Daily Bible Nugget #976, Ecclesiastes 10:2

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Ecc 10:2  A wise man’s heart is at his right hand; but a fool’s heart at his left. (KJV)

Ecc 10:2  The thoughts of the wise lead them the right way, but the thoughts of the foolish lead them the wrong way. (ERV, Easy to Read Version)

Ecc 10:2  The heart of the wise man goes in the right direction; but the heart of a foolish man in the wrong. (BBE, Bible in Basic English)

Ecc 10:2  Sensible thoughts lead you to do right; foolish thoughts lead you to do wrong. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

I recently saw where this verse (Ecc 10:2) was mentioned with reference to current politics! That may be a “stretch,” but it still is very instructive. Any movement to the Left in that regard is likely very dangerous today.

Dig deeper by consulting the cross references shared below from my Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury for Ecclesiastes 10:2.

Ecclesiastes 10:2
wise. Ecc 2:14; Ecc 8:5; +*Ecc 9:10, Pro 14:8, *Luk 14:28, 29, 30, 31, 32.
right hand. +Gen 48:13.
but. Ecc 10:10; Ecc 10:14, *Pro 17:16, Luk 12:18, 19, 20.
fool’s. or, dullard’s. Ecc 10:12, 1Ki 12:8, 2Ch 10:8, Pro 1:7.
left. +Gen 48:13, +Jdg 20:16.

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Daily Bible Nugget #975, Proverbs 17:4

Posted on August 25, 2026 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Pro 17:4  A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue. (KJV)

Pro 17:4  An evildoer heeds wicked lips. A liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue. (WEB, World English Bible)

Pro 17:4  An evildoer pays attention to wicked lips. A liar opens his ears to a slanderous tongue. (GW, God’s Word Bible)

Pro 17:4  People who do evil listen to evil ideas. Liars listen to liars. (ERV, Easy-to-Read Version)

Pro 17:4  One who acts wickedly pays attention to evil counsel; a liar listens to a malicious tongue. (NET Bible)

Pro 17:4  A bad man hearkens to the tongue of transgressors: but a righteous man attends not to false lips. (LXX, Brenton translation)

My Comment:

Have you ever wondered why your voice is not heard, disregarded, or entirely passed over?

If you are standing for what is right and what is true, who listens is dependent upon their moral character.

This truth is widely applicable. I have seen it in collective bargaining, in binding arbitration, in legal dealings in secular, business, and personal settings. I have seen it in current news reporting and political speech too.

I have experienced this in local church settings as well as in Internet discussions. There are many individuals so set in their opinions that they will not hear to reason. They refuse to respond to evidence contrary to their own viewpoint. This may be the result of spiritual blindness, lack of reading comprehension, or the inability to write responses in their own words.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has told us we would experience this as well as what our reaction should be:

Mat 5:10  Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness’ sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Mat 5:11  Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.
Mat 5:12  Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

Dig deeper into the themes contained in Proverbs 17:4 by studying the cross references from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Pro 17:4  A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.

Proverbs 17:4
wicked doer. Pro 28:4, 1Sa 22:7, 8, 9, 10, 11, *1Ki 22:6, etc. Isa 30:10, *Jer 5:30; *Jer 5:31.
giveth heed. 1Sa 24:9, Mic 2:11, *2Ti 4:3; *2Ti 4:4, 1Jn 4:5, Rev 13:3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8.
to false lips. Exo 23:1.
a liar. Heb. lie. FS121E1, Gen 25:23, Lie put by the Figure Metonymy (of Effect) for the man who habitually lies: i.e. a liar is always ready to believe a lie (CB). 1Ki 22:6, Isa 30:9, 10, 11, Jer 5:30, 31, Mic 2:11.
naughty. FS108K42, +Pro 6:12.

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Prove All Things Versus Short Memories

Posted on August 20, 2026 by Jerry

I am amazed at how biased news reports are. I saw a short reference to the events in Dearborn, Michigan, posted online by Fox News. Fox seems no longer to report actual news. Instead, they feature biased and provably mistaken opinion. Immediately I noticed that Fox News compared the events of Tuesday, August 18, 2026, in Dearborn, Michigan, to the January 6th, 2021 “insurrection” on Capitol Hill, in Washington, D.C. The events of January 6th were not an insurrection at all. Participants then were peacefully assembled to object to a now proven fact that the election was stolen from President Trump, who was the actual winner. I know. I watched the event as it took place as it was filmed by people who were there, both private citizens as well as public and alternative media.

