Anything Finely Tuned Demands a Fine Tuner by Eric Lyons, M.Min.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=2771

Anything Finely Tuned Demands a Fine Tuner

by	Eric Lyons, M.Min.

I have owned two new cars in my lifetime, both of which were fine-tuned machines. The pistons moved with remarkable precision. The spark plugs repeatedly ignited the gasoline at an intended time. Just the right amount of oxygen was mixed with the fuel for ideal performance. The front end was perfectly aligned. The tires were properly balanced. Thousands of intended actions took place at precisely the right times so that I could swiftly and safely drive from place to place, time and again. Until it was totaled in 2007, my 1997 Saturn SL1 ran amazingly well, and my 2008 Toyota Corolla is still functioning as a fine-tuned machine.

A fine-tuned machine demands a fine-tuner. Everyone knows that cars and computers, pianos and projectors all require engineers, technicians, and tuners for them to function properly. New machines are built by intelligent people. Older machines receive tune-ups by intelligent tuners. Surely, no one believes that tune-ups happen by accident. How can anything be finely tuned without a fine tuner?

Atheistic evolutionists continually find themselves in a conundrum, because of their admittance that our Universe is fine-tuned. If the physical laws of the Universe (e.g., gravity) are merely “inherent in the physical universe” and simply evolved to their current status by time and chance along with everything else that exists (Davies, 2007, 194[2610]:33), the question arises, “Why, then, is the Universe so fine-tuned?” Why do planets and moons not crash into each other during their orbits? How can astronomers predict with amazing accuracy where a planet will be in the distant future? Why is the force of gravity on Earth just right for life to exist?

In a recent New Scientist cover story about gravity, Michael Brooks described the force as strange, mysterious, and puzzling. He insisted that one reason gravity does not make sense (to him) is because it is “fine-tuned”: “If it [gravity—EL] were a tiny bit stronger, none of us would be here to scoff at its puny nature” (2009, 202[2712]:30, emp. added). Regarding the expansion of space (after the alleged Big Bang) and the pull of gravity, Brooks wrote:

It turns out that the struggle between these two was balanced on a knife-edge. If the expansion of space had overwhelmed the pull of gravity in the newborn universe, stars, galaxies and humans would never have been able to form. If, on the other hand, gravity had been much stronger, stars and galaxies might have formed, but they would have quickly collapsed in on themselves and each other. What’s more, the gravitational distortion of space-time would have folded up the universe in a big crunch. Our cosmic history could have been over by now.

Only the middle ground, where the expansion and the gravitational strength balance...allows life to form (p. 31, emp. added).

Brooks then asked, “Why does G [the designation for the gravitational constant—EL] have the value that allowed life to form in the cosmos?” (p. 31). His answer: “The simple but unsatisfying answer is that we could not be here to observe it if it were any different. As to the deeper answer—no one knows....We have never explained any basic constant of nature” (p. 31, emp. added).

Evolutionists like Michael Brooks admit that “no one knows” why the force of gravity is so perfect as to allow life to exist on Earth. Evolutionists acknowledge: “We have never explained any basic constant in nature.” Atheistic evolutionists allege that the Universe and its laws are the result of mindless, naturalistic, random processes, yet at the same time they contend that it is “uniquely hospitable,” “remarkable,” and “ordered in an intelligible way” (Davies, pp. 30,34). In a New Scientist article titled “Laying Down the Laws,” Paul Davies of Arizona State University admitted the many examples of “uncanny bio-friendly ‘coincidences’” and “fine-tuned properties” of the Universe (p. 30). He then wrote: “Like Baby Bear’s porridge in the story of Goldilocks, our universe seems ‘just right’ for life. It looks, to use astronomer Fred Hoyle’s dramatic description, as if ‘a super-intellect has been monkeying with
physics’” (p. 30).

