Wednesday, April 30, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 4:12-16
Geneva Bible Translation Ed. 1599
12 No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfect in us. (a)
13 Hereby know we, that we dwell in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his Spirit.
14 And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father sent the Son to be the Savior of the world.
15 Whosoever confesseth that Jesus is the Son of God, in him dwelleth God, and he in God.
16 And we have known, and believed the love that God hath in us, God is love, and he that dwelleth in love, dwelleth in God, and God in him.
(a) Read John 1:18; 1 Timothy 6:16
The Christian love is an assurance of the divine inhabitation: If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, 1 John 4:12. Now God dwelleth in us, not by any visible presence, or immediate appearance to the eye (no man hath seen God at any time, 1 John 4:12), but by his Spirit (1 John 4:13); or, “No man hath seen God at any time; he does not here present himself to our eye or to our immediate intuition, and so he does not in this way demand and exact our love; but he demands and expects it in that way in which he has thought meet to deserve and claim it, and that is in the illustration that he has given of himself and of his love. In them, and in his appearance for them and with them, is God to be loved; and thus, if we love one another, God dwelleth in us. The sacred lovers of the brethren are the temples of God; the divine Majesty has a peculiar residence there.
Herein the divine love attains a considerable end and accomplishment in us: “And his love is perfected in us, 1 John 4:12. It has obtained its completion in and upon us. God’s love is not perfected in him, but in and with us. His love could not be designed to be ineffectual and fruitless upon us; when its proper genuine end and issue are attained and produced thereby, it may be said to be perfected; so faith is perfected by its works, and love perfected by its operations. When the divine love has wrought us to the same image, to the love of God, and thereupon to the love of the brethren, the children of God, for his sake, it is therein and so far perfected and completed, though this love of ours is not at present perfect, nor the ultimate end of the divine love to us.” How ambitious should we be of this fraternal Christian love, when God reckons his own love to us perfected thereby! To this the apostle, having mentioned the high favour of God’s dwelling in us, subjoins the note and character thereof: Hereby know we that we dwell in him, and he in us, because he hath given us of his Spirit, 1 John 4:13. Certainly this mutual inhabitation is something more noble and great than we are well acquainted with or can declare. One would think that to speak of God dwelling in us, and we in him, were to use words too high for mortals, had not God gone before us therein. What this indwelling imports has been briefly explained on 1 John 3:24. What it fully is must be left to the revelation of the blessed world. But this mutual inhabitation we know, says the apostle, because he hath given us of his spirit; he has lodged the image and fruit of his Spirit in our hearts (1 John 4:13), and the Spirit that he hath given us appears to be his, or of him, since it is the Spirit of power, of zeal and magnanimity for God, of love to God and man, and of a sound mind, of an understanding well instructed in the affairs of God and religion, and his kingdom among men.
Source - Matthew Henry’s Commentary
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 4:7-11
Geneva Bible Translation Ed. 1599
7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love cometh of God, and everyone that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.
8 He that loveth not, knoweth not God, for God is love.
9 Herein was that love of God made manifest amongst us, because God sent that his only begotten Son into this world, that we might live through him. (a)
10 Herein is that love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be a reconciliation for our sins. (b)
11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
(a) John 3:16
(b) KJV uses the word “propitiation” - That which propitiates; atonement or atoning sacrifice; specifically, the influence or effects of the death of Christ in appeasing the divine justice, and conciliating the divine favor - source Webster’s Dictionary Ed. 1828, 1913
The love of God the Father for “his only Son” (v. 9) is the source of the love that binds the fellowship of believers together as a family. By giving us His Son, the Father introduced us to the perfect love and eternal life that the Father and the Son have always enjoyed. - Reformation Study Bible
Additional notes here
Friday, April 25, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 4:1-6
Geneva Bible Translation Ed. 1599
1 Dearly beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: for many false Prophets are gone out into the world.
2 Hereby shall ye know the Spirit of God, Every spirit which confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God.
3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh, is not of God: but this is the spirit of Antichrist, of whom ye have heard, how that he should come, and now already he is in this world.
4 Little children, ye are of God, and have overcome them: for greater is he that is in you, than he that is in this world. (a)
5 They are of this world, therefore spake they of this world, and this world heareth them.
6 We are of God, he that knoweth God, heareth us: he that is not of God heareth us not. Hereby know we the Spirit of truth, and the spirit of error.
