finishing chapter 37.

Passage of the day

Chapter 35 of Exodus tells us of two men chosen by the LORD to be his craftsmen in building the Tabernacle and its coverings and furnishings, and the priestly vestments.

They are Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur of tribe Judah, assisted by Oboliab ben Ahisamach of tribe Dan.

Verse 31 tells us that the LORD has called Bezalel and has filled him "filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship".

Similarly, verse 35 tells us that God has filled both Bezalel and Oholiab "with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver,".

30 Moses said to the children of Israel, “Behold, the LORD has called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
31 He has filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding, in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship;
32 and to make skilful works, to work in gold, in silver, in bronze,
33 in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of skilful workmanship.
34 He has put in his heart that he may teach, both he and Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan.
35 He has filled them with wisdom of heart to work all kinds of workmanship, of the engraver, of the skilful workman, and of the embroiderer, in blue, in purple, in scarlet, and in fine linen, and of the weaver, even of those who do any workmanship, and of those who make skilful works.
Exodus 35:30 - 35  World English Bible 

A similar description of the calling of Bezalel ben Uri ben Hur and Oboliab ben Ahisamach is given earlier in Exodus chapter 31, as shown below:

1 The LORD spoke to Moses, saying,
2 “Behold, I have called by name Bezalel the son of Uri, the son of Hur, of the tribe of Judah.
3 I have filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, and in understanding, and in knowledge, and in all kinds of workmanship,
4 to devise skilful works, to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze,
5 and in cutting of stones for setting, and in carving of wood, to work in all kinds of workmanship.
6 Behold, I myself have appointed with him Oholiab, the son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan; and in the heart of all who are wise-hearted I have put wisdom, that they may make all that I have commanded you:
7 the Tent of Meeting, the ark of the covenant, the mercy seat that is on it, all the furniture of the Tent,
8 the table and its vessels, the pure lamp stand with all its vessels, the altar of incense,
9 the altar of burnt offering with all its vessels, the basin and its base,
10 the finely worked garments—the holy garments for Aaron the priest, the garments of his sons to minister in the priest’s office— 11 the anointing oil, and the incense of sweet spices for the holy place: according to all that I have commanded you they shall do.”
Exodus 31:1 - 10  World English Bible 

Brothers and Sisters in the Lord Iesus Anointed, let us seek to be filled with the Spirit of God, that, like Bezalel and Oholiab, we may have wisdom, understanding, and knowledge, to be skilfull workers in the Kingdom of God.

Except by prayer and fasting

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Monday 04Jul2022
Exodus 29:1 - 33:23 World English Bible (160 verses)
Mark 7:1 - 9:50 World English Bible (125 verses)

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This afternoon, I read through chapters 29 to 33 of the book of Exodus, along with chapters 7 to 9 of the gospel of Mark.

Passage of the day

Coming down from the Mount of Transfiguration with the disciples Peter, James, and John, our Lord Iesus saw a crowd gathered around the other disciples and questioning them.

Our Lord asked the scribes who were among them,

"What are you asking them?" (Mark 9:16)

One of the people in the crowd answered the Lord,

"Teacher, I brought to you my son, who has a mute spirit; and wherever it seizes him, it dashes him down, and he foams at the mouth, and grinds his teeth, and wastes away. I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they weren't able.' (Mark 9:17 – 18)

The big question in today's passage is, "Why weren't the disciples able to cast out the spirit from the boy?"

The answer is given by our Lord in verse 29, " . . . except by prayer and fasting".

25 When Jesus saw that a multitude came running together, he rebuked the unclean spirit, saying to him, 'You mute and deaf spirit, I command you, come out of him, and enter no more into him!'
26 Having cried out, and convulsed him greatly, it came out. The boy became like one dead; so much that most of them said, 'He is dead.'
27 But Jesus took him by the hand, and raised him up; and he arose.
28 When he had come into the house, his disciples asked him privately, 'Why couldn't we cast it out?'
29 He said to them, 'This kind can come out by nothing, except by prayer and fasting.'
Mark 9:25 – 29  World English Bible 

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, there are times in our life when nothing seems to work. Those are the times we need to turn to God in prayer and fasting. Without much prayer and devoted fasting, "this kind" cannot come out.

Go to your house, to your friends

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Sunday 03Jul2022
Exodus 24:1 - 28:43 ASV (159 verses)
Mark 4:1 - 6:56 BBE (140 verses)

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Today, I start the first day of a new biblical week by reading five chapters from the book of Exodus along with another three chapters from the gospel of Mark.