In truth, it “looks...as if a super-intellect” lies behind the precise, fine-tuned, law-driven Universe, because there is a Super-intellect behind it all. The simple, satisfying answer for why the Universe works so well, and for why Earth is so perfect for life’s existence, is because the Universe has a fine-tuner. Just as a fine-tuned automobile demands a tuner, so our fine-tuned Universe demands a designer. Nothing makes sense if an ultimate Tuner does not exist, but everything makes sense if He does. Indeed, “In the beginning God created the heavens and the Earth” (Genesis 1:1). He ordained the moon and the stars. The heavens are the work of His fingers (Psalm 8:3). They declare His glory (Psalm 19:1). “He upholds all things by the word of His power” (Hebrews 1:3, NASB). The infinite, eternal Creator “is before all things, and in Him all things consist” (Colossians 1:17). He is the ultimate tuner of all that is finely tuned.

REFERENCES

Brooks, Michael (2009), “Seven Mysteries of Gravity,” New Scientist, 202[2712]:28-32, June 13.

Davies, Paul (2007), “Laying Down the Laws,” New Scientist, 194[2610]:30-34, June 29.

Are Diamonds “Life’s Best Friend”? by Kyle Butt, M.Div.

http://apologeticspress.org/APContent.aspx?category=12&article=1127

Are Diamonds “Life’s Best Friend”?

by	Kyle Butt, M.Div.

The theory of organic evolution is fraught with irreconcilable errors. One of the foremost is the fact that evolution demands that living organisms arose from non-living, inorganic chemicals. As all origin-of-life researchers are well aware, this idea flies in the face of the Law of Biogenesis, the most experimentally substantiated biological law in the history of science. Be that as it may, evolutionists continue their futile efforts to explain how life could have arisen from primitive, non-living substances.

According to three German scientists from the University of Ulm, diamonds most likely helped get life off the ground. In an article reporting on the work, Robert Britt stated:

Diamonds are crystallized forms of carbon that predate the oldest known life on the planet. In lab experiments aimed to confirm work done more than three decades ago, researchers found that when treated with hydrogen, natural diamonds formed crystalline layers of water on the surface. Water is essential for life as we know it. Also, the tests found electrical conductivity that could have been key to forcing chemical reactions needed to generate the first birth (2008).

Those who read Britt’s article are struck by the numerous qualifying statements such as “diamonds may have been,” “the resulting reaction may have been,” and “the new research does not conclusively determine how life began” (emp. added). Such qualifying statements are certainly needed in light of the “evidence” that is presented. Supposedly diamonds would have made a good platform for life because they can form layers of water and can possess electrical conductivity. Yet, in labs all across the globe for the past 50 years, scientists have been able to work with an endless supply of water and electricity and still have not produced life from non-life—as if water and conductivity are equivalent to life production.

Furthermore, diamonds supposedly “predate the oldest known life forms” on Earth. The ancient age of diamonds, however, has fallen upon very hard times. In 2005, Donald DeYoung published results from a team research project referred to as RATE. The name RATE is an acronym for Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth. This team of scientists studied 12 diamond samples, each about 50 milligrams in weight. If diamonds are as old as suggested, they certainly would not contain any traces of Carbon-14, since C-14 should have escaped from the samples billions of years ago. After closely analyzing the samples, however, Carbon-14 was present in every one. DeYoung wrote: “The presence of C-14 in ‘very old’ fossils, rocks, coal, and diamond samples is clearly a major conflict with the long-age time scale” (2005, p. 56, emp. added).

Britt appropriately included in his brief article the fact that some scientists postulate the idea of panspermia, in which aliens allegedly seeded planet Earth with life. In truth, there is as much evidence for little green men dropping off packets of bacteria as there is that life spontaneously generated on the surface of a diamond. All such concepts are devoid of experimental verification. The presence of life on this Earth is not a scientific mystery that remains to be solved. It is a historic occurrence that most elementary school children can explain: “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the Earth” (Genesis 1:1), including all kinds of living organisms.

REFERENCES

Britt, Robert Roy (2008), “Diamonds May Have Jumpstarted Life on Earth,” LiveScience.com, [On-line], URL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/livescience/20080726/sc_livescience/ diamondsmayhavejumpstartedlifeonearth.

DeYoung, Don (2005), Thousands...Not Billions (Green Forest, AR: Master Books).