(a) Read John 18:36; Romans 12:2; 1 Corinthians 2:6; 2 Corinthians 1:12, 4:4; 1 John 2:15
He calls the disciples, to whom he writes, to caution and scrutiny about the spirits and spiritual professors that had now risen. 1. To caution: “Beloved, believe not every spirit; regard not, trust not, follow not, every pretender to the Spirit of God, or every professor of vision, or inspiration, or revelation from God.” Truth is the foundation of simulation and counterfeits; there had been real communications from the divine Spirit, and therefore others pretended thereto. God will take the way of his own wisdom and goodness, though it may be liable to abuse; he has sent inspired teachers to the world, and given us a supernatural revelation, though others may be so evil and so impudent as to pretend the same; every pretender to the divine Spirit, or to inspiration, and extraordinary illumination thereby, is not to be believed. God has given of his Spirit in these latter ages of the world, but not to all who profess to come furnished therewith; to the disciples is allowed a judgment of discretion, in reference to the spirits that would be believed and trusted in the affairs of religion. A reason is given for this trial: Because many false prophets have gone out into the world, 1 John 4:1. There being much about the time of our Saviour’s appearance in the world a general expectation among the Jews of a Redeemer to Israel, and the humiliation, spiritual reformation, and sufferings of the Saviour being taken as a prejudice against him, others were induced to set up as prophets and messiahs to Israel, according to the Saviour’s prediction, Matthew 24:23-24. It should not seem strange to us that false teachers set themselves up in the church: it was so in the apostles’ times; fatal is the spirit of delusion, sad that men should vaunt themselves for prophets and inspired preachers that are by no means so.
Source Matthew Henry Commentary
Thursday, April 24, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 3:16-24
Geneva Bible Translation Ed. 1599
16 Hereby have we perceived love, that he laid down his life for us: therefore we ought also to lay down our lives for the brethren.
17 And whosoever hath this world’s good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?
18 My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue only, but in deed and in truth. (a)
19 For thereby we know that we are of the truth, and shall before him assure our hearts.
20 For if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
21 Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, then have we boldness toward God.
22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things which are pleasing in his sight.
23 This is then his commandment, that we believe in the Name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave commandment.
24 For he that keepeth his commandments, dwelleth in him, and he in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, even by that Spirit which he hath given us
(a) Read James 1:21-25, 2:14-26
It is a mark of our evangelical justification, of our transition into a state of life: We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren, 1 John 3:14. We are by nature children of wrath and heirs of death. By the gospel (the gospel-covenant or promise) our state towards another world is altered and changed. We pass from death to life, from the guilt of death to the right of life; and this transition is made upon our believing in the Lord Jesus: He that believeth on the Son hath everlasting life, and he that believeth not hath the wrath of God abiding on him, John 3:36. Now this happy change of state we may come to be assured of: We know that we have passed from death to life; we may know it by the evidences of our faith in Christ, of which this love to our brethren is one, which leads us to characterize this love that is such a mark of our justified state. It is not a zeal for a party in the common religion, or an affection for, or an affectation of, those who are of the same denomination and subordinate sentiments with ourselves. The whole race of mankind—the gens humana, should be considered as being, in distinction from fallen angels, a redeemed nation; as having a divine Redeemer designed, prepared, and given for them. So God loved the world, even this world, that he gave his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him should not perish, but have everlasting life, John 3:16. A world so beloved of God should accordingly be loved by us. And this love will exert itself in earnest desires, and prayers, and attempts, for the conversion and salvation of the yet uncalled blinded world. - Source: Matthew Henry’s Commentary (Edited by RPW Sr.)
Wednesday, April 23, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 3:10-15
Geneva Bible Translation (Ed. 1599)
10 In this are the children of God known, and the children of the devil: whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God, neither he that loveth not his brother.
11 For this is the message that ye heard from the beginning, that we should love one another, (a)
12 Not as Cain which was of that wicked one, and slew his brother: and wherefore slew he him? because his own works were evil, and his brother’s good.