Passage of the day

In the account of the demoniac in the country of the Gerasenes, from whom our Lord Iesus cast out a legion of demons, the Lord did not allow the healed man to follow him, but instead told to return to his household and to his friends, to tell them of the great things that God had done for him.

Mark 5:18 – 20  BBE  Bible in Basic English

18 And when he was getting into the boat, the man in whom had been the evil spirits had a great desire to come with him.

19 And he would not let him, but said to him, Go to your house, to your friends, and give them news of the great things the Lord has done for you, and how he had mercy on you.

20 And he went on his way, and made public in the country of Decapolis what great things Jesus had done for him: and all men were full of wonder.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, as many as desire to follow our Lord Iesus, let us also go and tell our family and friends of great things that God has done for us.

You shall not wrong an alien, neither shall you oppress

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Saturday 02Jul2022
Exodus 18:1 - 23:33 WEB (178 verses)
Mark 1:1 - 3:35 WEB (108 verses)

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Shabbat Shalom.

Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. Let us rest from all our work and keep the Fourth Commandment.

Passage of the day

In today's reading of the Old Testament, I came across a passage in Exodus chapter 22 reminding us not to oppress foreigners who live among us. The LORD will hear their cries if we mistreat them.

Exodus 22:21 - 23  WEB  World English Bible

21 You shall not wrong an alien, neither shall you oppress him, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt.

22 "You shall not take advantage of any widow or fatherless child.

23 If you take advantage of them at all, and they cry at all to me, I will surely hear their cry;

Watch and pray

OT  4th Cycle.    NT  7th Cycle.

Monday 27Jun2022
Exodus 1:1 - 6:30 WEB (153 verses)
Matthew 21:1 - 23:39 WEB (131 verses)

Tuesday 28Jun2022
Exodus 7:1 - 12:51 WEB (182 verses)
Matthew 24:1 - 25:46 RSV (97 verses)

Friday 01Jul2022
Exodus 13:1 - 17:16 NASB (132 verses)
Matthew 26:1 - 28:20 ESV (161 verses)

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After three days of travelling, I returned home last night and today is already the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week.

It is preparation day.

Let us finish all our tasks for the week, tie up all loose ends and prepared to enter into the Seventh Day Sabbath Rest at sunset this evening.

Over the past four days, I have read through the first seventeen chapters of Exodus along with the final eight chapters of the Gospel of Matthew. Tomorrow I will begin reading the Gospel of Mark.

Passage of the day

Matthew 26:38 - 41  ESV  English Standard Version

38 Then he said to them, “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death; remain here, and watch with me.”

39 And going a little farther he fell on his face and prayed, saying, “My Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as you will.”

40 And he came to the disciples and found them sleeping. And he said to Peter, “So, could you not watch with me one hour?

41 Watch and pray that you may not enter into temptation. The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us always watch and pray to avoid falling into temptation because our spirit is willing but our flesh is weak.

Doing all the work: as the LORD commanded

Sunday 09Jan2022

Today's Passages:
Exodus 36:1 - 40:38 WEBBE (179 verses)
Mark 4:1 - 6:56 BBE (140 verses)

Today is the First Day of the Biblical Week. I have finished reading the last five chapters of the Book of Exodus. Tomorrow I will begin reading the Book of Leviticus.

In my Old Testament reading this afternoon, I observed in Exodus chapter 39 that the children of Israel carried out ALL the work of building the Tabernacle and the Tent of Meeting according to ALL that YeHoVaH commanded Moses (Exodus 39:32). Moses inspected ALL the work and saw that they had done it as YeHoVaH had commanded (Exodus 39:43).

Exodus 39:32 - 33a  WEBBE  World English Bible British Edition

32 Thus all the work of the tabernacle of the Tent of Meeting was finished. The children of Israel did according to all that the LORD commanded Moses; so they did. 33 They brought the tabernacle to Moses:

The Tent of Meeting  (Exodus 39:33 - 38)

• The tent
  • with all its furniture,
  • its clasps,
  • its boards,
  • its bars,
  • its pillars,
  • its sockets,
• Coverings of the tent
  • the covering of rams’ skins dyed red,
  • the covering of sea cow hides,
  • the veil of the screen,
• The ark of the covenant
  • with its poles,
  • the mercy seat,
• The table
  • all its vessels,
  • the show bread,
• The pure lamp stand
  • its lamps, even the lamps to be set in order,
  • all its vessels,
  • the oil for the light,
• The golden altar
  • the anointing oil,
  • the sweet incense,
• the screen for the door of the Tent,