"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS" The Superior Sacrifice (10:1-18) by Mark Copeland

"THE EPISTLE TO THE HEBREWS"

The Superior Sacrifice (10:1-18)

INTRODUCTION

1. In showing the superiority of the New Covenant, we have seen the author discuss...
   a. The better promises - He 8:7-13
   b. The better sanctuary - He 9:1-28

2. The author now reaches a climax in his discussion with a look at 
   "the better sacrifice"...
   a. Not that he hasn't already made mention of it - He 7:26-27; 
      9:11-14,24-26
   b. But now there is a contrast to the Old Covenant sacrifices in the
      clearest of terms

3. In this section, we will find the author...
   a. Bring together the main ideas he has alluded to earlier
   b. Add a further thought not stressed before

[In the first four verses of chapter ten, then, we find...]

I. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS NEED (1-4)

   A. ANIMAL SACRIFICES DID NOT PROVIDE TRUE REMISSION OF SIN...
      1. The Law was only "a shadow of the good things to come" - He 10:1a
         a. Its gifts and sacrifices were a "copy and shadow" of the heavenly things - He 8:4-5
         b. They symbolized what Jesus would actually do - He 9:11-12, 24
         c. The "good things" included such things as:
            1) His better sacrifice
            2) The better hope
            3) The eternal redemption and the eternal inheritance
      2. The sacrifices did not make the worshippers "perfect" - He 10:1b-2
         a. Perfect in regard to the conscience - He 9:9
         b. The repetitive nature of the sacrifices prevented this

   B. ANIMAL SACRIFICES  PROVIDED A REMINDER OF SIN...
      1. Every year there was the constant reminder of sins - He 10:3
         a. In addition to the daily and monthly sacrifices, there were
            the annual sacrifices on the Day of Atonement
         b. The constant sacrifices reminded them of their sin and need for cleansing
      2. It was not possible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins - He 10:4
         a. The blood of animals could not really take away sin
         b. Their purpose was to impress upon the people their need, 
            and to foreshadow what would one day be accomplished in Christ

[The sacrifices of the Old Covenant accomplished their purpose; they 
served as "a shadow of the good things to come".  Those "good things"
involved the sacrifice found in the New Covenant, of which we now read...]
         
II. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS PROVISION (5-9)

   A. IT WAS PROVIDED BY GOD...
      1. From Ps 40:6-8, we see the attitude of Christ when He came
         into the world
      2. Burnt offerings and sacrifices did not meet His Father's 
         ultimate desire - He 10:5-6
      3. But what did meet God's desire, God provided Himself:  a body - He 10:5
      -- This reminds us that propitiation for sin was provided by God,
         not man - 1Jn 4:10

   B. IT WAS OFFERED FREELY BY CHRIST...
      1. Christ came as prophesied to do the will of God - He 10:7-9a
      2. Here is a striking difference between Christ's sacrifice and
         the animal sacrifices...
         a. Animal sacrifices were offered against their will
         b. Jesus freely offered Himself in accordance with His 
            Father's will! - cf. Jn 6:38

   C. IT ESTABLISHED A NEW COVENANT...
      1. In doing the will of His Father, Jesus has taken away the 
         first covenant - He 9:9b; cf. Col 2:14-17
      2. Making it possible to establish the second covenant, of which 
         He is the mediator - cf. He 9:15

[So what animal sacrifices could not accomplish, God did by the sending
of His Son who freely accepted the task of offering Himself for sin.  

But was His sacrifice adequate?  Read on...]

III. THE SUPERIOR SACRIFICE:  ITS ALL-SUFFICIENCY (10-18)

   A. IT PROVIDES TRUE SANCTIFICATION...
      1. We have been sanctified through the offering of His body - He 10:10
      2. Its sufficiency is seen in that He only had to offer it "once"
         a. The repetition of the daily sacrifices illustrated their 
            inadequacy - He 10:11
         b. But with Jesus, it was "one sacrifice for sins forever" - He 10:12-13
            1) Illustrated by His sitting down at God' right Hand 
               - cf. He 1:3; 8:1
            2) Where He waits (and reigns - 1Co 15:25-26; Ps 110:1-2)
               till all His enemies are made His footstool
      3. Thus "by one offering" He has provided true sanctification - He 10:14
         a. "He has perfected forever" (doing what animal sacrifices could not - He 10:1)
         b. "those who are being sanctified"
            1) Note the present tense - sanctification is an on-going process - He 2:11
               a) In one sense we have been sanctified - 1Co 1:2; 6:11; He 10:10,29
               b) In another sense we will be sanctified - 1Th 5:23
            2) Made possible by the one-time sacrifice of Christ - 1Jn 1:7-9

