Tag: ginomai

1 Thessalonians 2:1 – Opposition Will Come

Posted on by Will

For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain.

Truth to Learn

An effective Christian ministry will encounter opposition.

Behind the Words

The word “entry” is from the Greek noun eisodon, which we saw in verse nine of chapter one. It is made up of eis, meaning “in” or “into” and hodos, meaning “a road” or “a way.” Thus, eisodon literally means “a way in.”

“In vain” is the translation of kenos, which literally means “empty,” “hollow,” or “fruitless.” In this case it could be a reference to Paul’s preaching being without merit or deceitful, or it could be a reference to a lack of success. Based on the subject matter of the latter half of the previous chapter it probably refers to “a lack of success.”

The verb “was” is translated from ginomai, which means “to begin to be” or “to come into existence.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense which indicates past completed action with an ongoing effect, the emphasis being on the effect. We could, therefore, interpret the ending of this verse as “that our coming to you has shown itself to be fruitful.

Meaning Explained

Having spent most of the first part of this letter praising the Thessalonian Christians for their testimony, Paul now turns to a more serious topic. Based on the subject matter of this second chapter we can surmise that there were some people who had made charges against the way that Paul and his associates behaved. From verse three we can conclude that their accusers had claimed that Paul used deceitful means or false, flattering words in his preaching. From verses five and six it also appears that Paul was accused of trying to take advantage of the Thessalonians for his own selfish benefit. Also, from verses seventeen through twenty, it appears that Paul and his companions were accused of hastily abandoning the Church in Thessalonica after they got what they wanted from them.

So, to get a better understanding of the background of Paul’s ministry to these dear saints, read Acts 16:9-17:10. There you will see that Paul and Silas (Silvanus) were persecuted and thrown in jail while ministering in Philippi. The reason they had been imprisoned was not because they preached the Gospel, but because they cast out a demon from a young girl who was being selfishly used by others to make money from her demon possession and resulting fortune telling. After leaving Philippi and coming to Thessalonica, Paul preached in the synagogue and a large number of people believed. But, because of the jealousy of the Jews there, he was forced to leave and go to Berea. The Jews in Thessalonica then pursued Paul and his companions, again stirring up the crowds against them, causing Paul and Silvanus to flee from Berea as well.

In today’s verse Paul is pointing out to the Thessalonian Christians that his ministry there was not without merit or fruit. In fact, in Acts 17:4 we see that some of the Jews and a large number of Greeks got saved as a result of Paul’s ministry.

Application

Paul and Silvanus didn’t let opposition and persecution stop them from serving God in the ministry He had called them to. Likewise, don’t let opposition to your ministry cause you to get discouraged or to give up. Remember, greater is He who is in us than he who is against us!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

1 Thessalonians 1:7 – Christian Models

Posted on by Will

so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.

Truth to Learn

Every Christian should be an example of Christ Himself.

Behind the Words

“So that” is translated from the Greek word hōste, which is made up of hōs, meaning “as” and te, which is a particle of connection, usually meaning “in addition.” Hōste, therefore, could be translated as “so that, in addition” or “so as, also.” It serves as a strong connector between what was just said and what is about to be said.

“You became” is from the verb ginomai, meaning “to begin to be.” It is expressed as an infinitive here, so the first part of this verse could be translated as “so as, also, to become …”

The word “examples” is translated from the Greek word tupos, from which we get our English word “type.” It is based on the verb tuptō, meaning “to strike so as to leave an impression.” Tupos refers to a die or a model (that is, any pattern) used to replicate a sign or symbol.

Meaning Explained

Based on what we learned about the meaning of the words in the opening part of this verse, if we combine this with the previous verse (taking out the parenthetical thought) we get: “And you became followers of us and of the Lord … so as, also, to become models (of Christian living) to all who believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”

The word “Christian” literally means “little Christ”; therefore, a Christian is supposed to be someone who is a disciple of Christ, modeling his or her life after Jesus. That’s exactly what the Apostle Paul did after his conversion on the road to Damascus. Before that life changing event, Paul (then called Saul) was attacking Christians and having them arrested. After he became a Christian, he so completely committed himself to his new way of life that he, himself, became the target for persecution and attack. As a result, he became an example to the people he preached to.