This morning on WJR, Detroit, I heard a Christian man state, in effect, that he in good conscience felt he must sit out the upcoming mid-term election because neither leading candidate for Governor of Michigan are prolife. He could not see himself voting for any candidate who was not prolife because not to be prolife is a position condemned by the Bible.

I can appreciate the stance that man has taken.

But I would suggest that everyone who plans not to vote in the upcoming election consider very carefully how such a decision plays right into the hands of those they would oppose.

Elections are often won or lost by very narrow margins. When a large group of Christians choose not to vote, that can result in good candidates losing and bad candidates winning.

The stakes are high in every election, especially this one.

I believe it is better to vote for the lesser of two evils rather than not vote and as a result end up supporting the greater of two evils!

Back to the matter of what took place in Dearborn on August 18, 2026. No one that I heard on the radio news in Detroit (WWJ, WJR) or that I have seen online seems to remember what happened in Dearborn on July 4, 2026. I remember. I saw then the footage of a very large crowd of individuals displaying flags of Muslim nations while chanting “Death to America.” Not an American flag in sight.

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Everyone is Wrong About Something–Including Me! Part 10B Part 1

Posted on July 18, 2026 by Jerry

If you disagree with this presentation, I invite you to PROVE ME WRONG!

Comments which discuss or even refute my evidence and arguments are most welcome.

Many religious institutions, denominations, churches, and individuals are mistaken when they:

Assert ritual water baptism accomplishes the remission of sin or the work of regeneration (baptismal remission or baptismal regeneration)

Apparently, many churches and denominations believe in either baptismal remission of sin or baptismal regeneration or both. Among the varied groups which teach these mistaken doctrines are Roman Catholicism and the several related groups identified as the churches of Christ or the Church of Christ.

One of the proof-texts for this doctrine is John 3:5,

John 3:5 Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (KJV)

John 3:5 Jesus answered: Amen, amen, I say to thee, unless a man be born again of water and the Holy Ghost, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. (DRB, Douay-Rheims Bible)

John 3:5 Jesus answered, “I tell you the solemn truth, unless a person is born of water and spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God. (NET Bible)

None of the above English translations reflects the presence of a striking figure of speech present in the underlying Greek text called hendiadys marked by the word “and.”

Two words are used (water, Spirit), but one thing is meant (Spirit). By this figure water and spirit are joined by “and.” There is no of in the Greek, supplied here by the translators. There is no article to either of the two nouns. This figure gives the meaning, “born of water, even the spirit.” That only one thing is meant by the two words is clear from verses 6 and 8 (John 3:6; John 3:8), where only the Spirit (the one thing) is mentioned. The figure may also be understood to mean “born of spiritual water,” where the “spiritual water” is, by the figure Metonymy, put for the Holy Spirit Himself, as is clear from John 7:38, 39. The reference is to the real baptism by the Holy Spirit which is the one indispensable condition of entering the kingdom of God (Romans 8:9, 1 Corinthians 12:13), not to the water of ritual baptism (Acts 1:5).

The distinction “real baptism” versus “ritual water baptism” is very important to recognize. Real baptism is the work of the Holy Spirit. Ritual water baptism is a rite performed by human participants.

Jesus is not referring to something done by human participants in John 3:5 and its immediate context but to the work done by the Holy Spirit.

A careful study of the repeated assertion about his (John the Baptist’s) own baptism in contrast to the coming baptism performed by Christ settles the matter.

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Daily Bible Nugget #974, John 6:5

Posted on June 13, 2026 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Joh 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat? (KJV)

Joh 6:5 Jesus therefore lifting up his eyes, and seeing that a great multitude was coming to him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, that these may eat?” (WEB, World English Bible)

Joh 6:5 Jesus looked up and saw a crowd of people coming toward him. He said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough bread for all these people to eat?” (ERV, Easy-to-Read Version)

Joh 6:5 When Jesus saw the large crowd coming toward him, he asked Philip, “Where will we get enough food to feed all these people?” (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

My Comment:

Most Bible readers read past this account and miss the vital information supplied by John in John 6:5.

Ask yourself the question:

“Why did Jesus ask Philip this question?”

The answer is simple and straightforward.

John does not expand upon this incidental detail found in his account of the feeding of the five thousand.

The answer as to why Jesus directed his question to Philip specifically about where could enough food be bought to feed the large crowd that had gathered can be learned by what John says about Philip elsewhere in his Gospel. The answer is confirmed by what is told about Philip elsewhere in the New Testament. Further confirmation can be found by noticing the details about the feeding of the five thousand recorded in the other Gospels but not repeated by John.