   B. IT PROVIDES TRUE REMISSION OF SINS...
      1. As the Holy Spirit bore witness through Jeremiah in 

          Jer 31:31-34 (quoted earlier in He 8:8-12) - He 10:15-17
      2. With true remission of sins, there is no need for repeated 
         sacrifices for sin - He 10:18

CONCLUSION

1. By providing complete sanctification and remission of sins, the 
   sacrifice of Jesus is truly "The Superior Sacrifice"!
   a. Why would anyone want to return to sacrifices...
      1) That did not make the worshiper "perfect"?
      2) Were there is the constant reminder of sin that weighs heavy 
         upon the conscience of man?
   b. With the sacrifice of Himself, offered freely keeping with the 
      will of God, Jesus provides what the Law could not!

2. With verse eighteen, we come to the end of the two main arguments in this epistle...
   a. That Christ is superior, for He is: 
      1) Better than the prophets, as a much better Spokesman - He 1:1-3
      2) Better than the angels, by virtue of His Deity and humanity - He 1:4-2:18
      3) Better than Moses, for He is the Son who provides a heavenly rest - He 3:1-4:13
      4) Better than Aaron, as His priesthood is a superior one - He 4:16-8:6
   b. That the New Covenant is superior, for it is:
      1) Based upon better promises - He 8:7-13
      2) Based upon a better sanctuary - He 9:1-28
      3) Based upon a better sacrifice - He 10:1-18

The purpose of the author has been to encourage his Hebrew brethren to
remain true to Jesus Christ.  Though one may not be a Hebrew by race,
the same arguments should encourage all Christians to remain true to 
Jesus and abide by the conditions of the New Covenant of which He is
the Mediator!

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2016

 

Attitude and the ability to really hear by Gary Rose

This is one of my favorite Gary Larson cartoons. If you have ever been in a courtroom, you already know that Lawyers can ask some pretty obnoxious pointed questions, but the witnesses do not usually return this way. This “alligator?” is right; he is cold blooded AND a reptile, plus the attorney obviously didn’t graduate at the top of his class.

However, the alligator DID admit to a crime and does have an ego the size of the Everglades.

In Scripture, Nicodemus came to Jesus (at night) to speak with him, and what follows says a great deal about the ATTITUDE of Nicodemus and his thinking….

John 3 ( World English Bible )

  ¹ Now there was a man of the Pharisees named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews.  ² The same came to him by night, and said to him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher come from God, for no one can do these signs that you do, unless God is with him.” 

  ³  Jesus answered him, “Most certainly, I tell you, unless one is born anew,  he can’t see the Kingdom of God.” 

  ⁴  Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter a second time into his mother’s womb, and be born?” 

  ⁵  Jesus answered, “Most certainly I tell you, unless one is born of water and spirit, he can’t enter into the Kingdom of God!   ⁶  That which is born of the flesh is flesh. That which is born of the Spirit is spirit.   ⁷  Don’t marvel that I said to you, ‘You must be born anew.’   ⁸  The wind  blows where it wants to, and you hear its sound, but don’t know where it comes from and where it is going. So is everyone who is born of the Spirit.” 

  ⁹  Nicodemus answered him, “How can these things be?” 

  ¹⁰  Jesus answered him, “Are you the teacher of Israel, and don’t understand these things?   ¹¹  Most certainly I tell you, we speak that which we know, and testify of that which we have seen, and you don’t receive our witness.   ¹²  If I told you earthly things and you don’t believe, how will you believe if I tell you heavenly things?   ¹³  No one has ascended into heaven, but he who descended out of heaven, the Son of Man, who is in heaven.   ¹⁴  As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up,   ¹⁵  that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.   ¹⁶  For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.   ¹⁷  For God didn’t send his Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world should be saved through him.   ¹⁸  He who believes in him is not judged. He who doesn’t believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God.   ¹⁹  This is the judgment, that the light has come into the world, and men loved the darkness rather than the light; for their works were evil. (emphasis added)   ²⁰  For everyone who does evil hates the light, and doesn’t come to the light, lest his works would be exposed.   ²¹  But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his works may be revealed, that they have been done in God.” 