Now we learn that the Christians in Thessalonica so completely committed themselves to our Lord and to the Apostle Paul’s teaching that they became examples to all those around them. From the northern most regions of Greece (Macedonia) to the southern most regions (Achaia), believers in Christ knew the reputation of the Thessalonians as committed Christians. They had a reputation of being Christians, not in name only, but in the way they lived their lives. They did this in a place, and at a time when it was not the popular thing to do. Within ten years of the writing of this letter, the persecution of Christians had so pervaded Roman culture that the persecutors even included the Emperor Nero. In A.D. 64 after the great fire that destroyed much of the city of Rome, many believe that Nero was directly responsible for starting the fire. In order to counter such beliefs, Nero put the blame directly on the Christians, persecuting and torturing them for their supposed act of arson.

Application

How about you? Do you have a reputation as a Christian among those with whom you work and with those who live in your neighborhood? If so, is your reputation that of being a “supposed Christian” or a “committed Christian”? How about in your church? Do others look at your life and faith walk and want to be like you? Do people both inside and outside your church see Christ in you?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved

Ephesians 6:3 – Faithful Obedience from Love

Posted on by Will

That it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth.

Truth to Learn

We should be obedient to God because we love Him, not because we want or expect something from Him.

Behind the Words

The verbal phrase “it may be” is translated from the Greek word ginomai, which means “to begin to be,” “to come into existence,” or “to come into a given condition or state.” It is expressed here in the subjunctive mood indicating the possibility or probability of occurrence.

“Live long” is from the Greek adjective makrochronios. This is the only place in the New Testament where this word occurs. It is made up of makros, meaning “large” or “long” and chronos, meaning “a length of time.” Thus, makrochronios literally means “long-timed” or “long- lived.” A literal translation of the second half of this verse might be, “and you will be long-lived on the earth.”

Meaning Explained

As we learned yesterday, Paul is basically quoting the fifth commandment. The first thing we have to notice is that he didn’t quote it exactly. We’ll see why in just a minute. Like the rest of the Law, this commandment was given to the Israelites after they left Egypt and before they entered the Promised Land. It specifically promises long life in the land of Canaan. But, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, Paul modified the contents of the commandment to apply its principle to Christians living throughout the world.

As we have mentioned before, Christians are not under the Law of Moses. Keeping the Law does not make us righteous any more than it makes devout Jews righteous. In fact, Paul wrote his letter to the Galatians to address this very issue. In that church there were some who claimed that Christians had to keep the Law even after faith in Christ. He taught very clearly that we are not justified by obedience, we are justified by faith in Christ and we are no longer under the Law.

Therefore the law was our tutor to bring us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after faith has come, we are no longer under a tutor. (Galatians 3:24-25)

The other thing we need to observe is that this is not a “magic formula” for God’s blessing; rather, it is given to us as a general principle. There are many people who have honored their parents and yet died young. That doesn’t make God a liar. Paul gives us these verses to teach us that it is proper for us to obey our parents and that, in general, God blesses those who do. Far too many Christians today believe that obedience to a set of rules is what pleases God. Their religion is no better than that of the Jews who ultimately rejected the Messiah they claimed to be waiting for, even though they followed all the rules. Keep in mind what the writer of Hebrews said:

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. (Hebrews 11:6)

Application

Our obedience to God should be because of our love for Him (see John 14:23), not because we want to win His favor. So, let us honor God by honoring our parents.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 5:17 – God’s Will?

Posted on by Will

Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Truth to Learn

Christians need to understand God’s will.

Behind the Words

“Be” is translated from ginomai, which primarily means “to begin to be” or “to become.” It implies a change of state from one condition to another.

Aphrōn is the Greek word translated “unwise.” It is made up of the negative particle a and a form of phrēn, meaning “understanding.” Thus, the word aphrōn literally means “without understanding.” It is variously translated as “unwise, foolish, mindless, ignorant, or stupid.”

The word “understand” is from the Greek verb suniēmi, which is made up of sun, meaning “together” and hiēmi, meaning “to send.” The root meaning of suniēmi, therefore, is “to put together,” that is “to understand or comprehend.”

