Queen's Road Cell

  The parable of the tenants sparked off opposition to Jesus, but in view of the people’s attitude violence was risky. It might provoke a riot and no-one could tell where a riot would end. The Romans would intervene and the privileged might lose their privileges. So Jesus’ enemies chose another method: they tried to discredit him. (Morris)   "so as to deliver him up to the authority and jurisdiction of the governor." (v.20) would relieve the Jewish leaders of the responsibility of getting rid of Jesus.  7. What was Jesus saying about our obligations to God and the secular government in 20:23-25? 'lawful' (v.22), i.e. in accord with the law of God. It was obviously in accordance with the law of Caesar. All three Synoptists make it clear that the reply confounded the critics. It left no room for an accusation of disloyalty to Caesar, but also stressed loyalty to God. Jesus is saying that we are citizens of heaven and earth at the same time. This does not mean dividing l...

1. Exactly what was Jesus denouncing 19:45-48? Think about Luke 19:46. In your own words, explain what Jesus found wrong with the religion being practiced at the temple.   All four Gospels speak of Jesus driving traders out of the temple precincts, but the first three place it at the end of Jesus’ ministry and John at the beginning. There were probably two cleansings. ... The traders would have been in the court of the Gentiles, the only place Gentiles could go to pray. (Morris). - hence Jesus' emphasis on the 'all nations' in His denunciation. The first cleansing would have been a warning; the second, a final judgment. For those involved, the Temple existed purely for commercial purposes - there was no reverence involved. Their activities hindered true worship and distracted true worshippers. And the religious establishment condoned this. They likewise had no concern about the true meaning of the Temple.     How was Jesus' action different from the political p...

  Who is like the wise?      And who knows the interpretation of a thing? A man's wisdom makes his face shine,      and the hardness of his face is changed. 2  I say: Keep the king's command, because of God's oath to him. 3  Be not hasty to go from his presence. Do not take your stand in an evil cause, for he does whatever he pleases. 4  For the word of the king is supreme, and who may say to him, “What are you doing?” 5  Whoever keeps a command will know no evil thing, and the wise heart will know the proper time and the just way. 6  For there is a time and a way for everything, although man's trouble lies heavy on him. 7  For he does not know what is to be, for who can tell him how it will be? 8  No man has power to retain the spirit, or power over the day of death. There is no discharge from war, nor will wickedness deliver those who are given to it. 9  All this I observed while applying my h...

  7. On what has Timothy based his personal convictions? (3:15-17) " and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. 16  All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17  that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work." (2 Tim 3:15-17) Since he was a child, Timothy has based his personal convictions on the OT writings, which have prepared him for salvation in Christ Jesus. No one can be saved through the OT alone at this time. The Jews of the OT looked forward in faith to Christ’s work on the Cross, even though they would not have seen Him clearly. In contrast, the Jews of today have already rejected their true Messiah (Rom 9-11). There is the implication that it is an advantage to grow up in a Christian home (1 Cor 7:14, Mal 2:14-15) There is also the truth th...

In this chapter, Edmund Chan identifies 4 concerns that confront us as Christian disciples: 1. A crisis of identity in an age of narcissism - our culture is one of self love. We forget our true identity as a holy people belonging to God. 2. A crisis of truth in an age of pragmatism - we care more about 'what works' than 'what's true'. So we lose conscience and conviction based on absolute spiritual truth. The latter must be reclaimed by discernment based on deep reflection on the Word. 3. A crisis of authority in an age of consumerism - we put our rights, choices and wants first. This has affected the way we view church, in that we become too self-centred to help others or submit to authority. 4. A crisis of spirituality in an age of fatigue - we are busy and restless in our spirits. Intimacy with God is not seen to be as important as activity for God. We minister out of spiritual dryness and thus become spiritually fatigued. I think these are great obser...

We discussed two difficult passages today! Just a note that we have previously discussed this briefly here and here 2  Now I commend you because you remember me in everything and maintain the traditions even as I delivered them to you. 3  But I want you to understand that the head of every man is Christ, the head of a wife is her husband, and the head of Christ is God. 4  Every man who prays or prophesies with his head covered dishonors his head, 5  but every wife [ c ] who prays or prophesies with her head uncovered dishonors her head, since it is the same as if her head were shaven. 6  For if a wife will not cover her head, then she should cut her hair short. But since it is disgraceful for a wife to cut off her hair or shave her head, let her cover her head. 7  For a man ought not to cover his head, since he is the image and glory of God, but woman is the glory of man. 8  For man was not made from woman, but woman from man. 9  Neither ...