Nicodemus was thinking in a VERY LITERAL manner about birth, but Jesus was speaking of conversion. Nicodemus needed to trust in Jesus and not force his own preconceptions unto what Jesus was actually saying.

When we come to the Bible, do we force it to say what we want it to say or do we accept by faith what it really says and obey its teachings? Or, perhaps we just want to complain out what the Bible says or criticize it? Be careful, the alligator in you may be showing!

Bible Reading February 1 and 2 by Gary Rose

Bible Reading February 1 and 2

World  English  Bible

Feb. 1

Genesis 32

Gen 32:1 Jacob went on his way, and the angels of God met him.

Gen 32:2 When he saw them, Jacob said, "This is God's army." He called the name of that place Mahanaim.

Gen 32:3 Jacob sent messengers in front of him to Esau, his brother, to the land of Seir, the field of Edom.

Gen 32:4 He commanded them, saying, "This is what you shall tell my lord, Esau: 'This is what your servant, Jacob, says. I have lived as a foreigner with Laban, and stayed until now.

Gen 32:5 I have cattle, donkeys, flocks, male servants, and female servants. I have sent to tell my lord, that I may find favor in your sight.' "

Gen 32:6 The messengers returned to Jacob, saying, "We came to your brother Esau. Not only that, but he comes to meet you, and four hundred men with him."

Gen 32:7 Then Jacob was greatly afraid and was distressed. He divided the people who were with him, and the flocks, and the herds, and the camels, into two companies;

Gen 32:8 and he said, "If Esau comes to the one company, and strikes it, then the company which is left will escape."

Gen 32:9 Jacob said, "God of my father Abraham, and God of my father Isaac, Yahweh, who said to me, 'Return to your country, and to your relatives, and I will do you good,'

Gen 32:10 I am not worthy of the least of all the loving kindnesses, and of all the truth, which you have shown to your servant; for with just my staff I passed over this Jordan; and now I have become two companies.

Gen 32:11 Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children.

Gen 32:12 You said, 'I will surely do you good, and make your seed as the sand of the sea, which can't be numbered because there are so many.' "

Gen 32:13 He lodged there that night, and took from that which he had with him, a present for Esau, his brother:

Gen 32:14 two hundred female goats and twenty male goats, two hundred ewes and twenty rams,

Gen 32:15 thirty milk camels and their colts, forty cows, ten bulls, twenty female donkeys and ten foals.

Gen 32:16 He delivered them into the hands of his servants, every herd by itself, and said to his servants, "Pass over before me, and put a space between herd and herd."

Gen 32:17 He commanded the foremost, saying, "When Esau, my brother, meets you, and asks you, saying, 'Whose are you? Where are you going? Whose are these before you?'

Gen 32:18 Then you shall say, 'They are your servant, Jacob's. It is a present sent to my lord, Esau. Behold, he also is behind us.' "

Gen 32:19 He commanded also the second, and the third, and all that followed the herds, saying, "This is how you shall speak to Esau, when you find him.

Gen 32:20 You shall say, 'Not only that, but behold, your servant, Jacob, is behind us.' " For, he said, "I will appease him with the present that goes before me, and afterward I will see his face. Perhaps he will accept me."

Gen 32:21 So the present passed over before him, and he himself lodged that night in the camp.

Gen 32:22 He rose up that night, and took his two wives, and his two handmaids, and his eleven sons, and passed over the ford of the Jabbok.

Gen 32:23 He took them, and sent them over the stream, and sent over that which he had.

Gen 32:24 Jacob was left alone, and wrestled with a man there until the breaking of the day.

Gen 32:25 When he saw that he didn't prevail against him, he touched the hollow of his thigh, and the hollow of Jacob's thigh was strained, as he wrestled.

Gen 32:26 The man said, "Let me go, for the day breaks." Jacob said, "I won't let you go, unless you bless me."

Gen 32:27 He said to him, "What is your name?" He said, "Jacob."

Gen 32:28 He said, "Your name will no longer be called Jacob, but Israel; for you have fought with God and with men, and have prevailed."