“Will” is translated from thelēma, which is derived from the verb thelō, meaning “to will,” “to purpose,” or “to determine.” There is another word translated “will” in the New Testament. It is boulomai, meaning “to be disposed or to intend.” It does not indicate that action is taken regarding the decision, whereas thelēma is resolved and is acted upon. God’s will is almost always referred to as thelēma, because He always does that which He determines. Man’s will, however, is expressed in the New Testament as boulēma. Thus, we can think of thelēma as determined will and boulēma as desirous will.

Meaning Explained

We are to be imitators of God, loving others as Christ loved us. We are to avoid the unfruitful works of darkness, forsaking any close fellowship with others who do such things. We are to allow the light of God to shine through us. We are not to allow the comforts of this world and the allure of sin to lull us to sleep. Instead we are to wake up, getting up from among those around us who are spiritually dead and taking a good look at the way we are living our lives. We shouldn’t live like those who are ignorant of God. Instead, we should make the most of every day because the world is full of evil.

Therefore – we should not be ignorant of God’s will for our lives. Instead, we should learn what God’s will is. How can we know what God’s will is for our lives? Paul told the Christians in Rome to do several things to know God’s will:

I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. (Romans 12:1-2)

We need to offer our bodies (our lives) on God’s altar, allowing Him to use us however He wants. We need to resist conformity to the world around us. We need to be mentally transformed by consistently reading and studying His word. If we do these things, then we will know God’s will for our lives.

Application

Knowing what God wants from us takes a lot of commitment and dedication. If Jesus was willing to learn and do God’s will, how can we do any less?

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 5:7 – Saved? Really?

Posted on by Will

Therefore do not be partakers with them.

Truth to Learn

You can’t be a child of God and still live like the Devil.

Behind the Words

The word “be” is translated from the Greek verb ginomai, which means “to begin to be” or “to become.”

“Partakers” is from summetochos, which is a double compound word. It is composed of sun, meaning “together” (which we see in English as the prefix “syn”), meta, meaning “with,” and echo, meaning “to have.” Thus, summetochos literally means “having together with,” that is, sharing or partaking of something together with others.

Meaning Explained

It is interesting to note that Paul does not say “Quit being fellow partakers with them.” Instead he says, “Don’t begin to be fellow partakers with them.” Don’t even start down that road! Paul has been talking about those who are teaching that it’s okay for Christians to indulge in sinful sexual practices. These false teachers believed that since all of our sins have been forgiven, we can indulge ourselves in our sinful desires and God’s grace will cover it all. In effect, they saw salvation as a “get out of Hell free” card. They decided they wanted the best of both worlds – the indulgence of all pleasurable things, no matter what God might think of them, along with eternity in the presence of the God who saved them.

Now, many of us can think of people we’ve known who lived a life of committed Christian service for years and then turned away from God. They left the church and are now living a life of sinful indulgence. “What about them?” you might ask. “Are they still saved?” To that question I have two scripture passages to quote. The first is:

For this reason many are weak and sick among you, and many sleep. (1Corinthians 11:30)

Paul said this in reference to communion. Basically, he said that any Christian who partakes of communion while he or she is living in blatant sin is subject to God’s judgment of sickness or even death. The other verse that comes to mind is,

For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever. … They went out from us, but they were not of us; for if they had been of us, they would have continued with us; but they went out that they might be made manifest, that none of them were of us. (1John 2:16, 17, 19)

There are people who have professed the name of Christ, who have learned how to act like a Christian, knowing all the right things to say, who never really got saved. They never really submitted themselves to God, and they have since left the church because they are not one of God’s children. They may have even been teachers in the church, perhaps even claiming that you can be a Christian and still live in sin. They may even still think themselves to be saved, but they will be horribly surprised when they appear before their God, their Judge!

Application

Instead of worrying about whether or not a former church member is saved, let’s focus on our own relationship with God. Does it bother you when you sin against God? If so, that’s good. Or can you sin without it bothering you? Are you sure?!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 5:1 – Imitators, Not Actors

Posted on by Will

Therefore be imitators of God as dear children.

Truth to Learn

We need to live the part that God has given us.

Behind the Words

“Therefore” is translated from oun, which indicates a connection of two thoughts, sometimes indicating an affect from the previous thought, but often just a link between the two. I believe the best translation in this case is “Then.”