These facts found scattered about throughout the Gospels and elsewhere in the New Testament confirm the historical authenticity of these accounts. This kind of meticulous Bible study is called the study of undesigned coincidences.

Undesigned coincidences are found (1) between the Gospel records of Matthew, Mark, and Luke; (2) between the Gospel records and the Gospel of John; (3) between all four Gospels and the Book of Acts; (4) between the Book of Acts and the Epistles (Letters) of Paul.

This subject was first written about by William Paley in his book, Horae Paulinae, a Latin title which means “Hours with Paul,” in 1790. The subject was expanded by another author in the 1800s:

J. J. Blunt, Undesigned Coincidences in the Writings Both of the Old and New Testament: An Argument of Their Veracity (London: John Murray, 1863)

McGrew, L. (2019). The Mirror or the Mask: Liberating the Gospel from Literary Devices. DeWard.

Contemporary scholarship has rediscovered this unanswerable evidence for the truth of the New Testament accounts, according to scholarly books I am currently reading in my Logos library, about 2017, the volume cited above by Lydia McGrew, whose husband, a professor at Western Michigan University, alerted her to these sources.

It is interesting to me that even good scholars have missed the fact that I present Paley’s material on Undesigned Coincidences in The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, published in 1992 in my note at Acts 12:12, but known to me from Irwin H. Linton’s book, A Lawyer Examines the Bible, reprinted in 1969 by Baker Book House in Grand Rapids, Michigan, a book I have mentioned many times on this site. Earlier editions of Linton’s book were printed since the late 1920s.

DIG DEEPER INTO JOHN 6:5 BY STUDYING THE CROSS REFERENCES FROM MY RESOURCE, THE ULTIMATE CROSS REFERENCE TREASURY (UCRT) given below:

Joh 6:5 When Jesus then lifted up his eyes, and saw a great company come unto him, he saith unto Philip, Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?

John 6:5
lifted. FS144A12, +Gen 22:13. Luk 6:20.

saw. Jhn 4:35, Mat 14:14, 15, Mrk 6:34, 35, Luk 9:12.

Philip. +Jhn 1:43; Jhn 12:21; Jhn 14:8, Mat 10:3, Mrk 3:18, Luk 6:14, Act 1:13.

Whence. Num 11:13; Num 11:21, 22, 2Ki 4:2; 2Ki 7:2, Ezk 37:3, +Mat 14:17; Mat 15:33, Mrk 6:37; Mrk 8:2, 3, 4, Luk 9:13.

buy bread. Jhn 4:8, Mat 4:4.

 

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Everyone is Wrong About Something–Including Me! Part 10A

Posted on June 6, 2026 by Jerry

These are serious matters!

Kindly take the brief time it takes to read this short article.

Many religious institutions, denominations, churches, and individuals are mistaken when they:

(10) Approach Scripture deductively with their closed system of belief, rather than inductively to learn its truth.

10A. PRELIMINARY MATTERS: CORRECTLY READING AND INTERPRETING 2 PETER 1:20

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. (KJV)

It has long been my observation that those who accuse others of being guilty of “private interpretation” of the Bible are often themselves guilty of that very charge.

This text in Scripture does not address what the readers of the Bible do when they seek to understand and interpret what they read, but what the writers did when they were directed by the Holy Spirit what to write. Anyone who would suggest otherwise is simply not reading very well.

This is what the text says. This is what the text means. To suggest otherwise is clearly error, falsehood, or heresy. The writers did not write their own opinion when they wrote “the more sure word of prophecy” (2Pe 1:19) but wrote what God by divine inspiration moved them to write (2Pe 1:21).

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts: (KJV)

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. (KJV)

Any denomination, church, or religious organization that uses this 2 Peter 1:20 text to forbid so-called “private interpretation” by individual Bible readers does not know how to read Scripture in context and must surely not be trusted as to any claim it makes of teaching authority or any claim to be the “one true church.”

Therefore, this text of Scripture must not be forced into service to deny the right, privilege, and duty of every reader of Scripture to study it for themselves to learn the way of life and salvation that it presents.

“Private” is better translated “its own,” so that we then read “no Scripture is of its own interpretation.” The meaning is that every statement in Scripture must be understood in the light of what the rest of Scripture teaches which bears upon the same theme. Of absolute importance to the correct interpretation of Scripture is to make a full and proper comparison of all related passages and develop from them an interpretation which accounts for and agrees with the whole.

Only after this has been carefully done is it possible to be sure an interpretation is correct.