The Court outside the Tent of Meeting  (Exodus 39:39 - 41):

• The bronze altar
  • its grating of bronze,
  • its poles,
  • all of its vessels,
• the basin and its base
• The hangings of the court
  • its pillars,
  • its sockets,
  • the screen for the gate of the court,
  • its cords,
  • its pins,
• And all the instruments of the service of the tabernacle, for the Tent of Meeting

The Vestments of the Priests  (Exodus 39:41):

• the finely worked garments for ministering in the holy place,
• the holy garments for Aaron the priest,
• and the garments of his sons, to minister in the priest’s office.

Exodus 39:42 - 43  WEBBE  World English Bible British Edition

42 According to all that the LORD commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.
43 Moses saw all the work, and behold, they had done it as the LORD had commanded. They had done so; and Moses blessed them.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us serve our Lord diligently by doing all that he has commanded us.

Two tablets of stone, written on two sides

Saturday 08Jan2022

Today's Passages: Part One
Exodus 26:1 - 31:18 NRSV (203 verses)
Matthew 27:1 - 28:20 NRSV (86 verses)

Today's Passages: Part Two
Exodus 32:1 - 35:35 NRSV (128 verses)
Mark 1:1 - 3:35 NRSV (108 verses)

Shabbat Shalom. Today is the Seventh Day of the Biblical Week. It is Sabbath. Let us rest from all our work in keeping the Fourth Commandment.

On this Sabbath Day, I read longer portions of both Old and New Testaments, in two parts as shown under "Today's Passages" above. I have also finished reading the Gospel of Matthew and have gone on to read the first three chapters of Mark. Tomorrow I will continue with Mark chapter 4.

From my Old Testament readings today, the accounts in Exodus chapters 24, 31, and 32 tell us that God gave Moses two tablets of stone after Moses had spent forty days and forty nights on the mountain to which God had called him and his helper Joshua. (Exodus 24:18)

From Exodus 24:12, we learn that the stone tablets contain the law and commandments which God had written for the instruction of the children of Israel.

Exodus 24:12, 13, 15 - 18  NRSV  New Revised Standard Version
12The LORD said to Moses, ‘Come up to me on the mountain, and wait there; and I will give you the tablets of stone, with the law and the commandment, which I have written for their instruction.’ 13So Moses set out with his assistant Joshua, and Moses went up into the mountain of God.

15Then Moses went up on the mountain, and the cloud covered the mountain. 16The glory of the LORD settled on Mount Sinai, and the cloud covered it for six days; on the seventh day he called to Moses out of the cloud. 17Now the appearance of the glory of the LORD was like a devouring fire on the top of the mountain in the sight of the people of Israel. 18Moses entered the cloud, and went up on the mountain. Moses was on the mountain for forty days and forty nights.

Further on, Exodus 31:18 tells us that the two tablets were called "tablets of the covenant", and were written with the "finger" of God.

Exodus 31:18  NRSV
18 When God finished speaking with Moses on Mount Sinai, he gave him the two tablets of the covenant, tablets of stone, written with the finger of God.

And finally in Exodus 32:14, we can read that the two stone tablets were written on both sides, on the front and on the back. This verse also states that the writing on the tablets was the writing of God Himself, engraved upon the tablets.

Exodus 32:14 - 16  NRSV
15 Then Moses turned and went down from the mountain, carrying the two tablets of the covenant in his hands, tablets that were written on both sides, written on the front and on the back. 16The tablets were the work of God, and the writing was the writing of God, engraved upon the tablets.

Readings on Preparation Day

Friday 07Jan2022

Today's Passages:
Exodus 21:1 - 25:40 GNB (158 verses)
Matthew 25:1 - 26:75 JND (121 verses)

Today is the Sixth Day of the Biblical Week. It is Preparation Day again.

Let us finish all our tasks for the week, tie up all loose ends, and prepare for the Sabbath Rest of the Seventh Day which will begin at sunset this evening.

Today I read a hundred and fifty-eighty verses from the Book of Exodus, and another one hundred and twenty-one verses from the Gospel According to Matthew.

Don't you be called Rabbi

Thursday 06Jan2022

Today's Passages:
Exodus 16:1 - 20:26 GNB (130 verses)
Matthew 23:1 - 24:51 WEB (90 verses)

This morning in my New Testament reading, I am reminded of our Lord's teaching in Matthew chapter 23 that, unlike the scribes and Pharisees, we are not to love high positions nor to assume lofty titles for ourselves.