“Be” is the command form of ginomai, which we saw in yesterday’s verse. It means “become.”

The word translated “imitators” is mimētēs, from which we get our English word “mimic,” meaning “to imitate or copy in action and speech.”

 “Dear” is translated from agapētos, which is based on the verb agapaō, meaning “to love with a perfect, self-sacrificing love.” Agapētos refers to someone who is loved with that kind of love.

A more literal translation of this verse would be, “Then become imitators of God as beloved children.”

Meaning Explained

Nearly everyone has someone whom they look-up to with respect and admiration, in many cases wishing they could be just like them. Some people go so far as to imitate the clothing style of the one they admire, combing their hair the same way, and even talking like their idol. In fact, there are those who go to the extreme, having plastic surgery so that they even physically resemble the one whom they revere so much. Sort of crazy, huh? Perhaps in the extreme case; however, the Apostle Paul tells us that being imitators is a good thing, as long as the one we’re imitating is God.

In chapter four of this letter to the Christians in the church of Ephesus, Paul instructed them (and us) to take off the old man and put on the new man. In effect, he told us to quit behaving like our sin nature and begin behaving like our new nature. He even went so far as to instruct us in some of the characteristics of the old man (things we are to avoid) and some of the characteristics of the new man. Now, he gives us some practical insight into how we can put on the new man.

We’ve all seen actors who, even though we know their real identity, portray a character so completely that we perceive the character they’re playing rather than the actor. And, when we think of that actor, we often think of him or her as one of the characters they have portrayed. In reality, however, we all know that they are just acting like someone else; they’re not really the character they imitate.

Unlike professional actors, we need to become more than just pretenders. God doesn’t want us to pretend that we’re His children. We are His children! And He wants us to live like His children are supposed to live. While professional actors portray the character on the outside, we need to become the character on the inside.

Application

“I don’t want to be a phony, acting like someone I’m not,” you may say. Well, you don’t have to. If you are a born-again Christian, then you are a child of God. By learning how to think and behave like a child of God you become the new character that God has made you to be. If you learn the part well enough, others will see God in you. Think about that!

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 4:32 – Kindness, Compassion, and Forgiveness

Posted on by Will

And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God in Christ forgave you.

Truth to Learn

Kindness, compassion, and forgiveness are of vital importance within the church.

Behind the Words

The verb “be” is translated from ginomai, meaning “to cause to be” or “to become.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood indicating a command for us to “become kind and tenderhearted!”

“Kind” is the translation of chrēstos, which is derived from the verb chraomai, meaning “to furnish what is needed” or “to treat well.” Chrēstos, when used of people, means “useful toward others, that is, good-natured, gentle, or kind.”

The word “tenderhearted” is translated from eusplagchnos. This word is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and splagchnon, meaning “intestine” or “bowel.” The Greeks believed that the intestines were the source of emotions. Thus, “good intestined,” as eusplagchnos literally means, refers to the characteristic of having good feelings, especially compassion for others.

“Forgiving” is from charidzomai, which is derived from charis, meaning “grace” or “a favor freely given.” Charidzomai means “to be gracious or to forgive someone.”

The first occurrence of “one another” is from allēlōn, meaning “one another” or “each other.” The second occurrence of “one another” is translated from heautou, meaning “yourselves.”

Meaning Explained

Back in verse twenty-two the Apostle Paul told us to “put off … the old man,” that is “quit living under the influence of your sin nature.” Then in verse twenty-four he told us to “put on the new man,” the new nature that God created for us. Since then, Paul has told us what it means to live under the influence of this new nature. Yesterday, he instructed us to do away with bitterness, anger, wrath, clamor, blasphemy, and all badness.

Earlier we learned that we all should be using our spiritual gifts in the building up of the body of Christ. In today’s verse, Paul is not talking about specific gifts, but general attitudes that should replace those things he told us to stop doing yesterday. The first thing he tells us is that we should be kind, gentle, or useful to each other. The second thing is to be tenderhearted to each other; that is, we should demonstrate compassionate care for each other. If every church member were to regularly demonstrate kindness and compassion to everyone else in the church, no one would ever want to leave.