13 Marvel not my brethren, though this world hate you.
14 We know that we are translated from death unto life, because we love the brethren: he that loveth not his brother, abideth in death. (b)
15 Whosoever hateth his brother, is a manslayer: and ye know that no manslayer hath eternal life abiding in him. (c)
(a) Read John 13:34, 15:12
(b) Read 1 John 2:10
(c) Read Matthew 5:21-22
The history of the world is the story of hatred, right back to the archetypal conflict between Cain and Abel. John traces Cain’s hatred to the radical difference of his motivations from those of Abel a difference that will always exist between the world and the people of God. When the fellowship of believers is free from animosity, as John expects it will be, we know that we “have passed out of death into life”. But if such animosity invades the fellowship, it does so only by rejection of “the message that you have heard from the beginning”
Source - Reformation Study Bible
Additional study notes
Tuesday, April 22, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 3:1-9
Geneva Bible Translation (Ed. 1599)
3 And every man that hath this hope in him purgeth himself, even as he is pure.
4 Whosoever commiteth sin, transgresseth also the Law: for sin is the transgression of the Law.
5 And ye know that he was made manifest, that he might take away our sins, and in him is no sin. (a)
6 Whosoever abideth in him, sinneth not: whosoever sinneth, hath not seen him, neither hath known him.
7 Little children, let no man deceive you, he that doeth righteousness, is righteous, as he is righteous.
8 He that commiteth sin, is of the devil: for the devil sinneth from the beginning: for this purpose was made manifest that Son of God, that he might loose the works of the devil. (b)
9 Whosoever is born of God sinneth not: for his seed remaineth in him, neither can he sin, because he is born of God.
(a) Read Isaiah 53:6, 9; 2 Peter 2:22
(b) Read John 8:44
As those taught by the Spirit, believers know an entire system of truth and life that remains hidden to those who are in the world. Essential to this is knowing that although for the time being it may not be outwardly recognized, we can still be sure that we are “children of God” and “born of him.” The public revelation of this truth waits for the public revelation of God Himself “when he appears,” at the Second Coming. True children of God will bear the family likeness, both now, as our hope lends our lives a focused purity resembling His, and at the end, when “we shall be like him.” Only then will our knowledge of Him be complete, but even now our knowledge that “he is righteous” will bring increasing righteousness to our own lives. - Source; Reformation Study Bible
Additional study notes here and here
Monday, April 21, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 2:28-29
Geneva Bible Translation Ed. 1599
28 And now, little children, abide in him, that when he shall appear, we may be bold, and not be ashamed before him, at his coming. (a)
29 If ye know that he is righteous, know ye that he which doeth righteously, is born of him.
John refers to the visible and final return of Christ at the end of the age. At that time Christ will come as the Judge, but those who “abide in” Him by continuing to trust in the gospel message need have no fear of condemnation - Source Reformation Study Bible
(a) Read 1 Thessalonians 4:16; 1 Corinthians 15:52
Additional study notes
Sunday, April 20, 2014
Saturday, April 19, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 2:24-27
Geneva Bible Translation (Ed. 1599)
24 Let therefore abide in you that same which ye have heard from the beginning. If that which ye have heard from the beginning, shall remain in you, ye shall also continue in the Son, and in the Father. (a)
25 And this is the promise that he hath promised us, even that eternal life.
26 These things have I written unto you, concerning them that deceive you.
27 But that anointing which ye received of him, dwelleth in you: and ye need not that any man teach you: but as the same anointing teacheth you of all things, and it is true and is not lying, and as it taught you, ye shall abide in him.
(a) John 14:6-12
Friday, April 18, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 2:18-23
Geneva Bible Translation (1599 Ed.)
18 Little children, it is the last time, and as ye have heard that Antichrist shall come, even now there are many Antichrists: whereby we know that it is the last time.
19 They went out from us, but they were not of us: for if they had been of us, they should have continued with us. But this cometh to pass, that it might appear, that they are not all of us.
20 But ye have an ointment from that Holy one, and know all things.
21 I have not written unto you, because ye know not the truth: but because ye know it, and that no lie is of the truth.
22 Who is a liar, but he that denieth that Jesus is that Christ? the same is that Antichrist that denieth the Father and the Son.
