Archive for Herod

Hold a Grudge Against Sin

Posted in #PaulthePoke, Freedom in Christ with tags , , , , , , on February 13, 2022 by paulthepoke

Galatians 5:1 For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. ESV

Photo: Getty

The initial focus of the study is the translated word “submit” in the ESV. This is the Greek word ἐνέχω/enechó. Depending on the translation of the Bible, ἐνέχω/enechó is used as “burdened” in the NIV, “subject” in the NASB, “entangled” in KJV versions, and “encumbered” in the Berean Study Bible. The word can also mean to keep or hold a grudge against one.

The word is used only three times in the New Testament. Let’s look at the other two examples.

Mark 6:19 And Herodias had a grudge against him and wanted to put him to death. But she could not…

The “him” in the verse above is John the Baptist. Herodias had it in for John because of what John had told Herod in the previous verse. Herodias had a vengeful, nasty attitude against John the Baptist. She eventually executed her grudge through her daughter. John the Baptist was beheaded.

Mark 6:18 For John had been saying to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.”

Luke 11:53 As He went away from there, the scribes and the Pharisees began to press Him hard and to provoke Him to speak about many things…

Scripture is full of examples of how the legal experts of the day treated Jesus. None of them are favorable. The motivation of the scribes and Pharisees is noted in the next verse. And eventually, these legalists would have Jesus illegally arrested, tried under a kangaroo court, and executed on the cross.

Luke 11:54 …plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say.

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This should be our attitude toward the “yoke of slavery” that is sin. We should have absolute spite and disregard for unlawful behavior. We should have a gnawing, relentless disgust. Execute and kick bad lifestyle habits, choices out of our lives. ἐνέχω/enechó and don’t go back to your old ways.

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Merry Christmas, Tradition, Part 1

Posted in Christmas, Gospel, Prophecy with tags , , , , , , , , , , on December 18, 2014 by paulthepoke

December 25 is the day we culturally celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ. He was born in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1, Luke 2:3). The point Christ was born in Bethlehem is also confirmed twice by an enemy of Jesus, King Herod. In Matthew 2:8 Herod sent the Magi to Bethlehem to look for the child. In Matthew 2:16, Herod had all boy children two and under killed in the town of Bethlehem. Christ’s birth in the town of Bethlehem fulfilled the prophecy of Micah 5:2 But as for you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, too little to be among the clans of Judah, from you One will go forth for Me to be ruler in Israel. His goings forth are from long ago, from the days of eternity.

Where is the Biblical evidence for celebrating the birth of Christ on December 25th? Is this the day on the calendar when Jesus was born? Does the Bible support the date of this celebration? The answer is no. Look all you want, you are not going to find it. The date of Christ’s December birth is a man made tradition unfounded in the Bible.

Christmas, December 25 is not a God Appointed Holiday.

What evidence is in the Bible for when Christ may have been born? There are some clues, but there is no definitive statement. Evidence is circumstantial.

Luke 2:8 In the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields and keeping watch over their flock by night.

The grammar of the sentence states the shepherds were living in the fields as a lifestyle. They were sleeping out in the open fields. This was not a one night campout. The word “staying” is agrauleo in the original Greek text. The verb is present tense in the Greek meaning continual action. It is defined as: to live in the fields, be under the open sky, even at night (Strong’s Concordance). If they were doing this in late December, they would have been pretty miserable.

Historically, shepherds are out of the fields past October. Grass does not grow in the winter. There is no pasture available for sheep to feed in late December. Shepherds are not in the field in late December. In the winter, shepherds are responsible for provision and feeding the animals. Often times in bad weather, sheep and shepherds would retreat to caves for protection. Sheepfolds or small buildings would also be built. These structures would keep sheep out of the wind and cold elements (Manners and Customs of Bible Lands).

Matthew 24:20 But pray that your flight will not be in the winter, or on a Sabbath…-Jesus The context of Jesus’ comments is the Olivet Discourse. He is talking about leaving Jerusalem immediately when the antichrist defiles the Temple and claims to be God. His concern is traveling conditions that are noted in the region during winter. These areas are often impassible during the winter.

Christmas celebrated on December 25th.

Accurate birthday for Jesus???? I don’t think so, but do your own homework.

star-of-bethlehem1

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