The third thing Paul tells us in today’s verse is that we should be forgiving. After all, he says, each one of us has been forgiven so much by God through the blood of Christ that we should willingly forgive others for what they have done to us. But notice that Paul used the pronoun heautou (yourselves) in reference to forgiveness. We need to be freely forgiving of others in the church, but we also need to be freely forgiving of ourselves. God has forgiven us, so we should too.

Application

Of the three attitudes that Paul admonishes us to exhibit in today’s verse, forgiveness may be the most important. Let’s all commit to be completely forgiving of others this week, and let’s be forgiving of ourselves as well.

In God's service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2012 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

Ephesians 2:13 – A New Covenant

Posted on by Will

Ephesians 2:13  – A New Covenant

But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Truth to Learn

God has made a new covenant for us.

Behind the Words

“Now” is translated from nuni, which is a strengthened form of nun, meaning “now.” The strengthened form adds emphasis on the present.

“Once” is from the Greek word pote, which has several nuances of meaning and is used of both the past and the future. It can mean “at some time,” “one time or another,” “when,” “formerly,” or “at last.”

The Greek word translated “far off” is makran, which is derived from makros, meaning “long.” Makran means “a great distance away.”

The words “have been brought” are from the verb ginomai, which means “to begin to be” or “to come into existence.” Thus, Paul is really saying, “you … have become near.”

Meaning Explained

Paul’s current train of thought began back in verse eleven where he reminded us that previously we were Gentiles in the flesh and we were called “the uncircumcision” by the Jews. So what’s the big deal about circumcision? Back in Genesis chapter fifteen, Abraham was declared to be righteous because he believed God’s promise that the Messiah would be one of his descendants. Fifteen years later (Genesis 17) he still had no children by his wife Sarah. At that time God promised him again that He would be a father of many nations, telling him that in one year Sarah would give birth to a son. He then made another covenant with Abraham, promising him that He would be God to Abraham’s descendants and that He would give him and his descendants the land of Canaan. This covenant required Abraham and his entire household to be circumcised.

The fact that we were not descendants of Abraham means that we aren’t part of the Commonwealth of Israel. Therefore, we were not included in the promise of the coming Messiah or the promise that Jehovah would be our God. And, as a result, as Paul said in verse twelve, we were without hope. Now that Abraham’s descendant, the Messiah, has come and shed His blood as payment for our sins, things have changed. We, who were aliens and far away from the promises and covenants, have been brought near by a new covenant. Luke recorded the following words of our Lord at the Last Supper:

This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you. (Luke 22:20)

In other words, by shedding His blood, he was making a new covenant. And, in the book of Hebrews we are told:

In that He says, “a new covenant,” He has made the first obsolete.” (Hebrews 8:13)

Because of this new covenant, sealed with Christ’s blood, we who were once far off have now become near to God.

Application

If you believe that the blood of Christ saved you from your sins, then God has declared you to be righteous. Because you are righteous, you can stand (actually, we will sit) in His presence. All who refuse to believe are unrighteous and can’t stand in His presence; they will be cast into the Lake of Fire.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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Romans 15:8 – Breaking Old Habits

Posted on by Will

Romans 15:8 – Breaking Old Habits

Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers,

Truth to Learn

The bondage of manmade rules and tradition is hard to break.

Behind the Words

“Has become” is translated from the verb ginomai (from which we get our English word generate), meaning “to begin to be, to come into existence, or to become.” It is expressed here in the perfect tense which, in Greek, implies past completed action with an ongoing effect where the emphasis is on the effect.

The word translated “servant” is from the Greek word diakonos which means “one who waits on tables” or “one who serves the needs of others.” This word is often translated as “minister.”

“Confirm” is from the Greek verb bebaioō, meaning “to strengthen, make true, or fulfill.”

Meaning Explained

In this and the following verse Paul will demonstrate to the Christians at Rome why the work of Christ is different, though equally vital, for the Jews and the Gentiles. His purpose, I believe, is to show the Gentile converts in Rome that the Jews have a good reason for wanting to continue to follow the ordinances laid out by the Mosaic Law, and at the same time to show the Jewish converts that the Gentiles have a good reason for not wanting to be bound by those same ordinances.