 

Posted in Apologetics--Christian, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly, How to Study the Bible | Tagged , | 2 Comments

Don’t follow the wrong authority!

Posted on May 20, 2026 by Jerry

A friend of mine on Facebook posted this comment:

“The Bible does not tell us to stick to what is in the Bible or that it is the highest Authority.”

I replied:

We happen to disagree on this point!

The Bible most certainly does teach that we must go by what is in the Bible and that it is the highest authority.

This is established by what is taught in the Hebrew Scriptures, our Old Testament.

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.

Pro 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

This principle of going by what the Bible itself teaches precedes the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Jesus Himself affirmed this principle. He certainly did not change or cancel the principle that the Bible is the written Word of God, that Scripture cannot be broken (John 10:35), and is the highest authority to which we must appeal. This Jesus does by His direct command (John 5:39) as well as by His personal example (Matthew 4:4, Matthew 4:10) as plainly recorded in the New Testament itself.

Mat 4:3  And when the tempter came to him, he said, If thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread.
Mat 4:4  But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.

Note carefully that Jesus appealed to the Bible when He said, “It is written.”

Jesus states plainly that we are to live “by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”

Those words are not exclusive to any denomination or church. They are found only in the Bible.

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Everyone is Wrong About Something–Including Me! Part 9

Posted on May 17, 2026 by Jerry

Mistaken religions, denominations, religious organizations and institutions, ministries, and individual leaders and teachers can be identified when they:

(9) Add to the written word of God additional revelation, whether in the form of authoritative writings or publications, or unwritten traditions, or new revelation, as from supernatural dreams, and supposed revelation through supernatural gifts of the Spirit, +*Je 23:28 note.

Jer 23:28  Let the prophet who has had a dream go ahead and tell his dream. Let the person who has received my message report that message faithfully. What is like straw cannot compare to what is like grain! I, the LORD, affirm it! (NET Bible)

Jer 23:28  The prophet that hath a dream, let him tell a dream; and he that hath my word, let him speak my word faithfully. What is the chaff to the wheat? saith the LORD. (KJV)

Cross Reference Bible study from:

A. The original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Jeremiah 23:28
that hath: Heb. with whom is

speak: Pro 14:5; Mat 24:45; Luk 12:42; 1Co 4:2; 2Co 2:17; 1Ti 1:12

What: That is, when the dreamers declare their dreams, and the true prophets faithfully declare their message, the difference between them will be as evident as that between “the chaff and the wheat.” 1Co 3:12, 13

B. The Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Jeremiah 23:28
that hath. Heb. with whom is.

a dream. Jer 23:32, +*Isa 8:20 note, Ezk 13:7. The contrast is between the false prophets who have their dreams and the true prophet who has God’s word. The opposition between chaff and wheat which follows shows these alleged supernatural dreams for what they are—not divine revelation, but a dream of their own heart, mere chaff, unsuitable and valueless for spiritual sustenance.

This is perhaps the clearest and strongest appeal to the perspicuity of Scripture to be found in the Bible, for an appeal is here made for the ordinary believer to discern the difference between the false and the true.

A mark of false religion is placement of spiritual and doctrinal authority in any other source than the written word of God found in the Bible—whether the source be an organization and its literature, the writings of a particular teacher or prophet, or a claim to divine authority based upon apostolic succession, or even a line of succession through valid baptisers traced back to John the Baptist! Jer 23:25, Gen 40:22, Num 12:6, 1Sa 28:6, 1Ch 17:15, Job 33:15, +*Isa 8:20 note. Dan 7:1, Joel 2:28.

he that hath my word. Ezk 13:7.

speak my word. Jer 1:17; Jer 2:1; Jer 26:2; Jer 36:21; Jer 42:4, Exo 6:29, 1Ki 22:14, 2Ki 22:15, 2Ch 18:13, Pro 13:17; *Pro 14:5; **Pro 30:6, *Ezk 2:7; Ezk 33:7, Mat 7:29; +*Mat 24:45, Mrk 1:22, Luk 4:32; +*Luk 12:42, Rom 1:16; **Rom 10:17, *1Co 4:2, **2Co 2:17, **1Th 2:13, 1Ti 1:12, 2Ti 2:2, **1Pe 1:23; 1Pe 2:2. A mark of the false is adding to the written word of God supposed new revelation from whatever source—whether supernatural dreams, or alleged supernatural gifts of the Spirit. +*Pro 30:6, Hos 3:4, Jhn 16:8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, +**2Ti 3:15, 16, 17, *2Pe 1:21.

faithfully. +*Dan 11:33 note. +*1Ti 4:16, +**2Ti 2:15; *2Ti 4:2.