Whilst the scribes and Pharisees "love the chief place at feasts, the chief seats in the synagogues, the salutations in the marketplaces, and to be called 'Rabbi, Rabbi' by men", the Lord Iesus told his disciples, ". . . he who is greatest among you will be your servant" (Matthew 23:6,7,11 WEB).

Matthew 23:8 - 12  WEB  World English Bible

8 But don't you be called 'Rabbi,' for one is your teacher, the Christ, and all of you are brothers.
9 Call no man on the earth your father, for one is your Father, he who is in heaven.
10 Neither be called masters, for one is your master, the Christ.
11 But he who is greatest among you will be your servant.
12 Whoever will exalt himself will be humbled, and whoever will humble himself will be exalted.

Brothers and Sisters in the Anointed One, let us beware of fallng into the love of high positions and lofty titles. Let us be one another's servants instead.

What does Hosanna mean?

Wednesday 05Jan2022

Today's Passages:
Exodus 12:1 - 15:27 ESV (131 verses)
Matthew 20:1 - 22:46 WNT (126 verses)

In the New Testament today, I read the account of our Lord's Triumphal entry into Jerusalem, recorded in Matthew chapter 21 and also mentioned in John chapter 12. I am reminded of a blog post I wrote about two months ago on the meaning of the exclamation, "Hosanna!". I have updated that blog post and reproduced it here below:

This article was first written on Wednesday 03Nov2021, UPDATED today: Wednesday 05Jan2022. The original post can be found in the following link:

• Blessed is He that cometh in the Name of the LORD

John 12:13 tells of the people welcoming our Lord Iesus into Jerusalem with the exclamation, "Hosanna", a Greek word which some scholars believe is a combination of the Hebrew words “yasha” (to save or deliver) and “anna” (please, I beseech).

We can see this meaning reflected in Psalm 118:25,26, a prophecy that was eventually fulfilled in John 12:13,

John 12:12 - 13 KJV King James Version

On the next day much people that were come to the feast, when they heard that Jesus was coming to Jerusalem,
Took branches of palm trees, and went forth to meet him, and cried, Hosanna: Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.

Psalm 118:25 - 26 KJV

Save now, I beseech thee, O LORD: O LORD, I beseech thee, send now prosperity.
Blessed be he that cometh in the name of the LORD: we have blessed you out of the house of the LORD.

Bearing in mind that the Greek expression "Hosanna" is equivalent to the Hebrew "yasha anna" or "save, I beseech thee" (Psalm 118:25), a more detailed account of our Lord's Triumphal entry into Jerusalem is given in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 21:

Matthew 21:8 - 11  KJV  King James Version

8 And a very great multitude spread their garments in the way; others cut down branches from the trees, and strawed them in the way.
9 And the multitudes that went before, and that followed, cried, saying, Hosanna to the son of David: Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
10 And when he was come into Jerusalem, all the city was moved, saying, Who is this? 11 And the multitude said, This is Jesus the prophet of Nazareth of Galilee.

The words, "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Hosanna in the highest" in verse 9 is rendered more clearly by the Weymouth New Testament as,

"God save the Son of David!"
and
"God in the highest Heavens save Him!" respectively.

In other words, "Hosanna" was a prayer to God for our Lord Iesus the Anointed to be saved from his enemies.

When we understand that Hosanna means "Save, I beseech Thee", we begin to understand, somewhat profoundly, that "Hosanna to the Son of David" (Matthew 21:9 KJV) is not a cry to the Lord Iesus. Instead, it was a cry in prayer to God, beseeching Him to save the Son of David!

Furthermore, the meaning of the expression of praise, "Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the LORD" becomes much more meaningful if we recognise that the word translated "LORD" refers to the Name of God, YeHoVaH, from the tetragrammation Yod-He-Vav-He.

Thus when our Lord Iesus was entering Jerusalem triumphantly that day, the people were exclaiming, "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of YeHoVaH". In other words, the people recognised that Iesus came to them in the Name of his God.

Brothers and Sisters in Iesus the Anointed One, let us ponder over the meaning of these words of prayer "Hosanna to the Son of David" and "Hosanna in the highest", and the words of praise, "Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the Name of the LORD".

Let us likewise call upon our God to save us, "yasha anna". In our own words, "Save us, we beseech Thee" and bless the Anointed Lord Iesus, "Blessed is he who comes to us in the Name of Yehovah".