The first half of this reasoning is contained in the current verse. He says that “Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision.” As mentioned above, the verb “has become” is in the perfect tense, so what Paul is saying is that Jesus Christ became and continues to be one who serves the needs of the Jews with respect to God’s truth.

The way that Jesus has done and continues to do this is by having confirmed, or fulfilled, the promises made to the Jewish fathers. What promises, you say? The promises to Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Moses, David, and others concerning the Messiah’s coming and His being the seed of the woman, and of Abraham, and of David. Jesus perfectly fulfilled all that was promised to the Jewish fathers and, therefore, confirms the truth of God’s promise. In so doing, Jesus demonstrates to the Jewish converts that all that has been written in the Old Testament is truth. This gives the Jewish converts reason to believe in Christ and in all that is said of him in the Old Testament. However, it also gives them reason to want to continue conforming to the requirements of the Law.

Paul has taught that righteousness cannot be obtained by obedience to the Law and the Jewish members of the church at Rome were learning that they couldn’t perfectly keep the requirements of the Law anyway. Nonetheless, it is difficult for anyone who has lived his or her life by a strict set of rules to suddenly stop doing those things to which they have been bound for so long.

Application

Every church has rules or traditions which are not based on what the Word of God teaches. As we learn where the truth of the Bible contradicts these rules and traditions, we will want to change how we act, but it is difficult. Recognizing which of these rules and traditions are contrary to truth is the first step in being set free from them. Are you still in bondage or have you been set free in Christ?

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2011 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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If this message or this link was forwarded to you by a friend and you wish to receive future verses directly to your inbox, send an e-mail to:

Romans 11:9 – Ensnared by Blessings

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Romans 11:9 – Ensnared by Blessings

And David says: “Let their table become a snare and a trap, a stumbling block and a recompense to them.

Truth to Learn

Blessings can become a trap if taken for granted.

Behind the Words

The word “let” is translated from a form of ginomai, meaning “to cause to be” or “to become.” It is expressed here in the imperative mood indicating a command. Though in English we often interpret the word “let” as “allow,” it is used here and elsewhere in the Bible as a command to cause something to be.

The word “table” is from trapedza, which is made up of tetra, meaning “four” and pedza, meaning “foot.” Hence, it refers to something having four feet, like a table. It is used here as a metonym, referring to the feast that is on the table.

“Snare” is from pagis, “that which is set-up or fixed in place.” It is the word that is used to refer to a snare or a trap.

The word “trap” is from thēra, referring to “a hunt for an animal,” which usually ended up in the animal being caught in a net or other inescapable trap.

“Stumbling block” comes from skandalon, which refers to “the trigger of a trap on which the bait is placed.”

The word translated “recompense” is antapodoma, meaning “the penalty which is justly deserved.”

Meaning Explained

In this verse and the following Paul makes a very curious quotation from a psalm of King David. This quotation (though not exact) is from Psalms 69:22, 23 which reads:

Let their table become a snare before them, and their well-being a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they do not see; and make their loins shake continually.

But notice also the verse that comes just before this:

They also gave me gall for my food, and for my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. (Psalms 69:21)

This passage is talking about the Messiah, the Christ, Jesus of Nazareth, while he was hanging on the cross paying the penalty for all of our sins. While He was hanging on the cross, they were enjoying the blessings He had provided for them as God’s chosen people. But in the midst of their enjoyment of the benefits of God’s blessing, they were blinded by their appetites regarding the truth that was right in front of them. They were so busy enjoying the temporary, physical blessings which God had provided for them, they totally missed the eternal, spiritual blessings they should have received if they had only believed in the One they were killing. They were ensnared by their appetites, resulting in the penalty which they justly deserved.

Paul will finish his thought, and the condemnation of the unbelieving Jews, in the next verse.

Application

This is a warning to all of us not to take God’s blessings for granted. All of the temporal things that we have, our health, our welfare, our possessions, our freedom, our peace, are a direct gift from God and He can take away any or all of them at any moment. So, instead of taking them for granted, let’s stop right now and thank our Heavenly Father for them. Let’s release the right to have them to the One who truly owns them, and then trust in His care and provision for us.

I think it’s time to pray.

In God’s service, for His glory,

Copyright © 2010 Will Krause. All rights reserved.

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