What. FS138C, +Gen 22:14. Note: That is, when the dreamers declare their dreams, and the true prophets faithfully declare their message, the difference between them will be as evident as that between “the chaff and the wheat.” Jer 28:1, *Ezk 13:3, +Mic 2:11, +Luk 3:17, *1Co 3:11, 12, 13.

MY COMMENT:

Be very careful not to place any authority above the Bible itself (1 Corinthians 4:6).

1Co 4:6  And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. (KJV)

1Co 4:6  I have applied these things to myself and Apollos because of you, brothers and sisters, so that through us you may learn “not to go beyond what is written,” so that none of you will be puffed up in favor of the one against the other. (NET Bible)

We are not to go beyond what is written.

The question is often raised: “Where in the Bible does it state that we are to go by the Bible alone?” The clearest answer I have found in the Bible itself is Isaiah 8:20, taken in its immediate context and related contexts. I often express what Isaiah 8:20 and related Scriptures teach by stating “We are to go by what is IN the Bible, not by what is NOT IN the Bible.”

Isa 8:20  To the law and to the testimony: if they speak not according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (KJV)

Isa 8:20  Then you must recall the LORD’s instructions and the prophetic testimony of what would happen. Certainly they say such things because their minds are spiritually darkened. (NET Bible)

Another significant Bible statement on this theme is found in Proverbs 30:6.

Pro 30:5  Every word of God is pure: he is a shield unto them that put their trust in him.
Pro 30:6  Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar. (KJV)

Pro 30:5  Every word of God is purified; he is like a shield for those who take refuge in him.
Pro 30:6  Do not add to his words, lest he reprove you, and prove you to be a liar. (NET Bible)

This concept is repeated throughout the Bible as may be verified by reading the cross references for Proverbs 30:6.

Proverbs 30:6
Add thou not. T50, T1032, Gen 3:3, +*Deut 4:2; Deut 12:32, Ecc 3:14, Isa 29:13; +Isa 42:21 (T284). +*Mat 15:9, 1Co 3:12, +*Gal 1:8; +*Gal 1:9, 2Pe 3:15, 16, *Rev 22:18; *Rev 22:19.

and. Gen 3:3, Job 13:7, 8, 9, 1Co 15:15.

IMMEDIATE CONTEXT (THE NEXT VERSE) CONFIRMS REFERENCE IS TO THE BIBLE

Consider the next verse in Jeremiah, Jeremiah 23:29,

Jer 23:29  Is not my word like as a fire? saith the LORD; and like a hammer that breaketh the rock in pieces? (KJV)

Jer 23:29  “Isn’t my word like fire?” says Yahweh; “and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces? (WEB, World English Bible)

Jer 23:29  My message is like a fire that purges dross! It is like a hammer that breaks a rock in pieces! I, the LORD, so affirm it! (NET Bible)

Beware of any institution, organization, denomination, or individual that places its authority on a par or above the authority of God’s Word in the Bible!

DIG DEEPER USING THE CROSS REFERENCES FOR JEREMIAH 23:29 FROM:

A. The original Treasury of Scripture Knowledge:

Jeremiah 23:29
like as: Jer 5:14, Jer 20:9; Luk 24:32; Jhn 6:63; Act 2:3, Act 2:37; 2Co 2:16, 2Co 10:4, 5; Heb 4:12; Rev 11:5

B. My expansion of these references in the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Jeremiah 23:29
Is not. Note: As fire penetrates, enlivens, illuminates, purifies, consumes, or transforms every substance into its own nature; so the Sacred Word, applied by the Spirit of God, penetrates the conscience, quickens and illuminates the mind, softens and melts the heart, purifies the affections, consumes the dross of sin, and transforms the believer’s soul into its own holy nature; and as a hammer, it breaks down the presumptuous confidence of the proud and stouthearted. Dr. Adam Clarke thinks there may be an allusion to the practice, in some countries, of roasting stones containing ore, before they are subjected to the hammer, in order to pulverize them. In Cornwall, they roast the tin stones, by which the arsenic is separated from the ore, and they are then easily reduced to powder in the stamp mill; and, being afterwards washed, the grains of tin sink to the bottom, while the lighter parts go off with the water, and the metal is then procured clean and pure.

my word. +*Jer 15:16.

like as. *Jer 5:14; Jer 20:9, Ecc 12:11, Hos 6:5, Mrk 3:17; Mrk 4:8, *Luk 24:32, *Jhn 6:63; Jhn 8:7, Act 2:3; *Act 2:37; Act 24:25, Rom 1:16; *Rom 10:17, 1Co 3:13, *2Co 2:16; **2Co 10:4; **2Co 10:5, **1Th 2:13, **Heb 4:12, *Rev 11:5.