Gen 32:29 Jacob asked him, "Please tell me your name." He said, "Why is it that you ask what my name is?" He blessed him there.

Gen 32:30 Jacob called the name of the place Peniel: for, he said, "I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved."

Gen 32:31 The sun rose on him as he passed over Peniel, and he limped because of his thigh.

Gen 32:32 Therefore the children of Israel don't eat the sinew of the hip, which is on the hollow of the thigh, to this day, because he touched the hollow of Jacob's thigh in the sinew of the hip.

Feb. 2

Genesis 33

Gen 33:1 Jacob lifted up his eyes, and looked, and, behold, Esau was coming, and with him four hundred men. He divided the children between Leah, Rachel, and the two handmaids.

Gen 33:2 He put the handmaids and their children in front, Leah and her children after, and Rachel and Joseph at the rear.

Gen 33:3 He himself passed over in front of them, and bowed himself to the ground seven times, until he came near to his brother.

Gen 33:4 Esau ran to meet him, embraced him, fell on his neck, kissed him, and they wept.

Gen 33:5 He lifted up his eyes, and saw the women and the children; and said, "Who are these with you?" He said, "The children whom God has graciously given your servant."

Gen 33:6 Then the handmaids came near with their children, and they bowed themselves.

Gen 33:7 Leah also and her children came near, and bowed themselves. After them, Joseph came near with Rachel, and they bowed themselves.

Gen 33:8 Esau said, "What do you mean by all this company which I met?" Jacob said, "To find favor in the sight of my lord."

Gen 33:9 Esau said, "I have enough, my brother; let that which you have be yours."

Gen 33:10 Jacob said, "Please, no, if I have now found favor in your sight, then receive my present at my hand, because I have seen your face, as one sees the face of God, and you were pleased with me.

Gen 33:11 Please take the gift that I brought to you, because God has dealt graciously with me, and because I have enough." He urged him, and he took it.

Gen 33:12 Esau said, "Let us take our journey, and let us go, and I will go before you."

Gen 33:13 Jacob said to him, "My lord knows that the children are tender, and that the flocks and herds with me have their young, and if they overdrive them one day, all the flocks will die.

Gen 33:14 Please let my lord pass over before his servant, and I will lead on gently, according to the pace of the livestock that are before me and according to the pace of the children, until I come to my lord to Seir."

Gen 33:15 Esau said, "Let me now leave with you some of the folk who are with me." He said, "Why? Let me find favor in the sight of my lord."

Gen 33:16 So Esau returned that day on his way to Seir.

Gen 33:17 Jacob traveled to Succoth, built himself a house, and made shelters for his livestock. Therefore the name of the place is called Succoth.

Gen 33:18 Jacob came in peace to the city of Shechem, which is in the land of Canaan, when he came from Paddan Aram; and encamped before the city.

Gen 33:19 He bought the parcel of ground where he had spread his tent, at the hand of the children of Hamor, Shechem's father, for one hundred pieces of money.

Gen 33:20 He erected an altar there, and called it El Elohe Israel.

Feb. 1

Matthew 16

Mat 16:1 The Pharisees and Sadducees came, and testing him, asked him to show them a sign from heaven.

Mat 16:2 But he answered them, "When it is evening, you say, 'It will be fair weather, for the sky is red.'

Mat 16:3 In the morning, 'It will be foul weather today, for the sky is red and threatening.' Hypocrites! You know how to discern the appearance of the sky, but you can't discern the signs of the times!

Mat 16:4 An evil and adulterous generation seeks after a sign, and there will be no sign given to it, except the sign of the prophet Jonah." He left them, and departed.

Mat 16:5 The disciples came to the other side and had forgotten to take bread.

Mat 16:6 Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Mat 16:7 They reasoned among themselves, saying, "We brought no bread."

Mat 16:8 Jesus, perceiving it, said, "Why do you reason among yourselves, you of little faith, 'because you have brought no bread?'

Mat 16:9 Don't you yet perceive, neither remember the five loaves for the five thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

Mat 16:10 Nor the seven loaves for the four thousand, and how many baskets you took up?

Mat 16:11 How is it that you don't perceive that I didn't speak to you concerning bread? But beware of the yeast of the Pharisees and Sadducees."

