Dr Paul Allen

Matthew Evangelist. The text also says - Abraham and David (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 13:51 –52 “Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a house, who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old” (v. 52). Matthew 13, Jesus ’ third major discourse in the first gospel, is devoted to parables that explain God’s kingdom in Christ . Verses 51–52 conclude this discourse and look at the Old Testament ’s role in the new covenant era. Before His final kingdom parable, Jesus asks His disciples if they have understood all that He has said (v. 51). They answer yes, which is an overestimation of their insight since the disciples later have no clue about the nature of the kingdom and the suffering it entails. For example, Peter will object to the Lord’s crucifixion (16:21–23) and all the disciples flee upon Christ’s arrest in Gethsemane (26:47–56). Still, the Twelve are not wholly wrong to say that they...

Oil painting of a young John Calvin. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 5:31–32 “Everyone who divorces his wife, except on the ground of  sexual immorality , makes her commit adultery. And whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery” (v. 32). Jesus , in the Sermon on the Mount , tells us that God wants not only right actions, but also a pure heart ( Matt. 5:8). Refraining from murder and adultery does not exhaust those particular commandments; Exodus 20:13–14 also forbids lust and unjust anger (Matt. 5:21–30). This is in line with the Old Testament, which says the Law must be followed in heart and in deed ( Deut. 6:6; Ps. 37:31). Jesus’ corrections of the Pharisaic traditions are not an exposition of the Law that covers every single possible situation. For example, Christ says “everyone who is angry with his brother will be liable to judgment” (Matt. 5:22), but He does not mean that anger is always evil, as He Himself will get ...

Dispute of Jesus and the Pharisees over tribute money (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Matthew 3:11–12 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but he who is coming after me is mightier than I…. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” (v. 11) John Calvin looked to John the Baptist ’s condemnation of the Pharisees and  Sadducees as an example of how the church should deal with those especially hard in heart. He comments on Matthew 3:7 –10 that “those whose habits of uttering falsehood to God , and of deceiving themselves, lead them to hold out hypocrisy and pretension, instead of the reality, ought to be urged, with greater sharpness than other men, to true repentance.” At times only strong confrontation will rescue the soul of a professing believer who has grown complacent and presumed upon the Lord’s grace (18:15–20; James 5:19–20). Matthew 3:7–10 is clear that the Sadducees and Pharisees needed such upbraiding. These Jewish leade...

Hittite Archer and Chariot (Photo credit: voyageAnatolia.blogspot.com ) During the past 300 years, skeptics have tried to claim that many of the peoples listed in the Bible never actually existed. However, archaeology and other historical references have served to validate the accuracy of the Bible’s account. The Hittites provide a good example. The Bible makes about three dozen references to the Hittites, but critics used to charge that there was no evidence that such people ever existed. Now archaeologists digging in modern north-central Turkey in the city of Boghazkoy (called Hattusa by the Hittites) have discovered a large archive library belonging to the Hittites that includes letters, military instructions and laws. As the great archaeologist William F. Albright declared, “There can be no doubt that archaeology has confirmed the substantial historicity of the Old Testament tradition.” Noted Roman historian Colin J. Hemer, in The Book of Acts in the Setting of Hellenis...

T he Aleppo Codex is a medieval manuscript of the Hebrew Bible (Tanakh), associated with Rabbi Aaron Ben Asher. The Masoretic scholars wrote it in the early 10th century, probably in Tiberias, Israel. It is in book form and contains the vowel points and grammar points (nikkudot) that specify the pronunciation of the ancient Hebrew letters to preserve the chanting tradition. It is perhaps the most historically important Hebrew manuscript in existence. (Photo credit: Wikipedia ) Generations of scribes, working for the most part in anonymity, have faithfully rendered the Bible as the best preserved work of the ancient world. Although each pen stroke was the result of a scribe's action, there are in fact very few places where a scribe appears to have intentionally altered the "received" text. Such changes in the Hebrew Bible are identified by the scribal tradition as tiqqune sopherim ("emendations of the scribes"). Various rabbinic lists enumerate spec...

Image via Wikipedia I contend that  if you want to be a great leader, you must first become a great follower .  Although it is rarely discussed, this is where almost all of history’s greatest leaders got their start. Joshua followed Moses for more than forty years before he led the children of Israel into the promised land. Elisha served Elijah for ten years before he took up his master’s mantle and went on to perform  even more  miracles. The Apostle Peter followed Jesus for three years—and made a lot of mistakes—before he and his fellow-disciples “turned the world upside down” (see Acts 17:6). Though I don’t have time to develop it here, I would likewise contend that history’s worst leaders never learned to follow. As a result, they became tyrants, making the lives of their own followers miserable. So what does a great follower look like? I would suggest great followers share at least five characteristics: They are clear.  They understand their ...