Reflections and meditations about the Bible by Peter DeHaan, PhD.
Praise God or Fear God? After Jesus performs a miracle—healing a paralytic man—the people were fearful of God, yet full of praise at the same time (this precise wording is not apparent in all translations—see the New Living Translation or the Amplified Bible). Although it seems like a paradox to simultaneously fear God and praise […]
Jesus is sleeping in a boat; the disciples are crossing the lake. A major strong whips up and the disciples are overwhelmed—remember that several of them were fishermen, so it must have been a bad one to scare them. In a panic, they wake up Jesus. He says, “You have little faith; why are you […]
When, Not If In the book of Matthew, chapter 6, there is a word that is interestingly repeated by Jesus. It is the word when: “When you give to the needy…” [Matthew 6:2]“When you pray..” [Matthew 6:5 and 7]“When you fast…” [Matthew 6:16] Notice that Jesus doesn’t say if you give, if you pray, or […]
Don’t Withhold Forgiveness When you pray, be careful what you pray—I’m serious, be very careful. In the prayer that Jesus taught his disciples (also called “The Lord’s Prayer” or the “Our Father”), one part says: “Forgive us our debts, as we have also forgiven our debtors.” Some translations use the word “sins” or “transgressions” in […]
An Example of Obedience in the Life of Joseph Four times, Joseph received instructions from God: 1. An angel appeared to Joseph in a dream and instructed him to go ahead and marry Mary (Matthew 1:20). 2. Later, an angel spoke to Joseph in a dream, warning him of the threat on Jesus’ life and […]
Do You Belong Here? The Bible sometimes calls the followers of Jesus, aliens (Ephesians 2:19, Hebrews 11:13, and 1 Peter 2:11). This seems like a strange and insulting label. Some translations translations of the Bible use words like exiles, migrants, strangers, and temporary residents. The Message uses the phrase, “world is not your home.” An […]
That statement catches many Christians (that is, followers of Jesus) off guard. It is easy to label Jesus, since he is the impetus for Christianity, as a Christian, even though his time spent on earth was as a Jew. Indeed, he was born a Jew, into a Jewish culture, and had a clear Jewish lineage. […]
The “Holy of Holies” (also called “the Most Holy Place” or “the Holiest of all”) was the innermost part of the tabernacle and later, the temple. It was so sacred that only the high priest could enter it and then only once a year. When Jesus died, the veil (which was very thick, more akin […]
In Genesis 18:10-15 we read the amazing story of Sarah being promised a son in her old age. When she hears this, she laughs—I would to; it seems preposterous. But for an all-powerful God, nothing is impossible. In fact God rhetorically asks Abraham (Sarah’s even older husband) “Is anything too hard for [me]?” Sarah’s laughter […]
Most people correctly understand that God is love. They then reason that out of love, he will unquestionably accept them as they are, welcoming them into heaven when they die. This is an oversimplification of his love. God is also just. His just nature requires that there be a punishment for the wrong things that […]