Note carefully that all that we have of God’s Word today is confined to the text of the Bible.

Posted in Apologetics--Christian, Bible Study Tools, Doctrinal Discussions, False Religions, How to Interpret the Bible Correctly | Tagged , | Leave a comment

My Answer to Muslim Objection to Jesus being the Messiah

Posted on April 25, 2026 by Jerry

THE OBJECTION:

[Unfortunately, I am not able to figure out yet how to get back to the site where this discussion took place. The gist of the argument is that the Jews in Israel at the time did not accept Jesus as their Messiah (John 1:11). Therefore, Jesus must not have been the true expected Messiah for He did not fulfill the prophecies they expected the Messiah to fulfill.]

MY ANSWER:

Ibrahim Abdulrahman The problem with your argument is that you have failed to include all the evidence provided in the Bible on this theme.

Selecting part of the evidence and ignoring contrary evidence demonstrates your position is mistaken.

My constructive suggestion is that you start with a study of the fulfilled Bible prophecies about Jesus, the Messiah. Then proceed to a study of the unfulfilled Bible prophecies that pertain to the Second Coming of Christ.

If you have access to my published resource, The New Treasury of Scripture Knowledge, or its digital expansion, the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury, this kind of study is easily done.

Lacking access to these resources, a good starting point would be to study the cross references I have provided for Micah 5:2 and Micah 5:3 which I share below from the UCRT:

Mic 5:2  But thou, Bethlehem Ephratah, though thou be little among the thousands of Judah, yet out of thee shall he come forth unto me that is to be ruler in Israel; whose goings forth have been from of old, from everlasting. (KJV)

Micah 5:2
But thou. >Mat 2:6, >Jhn 7:42.
Bethlehem. T1888, +Jos 19:15, Jdg 12:8; %Jdg 17:7, $Mat 2:1; $Mat 2:6, $Luk 2:4, 5, 6, Jhn 7:42, Heb 7:14.
Ephratah. Gen 35:16; Gen 35:19; +Gen 48:7, Ephrath. Jos 12:9 note. +Ruth 1:2; Ruth 4:11, 1Sa 17:12, +1Ch 2:50; +1Ch 2:51; +1Ch 2:54; 1Ch 4:4, Psa 132:6.
little. Jdg 6:15, 1Co 1:27, 28, 29.
among. 1Sa 10:19; 1Sa 23:23.
thousands. +Exo 18:21; +Exo 18:25 <rp. Num 1:16, Deut 1:15, +Jos 22:21, Jdg 6:15; Jdg 12:6 mg,note. Jdg 15:15 note. 1Sa 6:19 note. 1Sa 8:12; 1Sa 10:19; 1Sa 17:18; 1Sa 23:23, 1Ki 20:30 note. 1Ch 12:20; 1Ch 15:25; 1Ch 27:1.
of Judah. Deut 33:7, +1Ch 5:2, %+Psa 60:7, $Mat 2:6, $Heb 7:14, $Rev 5:5.
yet. Isa 11:1; Isa 53:2, Ezk 17:22, 23, 24, *Amos 9:11, Luk 2:4, 5, 6, 7, 1Co 1:27, 28.
out of thee. Num 24:19, Isa 11:1, Jhn 7:27.
shall he. Psa 23:1; Psa 78:71, Jer 23:4, Zec 13:7, Act 13:32; Act 26:6, Heb 5:5.
come forth. Jer 33:14, Ezk 21:27, Dan 9:25, %*Zec 9:9; Zec 12:8, Mat 11:3; Mat 21:5, Luk 2:6; Luk 7:19; +**Luk 24:27, Jhn 1:45, Gal 4:4, =1Th 4:16.
that is. +*Gen 49:10, 1Ch 5:2, +*Isa 9:6; +*Isa 9:7, +*Jer 23:5; +*Jer 23:6, Ezk 34:23, 24; Ezk 37:22, 23, 24, 25, *Zec 9:9, Mat 28:18, +**Luk 1:31, 32, 33; Luk 23:2; Luk 23:38, Jhn 19:14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 1Ti 3:16, Rev 19:16.
ruler. 1Ch 11:2, Psa 28:9, Isa 55:4, Jer 30:9; Jer 30:21, Ezk 37:24, **Jhn 1:49, +*Act 2:30; =Act 7:35; +*Act 10:36, *Rom 9:5, Col 1:20, 1Ti 1:17.
in Israel. +*Act 1:6.
whose goings forth. +Gen 22:15 note. *Psa 90:2; Psa 102:25, 26, 27, *Pro 8:22; *Pro 8:23, +*Jhn 1:1, 2, 3; **Jhn 8:58, *Col 1:17, +*Heb 13:8, *1Jn 1:1; *1Jn 1:2, *Rev 1:11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18; Rev 2:8; Rev 21:6.
from. *Psa 55:19; Psa 93:2, Isa 43:13, Dan 7:9, Jhn 1:15; +*Jhn 8:58.
of old. Heb. kedem, +S# H6924. Always used of the past; rendered (1) ever, Pro 8:23, (2) eternal, Deut 33:27, (3) everlasting, **Hab 1:12, (4) old, Neh 12:46, Psa 44:1; Psa 55:19; Psa 68:33; Psa 74:2; Psa 77:5; Psa 77:11; Psa 78:2; Psa 119:152; Psa 143:5, Jer 46:26, Lam 1:7; Lam 2:17, Mic 7:20, (5) ancient, Deut 33:15, 2Ki 19:25, Isa 19:11; Isa 23:7; Isa 37:26; Isa 45:21; Isa 46:10; Isa 51:9, (6) past, Job 29:2, (7) aforetime, Jer 30:20, (8) before, Psa 139:5, Pro 8:22.
from. T76-3, Psa 72:17, Pro 8:22, 23, 24, +*Jhn 1:1; +*Jhn 1:2; +*Jhn 8:35; +*Jhn 8:58; *Jhn 17:5, *1Jn 1:1; *1Jn 1:2, +*Rev 1:8; +*Rev 1:17.
everlasting. or, the days of eternity. Heb. olam, +Gen 17:7, FS22D4B, +Dan 7:9. Mic 7:14, Deut 33:27, **Psa 90:2; Psa 93:2, *Pro 8:22; *Pro 8:23, Isa 57:15, Hab 1:12, *Jhn 1:1; *Jhn 1:2; **Jhn 6:54 note. Rom 16:26, Php 2:6, 1Pe 1:20, Rev 1:4.