23 Whosoever denieth the Son, the same hath not the Father.
From the time that Jesus pronounced judgment on this world, “the last hour” has been upon it, a final intensification of opposition to God that ends with the final Judgment. This prediction began to be fulfilled in the New Testament era (Matthew 24:24) with those who denied the Father and the Son (v. 22) and left the church to propagate their false teaching (v. 19). Their denial of the Son was a rejection of the Father who sent Him (2:23; John 15:23). In contrast to the antichrists, believers have an anointing from the Holy Spirit (vv. 20, 27) that opens their hearts and minds to know the saving truth. The Spirit Himself is the best teacher; He will remain with us always and protect us from falsehoods that could lead us away from Christ. The Spirit abides wherever the message of the gospel is received, and wherever the Spirit abides, the Son and the Father are present as well (v. 24). - Notations from The Reformation Study
Additional Study notes may be found here and here
Thursday, April 17, 2014
The First General Epistle of John
Chapter 2:15-17
Geneva Bible Translation
15 Love not this world, neither the things that are in this world. If any man love this world, the love of the Father is not in him. (a)
16 For all that is in this world, (as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life) is not of the Father, but is of this world.
17 And this world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that fulfilleth the will of God, abideth ever.
The moral admonition not to love the world is also practical advice, for it is already clear that the world is passing away (v. 17). As in John’s Gospel, the “world” is the system of rebellion and pride that seeks to displace God and His rule. It is this system rather than the created order itself which is “not from the Father” and which has already been marked for judgment and destruction (John 12:31). Those who are not of the world receive the word of the Father from Jesus (John 17:14) and show by their response to it that they are chosen for salvation and eternal life.
Notations - Reformation Study Bible
(a) John 15:19, 17:16; Romans 12:12, 13:14; Ephesians 2:3; James 1:27, 4:4, 16
Wednesday, April 16, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 2:12-14
12 Little children, I write unto you, because your sins are forgiven you for his Name’s sake.
13 I write unto you, fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I write unto you, young men, because ye have overcome that wicked one. I write unto you, little children, because ye have known the Father.
14 I have written unto you fathers, because ye have known him that is from the beginning. I have written unto you, young men, because ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome that wicked one.
The three groups addressed in these verses are actually one group, the recipients of the letter, characterized in different ways. They are “children” because with the forgiveness of sins they have been welcomed into the family of God their Father. They are “fathers” because their knowledge of God in Jesus Christ qualifies them to hand this knowledge down to future generations. They are called “young men” because their decisive rejection of the evil one is a victory like that of Jesus, who fought with Satan in the wilderness and won. (a)
Notation source the Reformation Study Bible
(a) Read Matthew 4:1-11
Additional study notes
Tuesday, April 15, 2014
The First General Epistle of John
Chapter 2:3-11
Geneva Bible Translation
3 And hereby we are sure that we know him, if we keep his commandments. (a)
4 He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.
5 But he that keepeth his word, in him is the love of God perfect indeed: hereby we know that we are in him.
6 He that saith he remaineth in him, ought even so to walk as he hath walked.
7 Brethren, I write no new commandment unto you, but an old commandment, which ye have had from the beginning: this old commandment is that word, which ye have heard from the beginning.
8 Again, a new commandment I write unto you, that which is true in him: and also in you: for the darkness is past, and that true light now shineth. (b)
9 He that saith that he is in that light, and hateth his brother, is in darkness, until this time. (c)
10 He that loveth his brother, abideth in that light, and there is no occasion of evil in him.
11 But he that hateth his brother, is in darkness, and walketh in darkness, and knoweth not whither he goeth, because that darkness hath blinded his eyes.
(a) In the Bible, to “know” someone includes close communion and love. To know Christ means to “keep his commandments.” This knowledge of Christ is called a “perfected” love of God, not because it makes us personally sinless, but because it is irrevocably established in those who live by it. Anyone who presumes to have received forgiveness from God but who spurns the gift of obedient love as unnecessary is a “liar.” Instead of receiving “Jesus Christ the righteous” as Savior, such a person manufactures a false Christ, a savior who is indifferent to righteousness.
Source of notation Reformation Study Bible
(b) Read John 13:34, 15:12
(c) Read 1 John 3:14
Additional study reading can be found here and here
Monday, April 14, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 2:1-2
Geneva Bible Translation
1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not: and if any man sin, we have an Advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Just.
