(If you haven’t read the first Love Nuggets post, click here to read.)
In this second Love Nuggets post, more on God’s love toward us. As Christians, we are taught to love others. Sometimes that’s easy, sometimes it’s not so easy. Sometimes it is much easier to judge and condemn. But as I mentioned in the previous post, the more you understand and believe just how much God loves you and what He’s done for you, the easier it is to
Today is the 238th anniversary of the United States of America.
Two years ago I posted, “Was It A Coincidence?”
This year’s post is a link to that post from two years ago because there are some really great quotes from our Founding Fathers. Some of the words they spoke may even surprise you.
As the USA continues moving away from the godly principles it was founded upon, many of us continue to
Kathy and I were talking the other day about love, the love of God. We reminded ourselves of a verse in the Bible that says, “And now these three remain: faith [believing], hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.” Love is greater than hope and believing!
A couple of hours after our chat, I decided
Yesterday was, “Father’s Day.”
Today’s short podcast (11:00) is about, “Who’s your daddy and what does he do?” You might remember that line from the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie, Kindergarten Cop. (I’ll play that cllip in the podcast.)
In gospel of John there’s a pretty intense discussion about, “Who’s your daddy,” between
From one dad, to all dads!
Mike Verdicchio
2014
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From the Category, “The Eastern Eye”
[The Bible is an “Eastern” book. It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.” As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.
In understanding the Scriptures it is important for us to understand the culture, but it doesn’t mean that we should necessarily follow that culture. Rather, it is in the understanding of the Eastern culture that we gain light and understanding about many things in the Bible.]
In the last Eastern Eye post, we looked at a couple of idioms that Jesus used. In that article I said, “An idiom is a combination of words that has a figurative meaning owing to its common usage. An idiom’s figurative meaning is separate from the literal meaning. Every language and culture has its own idioms.
For example in my culture if someone is not speaking the truth, you might say, “you’re pulling my leg.” Or, if you paid a lot of money for something, you could say, “this item cost me an arm and a leg.”
Perhaps one of the simplest, yet most misunderstood idioms in the Bible is in II Corinthians 12, commonly referred to as “Paul’s thorn in the flesh.” Paul states in that chapter he was given “a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan.” His thorn in the flesh was the messenger of, or from, Satan.
(A side note here: Some teach Paul’s thorn in the flesh was sent by God to keep Paul humble. Yet Scripture is very clear: it was a messenger from Satan. So either Satan is working for God, or, once again, God is blamed for what Satan does.)
In the Old Testament, similar idioms are used to describe people or nations that would potentially be harmful to God’s people. They are referred to as “pricks in your eyes, thorns in your sides, scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes.” Clearly the references were about people.
By reading the book of Acts and the Church Epistles, it is quite obvious to see how badly Paul was treated by various religious people who certainly weren’t sent by the One True God. Today, using idioms from my culture, I would say those people were “a pain in the butt” or “a pain in the neck.” One of the idioms from his culture was “a thorn in the flesh.”
The purpose of Paul’s thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan, was to buffet Paul. Satan was trying to stop Paul from preaching the Gospel. Agents of Satan brought the beatings, the imprisonments, the shipwrecks, and the false brethren.
Paul prayed and asked God three times to get rid of his thorn in the flesh. God’s answer to him was that His grace was sufficient for Paul. While Paul did indeed endure many hardships, there was deliverance after deliverance from our loving God.
Until God sends His Son back, there is evil in this world; from Satan there will be persecutions. But God’s grace to help us in time of need is always there. Always!
II Corinthians 11:24-27
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, inperils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
II Corinthians 12:7-10
And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.
Mike Verdicchio
2014
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Resources
There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written. The best I know of were written by Bishop K. C. Pillai. I have had the pleasure of listening to many recorded teaching by him.
He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced. But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window
Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon. The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)
Today is Pentecost!
Many Christians do not know or understand the great significance of remembering and celebrating the Day of Pentecost recorded in Acts 2. Few calendars even note this day.
Could Pentecost be of even greater importance and significance than the birth of Christ? Below are excerpts from a post I did 4 years ago, called, The Lost Message of Pentecost.
The Lost Message of Pentecost
When it comes to Pentecost, what exactly do we celebrate?
These days, you better read the “fine print.” You know, the disclaimers.
“Certain rules and restrictions apply…not valid with any other purchase…limited time offer, etc.
In this short one minute Video Pep Talk, I point out something that has no disclaimers!
Enjoy the video!
Do you have some thoughts about this? We’d love to hear what you think. Type your comment below.
From the Category, “The Eastern Eye”
[The Bible is an “Eastern” book. It was written many years ago in the “East” which today we refer to as “The Middle East.” As such, there are many customs and idioms that are not familiar to the “Western” mind.
In understanding the Scriptures it is important for us to understand the culture, but it doesn’t mean that we should necessarily follow that culture. Rather, it is in the understanding of the Eastern culture that we gain light and understanding about many things in the Bible.]
Understanding the idioms in the Bible can be very helpful in not taking something that is idiomatic literally. One example is something Jesus said we should do. When he said we should pluck out our right eye, did he mean it, literally?
In Matthew’s Gospel, Jesus said if our right eye offends, we should pluck it out and cast it away. That sounds really painful and drastic, wouldn’t you agree? Yet Jesus said to do it.
After that statement he said, “And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee.” Again, painful and drastic. But breathe easy, they are both idioms.
An idiom is a combination of words that has a figurative meaning owing to its common usage. An idiom’s figurative meaning is separate from the literal meaning. Every language and culture has its own idioms.
For example, in my culture, if someone is not speaking the truth, you might say, “you’re pulling my leg.” Or, if you paid a lot of money for something, you could say, “this item cost me an arm and a leg.” Obviously in both cases, they are not literal statements; they are idioms.
In Bible times, “right eye offend you,” was an idiomatic way of saying not to be envious or jealous. The point Jesus was making was to avoid envy and jealousy. When he said, “pluck it out,” those hearing understood he was telling them to control their thinking so as not to be envious.
The idiom brought great emphasis to being determined to not be envious or jealous. Right eye offending is to be envious or jealous. Plucking out the right eye that offends is to absolutely determine you will not be envious or jealous.
When he followed with, “right hand offend you,” that meant to not steal. To show the degree of determination to not steal, he told them to cut it off. Right hand offending is to steal; cutting off the right hand that offends is to absolutely determine you will not steal.
Having an understanding of idioms used in the Bible gives us a clearer picture of what Jesus meant when he said to pluck out your right eye and cut off your right hand. Idioms are grammatical figures of speech that illuminate and emphasize what is written or spoken, and God employed many of them in His written Word.
Matthew 5:29.30
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell.
Mike Verdicchio
2014
Leave A Comment!
Do you have some thoughts about this? We’d love to hear what you think. To leave a comment if you are receiving this post via email or RSS, just click the title above and scroll to the bottom of the post and type in your comment. If not, just scroll to the bottom of this post and type in your comment.
Share This Article!
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Resources
There are a number of books that you can read to get insight on customs, manners, idioms and meanings from the Eastern culture in which the Bible was written. The best I know of were written by Bishop K. C. Pillai. I have had the pleasure of listening to many recorded teaching by him.
He wrote three books, and they are hard to find, and are usually over priced. But, if you want to you can check this link to see what Amazon has to offer. Light Through an Eastern Window
Another great resource that I have used for years is a book called, “Manners and Customs of the Bible,” by James Freeman. Mine was printed in 1972 and I know they have newer additions. For the newest edition, just click the link and it will take you to Amazon. The New Manners and Customs of the Bible (Pure Gold Classics)