Mic 5:3  Therefore will he give them up, until the time that she which travaileth hath brought forth: then the remnant of his brethren shall return unto the children of Israel. (KJV)

Micah 5:3
Therefore. Mic 7:13, Hos 2:9; Hos 2:14.
give them up. Mic 6:14, 1Ki 14:16, 2Ch 30:7, Isa 49:1-23, Hos 11:8, Zec 13:7, 8, 9, **+Mat 21:43.
until the time. +*Psa 102:13; +*Psa 102:16, Hos 3:4, 5; +*Hos 5:15; Hos 6:2, *Mat 19:28; +*Mat 23:39, +*Luk 21:24, +**Act 3:19, +*Rom 11:25.
she which travaileth. *Mic 4:10, +*Gen 3:15, +*Isa 7:14; +*Isa 66:7; +*Isa 66:8, $Mat 1:21; $Mat 1:23; +*Mat 24:8, *Jhn 16:21; *Jhn 16:22, Gal 4:4, *Rev 12:1; *Rev 12:2.
brought forth. **Mat 19:28, Rev 12:5.
then the remnant. Mic 5:7, 8, Mic 2:12; +Mic 4:7; Mic 7:18, +Isa 1:9; *Isa 10:5; *Isa 10:6; *Isa 10:20, 21, 22; Isa 11:11; Isa 37:4; Isa 37:31, Jer 23:3; Jer 31:1; Jer 31:7, 8, 9, Ezk 6:8; +Ezk 14:22, Joel 2:32, Amos 5:15, Zep 2:7; Zep 2:9; Zep 3:13, Rom 9:27, 28; Rom 11:4, 5, 6.
his brethren. Mat 12:50; Mat 25:40, Rom 8:29, *Heb 2:11; *Heb 2:12.

I will immediately attempt to post this material on my Real Bible Study website where the cross references will be “live” and readable upon mouse-over.