2 And he is the reconciliation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.
John wants his readers to respond to God’s mercy with a life of obedience. This is an expression of concern for those among whom he has served. A propitiation (used in KJV) is a sacrifice to God meant to take away the enmity brought by sin between God and the worshiper. Only Christ can be an effective propitiation. Christ’s sacrifice is sufficient not only for John and his immediate community, but is valid anywhere in the world. It is a sacrifice that requires no addition or supplement.- Notation from The Reformation Study Bible. (a)
(a) The word propitiation carries the basic idea of appeasement, or satisfaction, specifically towards God. Propitiation is a two-part act that involves appeasing the wrath of an offended person and being reconciled to them.Propitiation is that by which it becomes consistent with his character and government to pardon and bless the sinner. The propitiation does not procure his love or make him loving; it only renders it consistent for him to exercise his love towards sinners.
Notation from Theopedia.com
Additional Study Notes
Sunday, April 13, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 1:5-10
Geneva Bible Translation
5 This then is the message, which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness. (a)
6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not truly.
7 But if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. (b)
8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and truth is not in us. (c)
9 If we acknowledge our sins, he is faithful and just, to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
10 If we say, we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
(a) Read John 8:12
(b) Read Hebrews 9:28; 1 Peter 1:19; Revelations 1:5
(c) Read Proverbs 20:9
Like John’s Gospel, 1 John begins with a contrast between light and darkness. In the Gospel, the incarnate Christ is the light that continues to shine in the darkness of a world that tries to exclude Him. Believers are faced with a choice: either to “walk in the light,” coming to Him and opening their hearts to Him in confession of sin, or to “walk in darkness,” denying that they are sinners. The contrast between light and darkness is inseparably linked to a contrast between those who “practice the truth” and agree with God, and those who make God “a liar.” It is an inescapable reality that believers sin; the remedy for sin—confession, and cleansing by the blood of Jesus—is God’s continuing irrevocable gift to believers. Because Jesus’ death has paid in full the penalty for sin, and because God has recognized Jesus as His true Son by raising Him from the dead, God grants forgiveness and cleansing as a matter of faithfulness and justice. He will not and cannot refuse.
Source - Reformation Study Bible
By walking in the light, we walk in the light of truth. We see by that light, the way that God had created us originally, to be in HIS image, without blemish, without sin and to be righteous.
Saturday, April 12, 2014
The First Epistle General of John
Chapter 1:1-4
Geneva Bible Translation
God Made Manifest in the Flesh (a)
1 That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with these our eyes, which we have looked upon, and these hands of ours have handled of that word of life,
2 (For that life was made manifest, and we have seen it, and bear witness, and show unto you that eternal life, which was with the Father, and was made manifest unto us.)
3 That I say, which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye may also have fellowship with us, and that our fellowship also may be with the Father and with his Son Jesus Christ.
4 And these things write I unto you, that your joy may be full.
(a) Read John 1:1-4; Colossians 1:16
A summation of why God’s grace has been given unto us, the above verses, and the related ones in notation (a), simply put; God loves us so much, that he sent Himself, His spirit, into the flesh to be a sacrifice for our sins.
Thursday, April 10, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 12:9-14
10 The Preacher sought to find out pleasant words, and an upright writing, even the words of truth.
11 The words of the wise are like goads, and like nails fastened by the masters of the assemblies, which are given by one pastor.
12 And of other things beside these, my son, take thou heed: for there is none end in making many books, and much reading is a weariness of the flesh.
13 Let us hear the end of all: fear God and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man. (a)
14 For God will bring every work unto judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or evil.
(a) Read Matthew 22:36-40
Wednesday, April 9, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 12:1-8
1 Remember now thy Creator in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not, nor the years approach, wherein thou shalt say, I have no pleasure in them:
2 While the sun is not dark, nor the light, nor the moon, nor the stars, nor the clouds return after the rain.
3 When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall bow themselves, and the grinders shall cease, because they are few, and they wax dark that look out by the windows:
4 And the doors shall be shut without by the base sound of the grinding, and he shall rise up at the voice of the bird: and all the daughters of singing shall be abased:
5 Also they shall be afraid of the high thing, and fear shall be in the way, and the almond tree shall flourish, and the grasshopper shall be a burden, and concupiscence shall be driven away: for man goeth to the house of his age, and the mourners go about in the street.
