Hard Verses: Not Your Namby Pamby Bible Study. These Bible Verses are Hard!

Hard Verses Episode 5: The Graves Were Opened and the Saints Arose (Matthew 27:52-53). Wanted to thank Miriam for the suggestion. She had posted on social media the suggestion.  Her post came up first. The Problem. Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost. And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent; And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose, And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many. Now when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done, they feared greatly, saying, truly this was the Son of God. (Matthew 27:50-54 KJV).

1. At the time of Jesus' death there are several things that occur.
   1. Darkness over the land.
   2. The veil of the temple was torn into.
   3. The earthquake.
   4. The rocks broke.
   5. The graves were opened.
   6. Many bodies of the dead saints arose.
   7. They came out of the graves after His resurrections.
   8. They then went into Jerusalem and appeared unto many.
2. The centurion and those that were with him that were…
   1. Watching Jesus.
   2. Saw the earthquake.
   3. Saw other "things that were done.
   4. Feared greatly.
   5. Saying truly this was the Son of God.

• What makes this difficult?
  1. Were there really dead saints that arose?
  2. Were they Old Testament saints or those contemporary to Jesus that had recently died?
  3. The centurion would not have seen the rent in the Temple.
  4. The earthquake and the renting of the rocks would have been on Friday while the resurrection of the dead saints would have had to be after the resurrection of Jesus on Sunday since He is the first fruits of the resurrection of the dead (cf. 1 Cor. 15:20; Rev. 1:5; Acts 26:23; Col. 1:15; James 1:18).
  5. Is there any historical evidence of this occurrence outside of scripture?

The Solution. There has to be more than just the witnessing of the earthquake and the renting rocks by the centurion.  "…when the centurion, and they that were with him, watching Jesus, saw the earthquake, and those things that were done…"

1. What does this timeline look like? The centurion and those with him witnessed these events.
   1. What are these events that they saw?
      1. The darkness.
      2. The earthquakes.
      3. The rending of the rocks.
      4. The divine meekness of this crucified man.
      5. Heard His last words (Father forgive them).
      6. The raising of resuscitated saints (not likely).
   2. What would they not have seen?
      1. The renting of the temple veil.
      2. The raising of resurrected saints.
      3. Them coming to Jerusalem.
   3. Could this be a resuscitation instead of a resurrection?
   4. The historicity is good according to many that knew the eyewitnesses (taken from Geisler).
      1. The book itself (Matthew) claims to be an historical account.
      2. Many of the occurrences of Matthew are known to be historical from several sources even secular sources.

• The events were part of a section of scripture clearly historical in nature (the crucifixion, death, burial, etc.).

1. Looking back at writers shortly after the Bible of "Church Fathers," speak of Matthew's account of the raising of the saints at the resurrection of Christ as an historical event (See Geisler article).
2. The alleged confusion of early writers concerning this section of scripture, is not ambiguous as far as the historicity is concerned.
   1. There are those early writers that debate whether they rose at the death of Christ or at His resurrection.
   2. There was dispute as to what the centurion actually witnessed.
   3. None of the writers disputed whether it was historically accurate.
3. The saints were probably those contemporary with Jesus or they would not have been recognized.

    The lesson for us today. ???? What you listener should do next. The links to the articles are here (read it, it is excellent):    http://defendinginerrancy.com/early-fathers-resurrection-saints/

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Hey You!!! Download this file below.  You will need it. The Unjust Steward Digging Deeper into the Parable Hard Verses Episode 4: The Unjust Steward. (Luke 16:1-13) Part 2.     The Problem. And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed.  I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord?  And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty.  Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.  And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.  If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches?  And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own?  No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.                                                                                                                                                                 Luke 16:1-13 KJV I have actually had people say there is nothing you can get from this parable and that Jesus would not have said this. Whoever can come up with a solution to this parable can have a dozen people shoot it down with objections. Let us look at some of these problems.

1. Why did the lord commend the unjust steward for giving away his product?
2. Why did the lord commend the unjust steward while he was being dishonest and going behind his back?
3. How are the children of the world wiser than the children of light?
4. How could Jesus say to make friends of the unrighteous mammon and that this could produce everlasting habitation (Heaven)?

  The Solution. We will be looking at the different elements of the parable in historical and cultural context (See attached PDF, "The Unjust Steward: Digging Deeper into the Parable.")     The lesson for us today.

1. We should be prudent and motivated to us money for an eternal purpose.
2. We are to take care of the poor and less fortunate.
3. We are to not let money come ahead of serving God.

    Call to action.

1. Download the pdf "The Unjust Steward." This is a master's level paper with peer reviewed sources.
2. Website has been updated preacherbryan.com to have a forum and the podcast front and center. Just press play.
3. Subscription are slowly being integrated. Let me know if you are not seeing Hard Verses on your favorite player.
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Be sure and download the PDF below. I promise it will help to understand the lesson. The Unjust Steward Digging Deeper into the Parable   Hard Verses Episode 3: The Unjust Steward. (Luke 16:1-13) Part 1.     The Problem. And he said also unto his disciples, There was a certain rich man, which had a steward; and the same was accused unto him that he had wasted his goods. And he called him, and said unto him, How is it that I hear this of thee? give an account of thy stewardship; for thou mayest be no longer steward. Then the steward said within himself, What shall I do? for my lord taketh away from me the stewardship: I cannot dig; to beg I am ashamed. I am resolved what to do, that, when I am put out of the stewardship, they may receive me into their houses. So he called every one of his lord's debtors unto him, and said unto the first, How much owest thou unto my lord? And he said, An hundred measures of oil. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and sit down quickly, and write fifty. Then said he to another, And how much owest thou? And he said, An hundred measures of wheat. And he said unto him, Take thy bill, and write fourscore. And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light. And I say unto you, Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness; that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations. He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much. If therefore ye have not been faithful in the unrighteous mammon, who will commit to your trust the true riches? And if ye have not been faithful in that which is another man's, who shall give you that which is your own? No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Luke 16:1-13 KJV I have actually had people say there is nothing you can get from this parable and that Jesus would not have said this. Whoever can come up with a solution to this parable can have a dozen people shoot it down with objections. Let us look at some of these problems.