Mat 16:12 Then they understood that he didn't tell them to beware of the yeast of bread, but of the teaching of the Pharisees and Sadducees.

Mat 16:13 Now when Jesus came into the parts of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that I, the Son of Man, am?"

Mat 16:14 They said, "Some say John the Baptizer, some, Elijah, and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets."

Mat 16:15 He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?"

Mat 16:16 Simon Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God."

Mat 16:17 Jesus answered him, "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.

Mat 16:18 I also tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my assembly, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it.

Mat 16:19 I will give to you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will have been bound in heaven; and whatever you release on earth will have been released in heaven."

Mat 16:20 Then he commanded the disciples that they should tell no one that he is Jesus the Christ.

Mat 16:21 From that time, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders, chief priests, and scribes, and be killed, and the third day be raised up.

Mat 16:22 Peter took him aside, and began to rebuke him, saying, "Far be it from you, Lord! This will never be done to you."

Mat 16:23 But he turned, and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me, for you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of men."

Mat 16:24 Then Jesus said to his disciples, "If anyone desires to come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Mat 16:25 For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, and whoever will lose his life for my sake will find it.

Mat 16:26 For what will it profit a man, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his life? Or what will a man give in exchange for his life?

Mat 16:27 For the Son of Man will come in the glory of his Father with his angels, and then he will render to everyone according to his deeds.

Mat 16:28 Most certainly I tell you, there are some standing here who will in no way taste of death, until they see the Son of Man coming in his Kingdom."

Feb. 2

Matthew 17

Mat 17:1 After six days, Jesus took with him Peter, James, and John his brother, and brought them up into a high mountain by themselves.

Mat 17:2 He was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, and his garments became as white as the light.

Mat 17:3 Behold, Moses and Elijah appeared to them talking with him.

Mat 17:4 Peter answered, and said to Jesus, "Lord, it is good for us to be here. If you want, let's make three tents here: one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah."

Mat 17:5 While he was still speaking, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them. Behold, a voice came out of the cloud, saying, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased. Listen to him."

Mat 17:6 When the disciples heard it, they fell on their faces, and were very afraid.

Mat 17:7 Jesus came and touched them and said, "Get up, and don't be afraid."

Mat 17:8 Lifting up their eyes, they saw no one, except Jesus alone.

Mat 17:9 As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Don't tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead."

Mat 17:10 His disciples asked him, saying, "Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?"

Mat 17:11 Jesus answered them, "Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things,

Mat 17:12 but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn't recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them."

Mat 17:13 Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.

Mat 17:14 When they came to the multitude, a man came to him, kneeling down to him, saying,

Mat 17:15 "Lord, have mercy on my son, for he is epileptic, and suffers grievously; for he often falls into the fire, and often into the water.

Mat 17:16 So I brought him to your disciples, and they could not cure him."

Mat 17:17 Jesus answered, "Faithless and perverse generation! How long will I be with you? How long will I bear with you? Bring him here to me."

Mat 17:18 Jesus rebuked him, the demon went out of him, and the boy was cured from that hour.

Mat 17:19 Then the disciples came to Jesus privately, and said, "Why weren't we able to cast it out?"

Mat 17:20 He said to them, "Because of your unbelief. For most certainly I tell you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will tell this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

Mat 17:21 But this kind doesn't go out except by prayer and fasting."

Mat 17:22 While they were staying in Galilee, Jesus said to them, "The Son of Man is about to be delivered up into the hands of men,

Mat 17:23 and they will kill him, and the third day he will be raised up." They were exceedingly sorry.

Mat 17:24 When they had come to Capernaum, those who collected the didrachma coins came to Peter, and said, "Doesn't your teacher pay the didrachma?"

Mat 17:25 He said, "Yes." When he came into the house, Jesus anticipated him, saying, "What do you think, Simon? From whom do the kings of the earth receive toll or tribute? From their children, or from strangers?"

Mat 17:26 Peter said to him, "From strangers." Jesus said to him, "Therefore the children are exempt.

Mat 17:27 But, lest we cause them to stumble, go to the sea, cast a hook, and take up the first fish that comes up. When you have opened its mouth, you will find a stater coin. Take that, and give it to them for me and you."