6 While the silver cord is not lengthened, nor the golden ewer broken, nor the [p]pitcher broken at the well, nor the wheel broken at the cistern,
7 And dust return to the earth as it was, and the spirit return to God that gave it.
8 Vanity of vanities, saith the Preacher, all is vanity.
Tuesday, April 8, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 11:9-10
9 Rejoice, O young man, in thy youth, and let thine heart cheer thee in the days of thy youth: and walk in the ways of thine heart, and in the sight of thine eyes: but know that for all these things, God will bring thee to judgment.
10 Therefore take away grief out of thine heart, and cause evil to depart from thy flesh: for childhood and youth are vanity. (a)
(a) Walk in a way that is best suited for you, but, temper it with the realization that you are God’s proxy here on earth, and as such, walk according to His precepts.
Monday, April 7, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 11:1-8
1 Cast thy bread upon the waters: for after many days thou shalt find it.
2 Give a portion to seven, and also to eight: for thou knowest not what evil shall be upon the earth.
3 If the clouds be full, they will pour forth rain upon the earth: and if the tree do fall toward the South, or toward the North, in the place that the tree falleth, there it shall be.
4 He that observeth the wind shall not sow, and he that regardeth the clouds, shall not reap.
5 As thou knowest not which is the way of the spirit, nor how the bones do grow in the womb of her that is with child: so thou knowest not the work of God that worketh all.
6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening let not thine hand rest: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, this or that, or whether both shall be a like good.
7 Surely the light is a pleasant thing: and it is a good thing to the eyes to see the sun.
8 Though a man live many years, and in them all he rejoice, yet he shall remember the days of darkness, because they are many, all that cometh is vanity.
Related scripture: Read 2 Corinthians 6-8
Sunday, April 6, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 10:11-20
11 If the serpent bite, when he is not charmed: no better is a babbler.
12 The words of the mouth of a wise man have grace: but the lips of a fool devour himself.13 The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness, and the latter end of his mouth is wicked madness.
14 For the fool multiplieth words, saying, Man knoweth not what shall be: and who can tell him what shall be after him?
15 The labor of the foolish doth weary him: for he knoweth not to go into the city.
16 Woe to thee, O land, when thy king is a child, and thy princes eat in the morning.
17 Blessed art thou, O land, when thy King is the son of nobles, and thy princes eat in time, for strength and not for drunkenness.
18 By slothfulness the roof of the house goeth to decay, and by the idleness of the hands the house droppeth through.
19 They prepare bread for laughter, and wine comforteth the living, but silver answereth to all.
20 Curse not the king, no not in thy thought, neither curse the rich in thy bed chamber: for the fowl of the heaven shall carry the voice, and that which hath wings, shall declare the matter.
Saturday, April 5, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 10:1-10
2 The heart of a wise man is at his right hand: but the heart of a fool is at his left hand.
3 And also when the fool goeth by the way, his heart faileth, and he telleth unto all that he is a fool.
4 If the spirit of him that ruleth, rise up against thee, leave not thy place: for gentleness pacifieth great sins. (a)
5 There is an evil that I have seen under the sun, as an error that proceedeth from the face of him that ruleth.
6 Folly is set in great excellency, and the rich sit in the low place.
7 I have seen servants on horses, and princes walking as servants on the ground.
8 He that diggeth a pit, shall fall into it, and he that breaketh the hedge, a serpent shall bite him.
9 He that removeth stones, shall hurt himself thereby, and he that cutteth wood, shall be in danger thereby.
10 If the iron be blunt, and one hath not whet the edge, he must then put to more strength: but the excellency to direct a thing is wisdom.
(a) Read Romans 12:17-19
Friday, April 4, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 9:13-18
13 I have also seen this wisdom under the sun, and it is great unto me.
14 A little city and few men in it, and a great King came against it, and compassed it about, and built forts against it.
15 And there was found therein a poor and wise man, and he delivered the city by his wisdom, but none remembered this poor man.
16 Then said I, Better is wisdom than strength: yet the wisdom of the poor is despised, and his words are not heard.
17 The words of the wise are more heard in quietness, than the cry of him that ruleth among fools. (a)
18 Better is wisdom than weapons of war: but one sinner destroyeth much good.
(a) Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.