1. Why did the lord commend the unjust steward for giving away his product?
2. Why did the lord commend the unjust steward while he was being dishonest and going behind his back?
3. How are the children of the world wiser than the children of light?
4. How could Jesus say to make friends of the unrighteous mammon and that this could produce everlasting habitation (Heaven)?

  The Solution. We will be looking at the different elements of the parable in historical and cultural context (See attached PDF, "The Unjust Steward: Digging Deeper into the Parable.")     The lesson for us today. Will be discussed at a later episode.     Call to action.

1. Download the pdf "The Unjust Steward." This is a master's level paper with peer reviewed sources.
2. Website has been updated preacherbryan.com to have a forum and the podcast front and center. Just press play.
3. Subscription are slowly being integrated. Let me know if you are not seeing Hard Verses on your favorite player.
4. Please, don't be antisocial.

Get connected: Facebook- Bryan Cook Twitter- Preacherbryan Google +- Bryan Cook Instagram wesixcooks2 Forum on preacherbryan.com

Hard Verses Episode 2: I came not to call the righteous, but the sinner... (Mark 2:17)   The Problem.   Upon first glance there are a few questions that come to mind.

1. I thought that Jesus came to call everyone to repentance. John 3:16 and 17--That the world might be saved.
2. God has called righteous men before. Noah (Gen. 6:9), (Job 1:1).
3. I thought that evil communications corrupts good manners (1 Cor. 15:33).

The problem from those first century Jews.

1. The respected teacher of the law (Jesus) seemed to draw the undesirables. They asked the disciples, why is He hanging out with these people? Sinners?
2. There was a problem with Jesus associating with Gentiles and Samaritans.

Also when one calls sinners to associate and follow Him, that does not look like godly behavior. Were they even changing their behavior?   The Solution.  

1. Jesus came to die for all men so how it is that he is only calling the sinners and not the righteous.

Many cases one could replace "righteous" with "self-righteous." Pharisees and scribes did not see themselves as in need of forgiveness. Let us remember the Pharisee and the Publican that went down to pray. Only one recognized his sin. There has to be an acknowledgement that one is truly in need of saving.

1. Jesus called upstanding men to follow Him and even some of the elite religious class also followed Jesus. Nicodemus was one of those men.
2. The problem of hanging out with sinners was all about intent. He intended everyone to repent.

The woman that was taken in adultery and was about to be stoned, He proclaimed that He was not going to condemn her but then told her to go and sin no more.  

1. Jesus saw just how great a need these individuals needed a savior. Just like a doctor that sees you are having a stroke or heart attack.

They see the urgency to get them well.   The lesson for us today.  

1. Are we giving up on individuals? Sinners?
2. Are they in less need of a savior than in the first century?
3. Jesus is still calling the sinner today to come to repentance.
4. Maybe we have become as self-righteous as the Pharisees and scribes that we no longer see ourselves in need of Jesus' saving power.

  Call to action.

1. Website has been updated preacherbryan.com to have a forum and the podcast front and center. Just press play.
2. Subscription are slowly being integrated. Let me know if you are not seeing Hard Verses on your favorite player.
3. Please, don't be antisocial.

Get connected: Facebook- Bryan Cook Twitter- Preacherbryan Google +- Bryan Cook Instagram wesixcooks2 Forum on preacherbryan.com

Show Notes.   Thanks to my son, Sam Cook, for the introduction.   The Problem (why is this verse considered so difficult).   Joh 6:53 Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you. Joh 6:54 Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day. Joh 6:55 For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed. Joh 6:56 He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.   Even the people during that time had a problem with this saying. Joh 6:60 Many therefore of his disciples, when they had heard this, said, This is an hard saying; who can hear it? Joh 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? Joh 6:66 From that time many of his disciples went back, and walked no more with him. Joh 6:67 Then said Jesus unto the twelve, Will ye also go away? Joh 6:68 Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? thou hast the words of eternal life.   The Solution   The clue has to do with how Jesus is defining these terms. He brought up manna in the wilderness. God supplied their necessity of food with bread from heaven. Jesus states that He is the bread of heaven in which you will not die.   Joh 6:48 I am that bread of life. Joh 6:49 Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. Joh 6:50 This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. How does one eat of this bread?   Jesus tells us what the bread is.   Joh 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world. This is the crucifixion.   This still does not answer the question how to partake of this bread of heaven. He explains that this must be done spiritually, notice:   Joh 6:61 When Jesus knew in himself that his disciples murmured at it, he said unto them, Doth this offend you? Joh 6:62 What and if ye shall see the Son of man ascend up where he was before? Joh 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life. Joh 6:64 But there are some of you that believe not. For Jesus knew from the beginning who they were that believed not, and who should betray him.   He made the point that they must believe him and that He is speaking about spiritual things. His flesh will not be found after all the suffering and anguish. Subscribe to the Youtube, RSS, Stitcher, iTunes, etc. Go to the website (preacherbryan.com) get show notes, graphics, other Bible studies. Got a verse that has got you stumped you can email at [email protected] or hit me up on facebook, twitter, Google plus. Or the forum.