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Daily Bible Nugget #973, Luke 22:36

Posted on April 1, 2026 by Jerry

The Nugget:

Luke 22:36. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one. (KJV)

Luke 22:36. Then he said to them, “But now, the person who has a wallet and a traveling bag should take them along. The person who doesn’t have a sword should sell his coat and buy one. (GW, God’s Word translation)

Luke 22:36. Jesus told them, “But now, if you have a moneybag, take it with you. Also take a traveling bag, and if you don’t have a sword, sell some of your clothes and buy one. (CEV, Contemporary English Version)

Luke 22:36. And he said to them, But now, he who has a money-bag, or a bag for food, let him take it: and he who has not, let him give his coat for money and get a sword. (BBE, Basic English Bible)

Luke 22:36. And he said to them, “But now the one who has a money bag must take it, and likewise a food bag. And the one who does not have a sword must sell his cloak and buy one. (UASV, Updated American Standard Version)

My Comment:

It is clear to me and ought to be clear to every Bible reader that it is obvious that Jesus was not a pacifist!

Luke 22:35. Then Jesus said to the apostles, “Remember when I sent you out without money, a bag, or sandals? Did you need anything?” The apostles said, “No.”
Luke 22:36. Jesus said to them, “But now if you have money or a bag, carry that with you. If you don’t have a sword, sell your coat and buy one.  (ERV, Easy-to-Read Version)

Jesus wanted His apostles to be prepared to defend themselves should the need arise. Jesus believed in being prepared.

Nevertheless, Jesus was not suggesting that the apostles were to advance the Gospel by the power of the sword.

In a related text Jesus corrected Peter when Peter used his sword against the servant of the high priest.

Luke 22:50. And one of them smote the servant of the high priest, and cut off his right ear.
Luke 22:51. And Jesus answered and said, Suffer ye thus far. And he touched his ear, and healed him. (KJV)

John 18:10. Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Joh 18:11. Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it? (KJV)

Matthew 26:52. Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.
Matthew 26:53. Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?
Mat 26:54. But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that thus it must be?

John 18:36. Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence. (KJV)

There are many today who fail to see the wisdom of the current conflict in the middle east. Consider that the nation of Iran, at least its Islamic leaders, have been threatening to attack our country, calling us the “great Satan” for at least 47 years. When an enemy threatens you harm, it is likely best to believe them. Why would Iran be stocking such a large supply of weaponry? Why would Iran be enriching uranium to levels not necessary for civilian uses? Why would Iran be hiding what it is doing far underground? Iran is the chief sponsor of terrorism in the world. Iran has so far refused to seriously negotiate. In their view, based on their understanding of the Koran, it is desirable to bring about the end times and the revelation or return of the Twelfth Imam. I am thankful that at last we have a President who is determined to address and permanently eliminate this threat.

It is unfortunate, in my opinion, that we cannot insist on the principle of reciprocity in all matters in our relations with other countries. Islam has been building many mosques throughout our country. Yet there are no equivalent provisions for the building of churches in Islamic countries.

Ezekiel 33:17. Yet the children of thy people say, The way of the Lord is not equal: but as for them, their way is not equal.

Dig deeper into Luke 22:36 by reading and studying the cross references from the Ultimate Cross Reference Treasury:

Luke 22:36. Then said he unto them, But now, he that hath a purse, let him take it, and likewise his scrip: and he that hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.

Luke 22:36
But now. FS121S4, +2Ki 4:29. T1861, Luk 9:3; Luk 10:3, Pro 17:3, Isa 48:10, Mat 10:22, 23, 24, 25, Jhn 15:18, 19, 20, 21; Jhn 16:33; Jhn 17:15, 1Th 2:14, 15; 1Th 3:4, 1Pe 4:1.

take it. Luk 22:49, 50, 51, 1Co 4:11, 12, 2Co 4:16.

scrip. +Luk 22:35.

he that hath. Note: Wetstein well remarks, that these phrases contain nothing but a prediction of instant perils.

no sword. FS63I2, +Jos 3:3. Luk 22:38, *Num 31:3, Jdg 3:2, 2Sa 1:18, +*1Ch 5:22, *Neh 4:13, Psa 18:34, +*Pro 20:18, Joel 3:10, %+*Mat 5:39; Mat 10:34; Mat 26:51, %Jhn 18:11; %Jhn 18:36, Act 22:25, 26, 27, 28, 29; Act 23:23.

and buy one. +*Pro 22:3, 1Co 15:19; 1Co 15:32, 2Co 10:4, 5.

These events took place during what we commonly call Easter Week. There is much confusion and disagreement about the chronology of the events of Passion Week. Most suppose that Jesus was crucified on Friday. A few suppose Jesus was crucified on Wednesday. A very few scholars who I suspect did their homework more thoroughly than most correctly assert Jesus was crucified on Thursday. I have shared the evidence for this latter view, based on the book by Roy M. Allen, Three Days in the Grave. Use the search feature and enter the author’s name or the book title, and the articles I have shared in the past should appear.

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