Thursday, April 3, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 9:1-12
1 I have surely given mine heart to all this, and to declare all this, that the just, and the wise, and their works are in the hand of God: and no man knoweth either love or hatred of all that is before them. (a)
2 All things come alike to all: and the same condition is to the just and to the wicked, to the good and to the pure, and to the polluted, and to him that sacrificeth, and to him that sacrificeth not: as is the good, so is the sinner, he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath.
3 This is evil among all that is done under the sun, that there is one condition to all, and also the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their hearts while they live, and after that, they go to the dead.
4 Surely whosoever is joined to all the living, there is hope: for it is better to a living dog, than to a dead lion.
5 For the living know that they shall die, but the dead know nothing at all: neither have they anymore a reward: for their remembrance is forgotten.
6 Also their love and their hatred, and their envy is now perished, and they have no more portion forever, in all that is done under the sun.
7 Go, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a cheerful heart: for God now accepteth thy works.
8 At all times let thy garments be white, and let not oil be lacking upon thine head.
9 Rejoice with the wife whom thou hast loved all the days of the life of thy vanity, which God hath given thee under the sun all the days of thy vanity: for this is thy portion in the life, and in thy travail wherein thou laborest under the sun.
10 All that thine hand shall find to do, do it with all thy power: for there is neither work nor invention, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither thou goest.
11 I returned, and I saw under the sun that the race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor yet bread to the wise, nor also riches to men of understanding, neither yet favor to men of knowledge: but time and chance cometh to them all.
12 For neither doth man know his time, but as the fishes which are taken in an evil net, and as the birds that are caught in the snare: so are the children of men snared in the evil time, when it falleth upon them suddenly.
(a) Read Job 12:6-10
Wednesday, April 2, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 8:10-17
10 And likewise I saw the wicked buried, and they returned, and they that came from the holy place, were yet forgotten in the city, where they had done right: this also is vanity.
11 Because sentence against an evil work is not executed speedily, therefore the heart of the children of men is fully set in them to do evil. (a)
12 Though a sinner do evil an hundred times, and God prolongeth his days, yet I know that it shall be well with them that fear the Lord, and do reverence before him.
13 But it shall not be well to the wicked, neither shall he prolong his days: he shall be like a shadow, because he feareth not before God.
14 There is a vanity, which is done upon the earth, that there be righteous men to whom it cometh according to the work of the wicked: and there be wicked men to whom it cometh according to the work of the just: I thought also that this is vanity.
15 And I praised joy, for there is no goodness to man under the sun, save to eat and to drink and to rejoice: for this is adjoined to his labor the days of his life that God hath given him under the sun.
16 When I applied mine heart to know wisdom, and to behold the business that is done on earth, that neither day nor night the eyes of man take sleep,
17 Then I beheld the whole work of God, that man cannot find out the work that is wrought under the sun: for the which man laboreth to seek it, and cannot find it: yea, and though the wise man think to know it, he cannot find it. (b)
(a) Read Psalm 10:2-11, Psalm 50:16-23
(b) Read Job chapters 36-41
Tuesday, April 1, 2014
The Book of Ecclesiastes
Chapter 8:1-9
1 Who is as the wise man? and who knoweth the interpretation of a thing? the wisdom of a man doth make his face to shine: and the strength of his face shall be changed.
2 I advertise thee to take heed to the mouth of the king, and to the word of the oath of God.
3 Haste not to go forth of his sight: stand not in an evil thing: for he will do whatsoever pleaseth him.
4 Where the word of the King is, there is power, and who shall say unto him, What doest thou?
5 He that keepeth the commandment, shall know none evil thing, and the heart of the wise shall know the time, and judgment.
6 For to every purpose there is a time and judgment, because the misery of man is great upon him.
7 For he knoweth not that which shall be: for who can tell him when it shall be?
8 Man is not Lord over the spirit to retain the spirit: neither hath he power in the day of death, nor deliverance in the battle, neither shall wickedness deliver the possessors thereof.
9 All this have I seen, and have given mine heart to every work which is wrought under the sun, and I saw a time that man ruleth over man to his own hurt.
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