The Parable of the Unforgiving Servant Explained

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Jesus told the parable of the unforgiving servant in response to Peter’s question about how often he should forgive someone who sinned against him. The answer challenged more than Peter’s proposed limit. It exposed the contradiction of receiving mercy while refusing to show mercy to others. In Matthew 18:21–35, Jesus describes a servant whose enormous … Read more

What Paul Meant When He Said, “All Things Are Lawful Unto Me”

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“All things are lawful unto me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.” 1 Corinthians 6:12, KJV Paul’s statement sounds like permission to do whatever a person wants. If all things are lawful, what could prevent a Christian from … Read more

What John Meant by “There Is a Sin Unto Death”

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“There is a sin unto death: I do not say that he shall pray for it.” 1 John 5:16, KJV John gives Christians a reason to pray for someone who has sinned. He says that if a believer sees a brother committing a sin that does not lead to death, he should ask God to … Read more

What It Means to Grieve the Holy Spirit

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“And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:30, KJV Paul’s command is direct. Christians must not grieve the Holy Spirit of God. The statement appears in a passage addressing dishonesty, anger, theft, corrupt speech, bitterness, and the way believers treat one another. Paul is … Read more

What Paul Meant When He Said, “The Letter Kills, but the Spirit Gives Life”

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“Who also hath made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life.” 2 Corinthians 3:6, KJV Paul’s words sound startling. The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. Read without the surrounding passage, the statement can appear to suggest … Read more

What Jesus Meant When He Said, “The Last Will Be First”

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Jesus told a story about workers who received the same pay despite working different hours. Some began at sunrise. Others arrived late in the afternoon. When the owner paid them, he gave every worker the same amount. The men who had worked all day were angry. They had endured the heat. They had worked longer. … Read more

Jesus Said Whoever Is Not With Him Is Against Him

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Jesus cast a demon out of a man who could neither see nor speak. The man was healed, the crowd was astonished, and people began asking whether Jesus might be the promised Son of David. But the Pharisees had a different explanation. They accused Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the … Read more

The Meaning of Jesus Saying “You Must Eat My Flesh and Drink My Blood”

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Jesus told His listeners that they had to eat His flesh and drink His blood to have eternal life. He did not present the statement as a suggestion. He said that unless they did this, they had no life in them. “Then Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat … Read more

Why Jesus Asked Peter Three Times, “Do You Love Me?”

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Jesus did not ask Peter once whether he loved Him. He asked him three times. The first question was direct. The second repeated the same demand. By the third, Peter was grieved. John makes that reaction part of the account, so we cannot treat the repetition as an insignificant detail. “Simon, son of Jonas, lovest … Read more

When Jesus Seemed to Reject a Mother Pleading for Her Daughter

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A mother begged Jesus to deliver her daughter from a demon. He said nothing. She pleaded again, and Jesus told her that He had been sent only to the lost sheep of Israel. When she came closer and begged Him to help her, He answered: “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and … Read more