"Questions Christians Ask"
Luke 12 (NASB)
1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.3 Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.4 I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.8 And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.11 When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say;12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.14 But He said to him, Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?15 Then He said to them, Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.16 And He told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was very productive.17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?18 Then he said, This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.20 But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.22 And He said to His disciples, For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifes span?26 If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.33 Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.35 Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.36 Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.39 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.40 You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.41 Peter said, Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?43 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.45 But if that slave says in his heart, My master will be a long time in coming, and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.47 And that slave who knew his masters will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.49 I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.54 And He was also saying to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, A shower is coming, and so it turns out.55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, It will be a hot day, and it turns out that way.56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?57 And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.
1 Corinthians 5 (NASB)
1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his fathers wife.2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
Ephesians 6 (NASB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestoed on us in the Beloved.7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession, to the praise of His glory.15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.
1 Under these circumstances, after so many thousands of people had gathered together that they were stepping on one another, He began saying to His disciples first of all, Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.2 But there is nothing covered up that will not be revealed, and hidden that will not be known.3 Accordingly, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in the inner rooms will be proclaimed upon the housetops.4 I say to you, My friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body and after that have no more that they can do.5 But I will warn you whom to fear: fear the One who, after He has killed, has authority to cast into hell; yes, I tell you, fear Him!6 Are not five sparrows sold for two cents? Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Do not fear; you are more valuable than many sparrows.8 And I say to you, everyone who confesses Me before men, the Son of Man will confess him also before the angels of God;9 but he who denies Me before men will be denied before the angels of God.10 And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him.11 When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say;12 for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.13 Someone in the crowd said to Him, Teacher, tell my brother to divide the family inheritance with me.14 But He said to him, Man, who appointed Me a judge or arbitrator over you?15 Then He said to them, Beware, and be on your guard against every form of greed; for not even when one has an abundance does his life consist of his possessions.16 And He told them a parable, saying, The land of a rich man was very productive.17 And he began reasoning to himself, saying, What shall I do, since I have no place to store my crops?18 Then he said, This is what I will do: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods.19 And I will say to my soul, Soul, you have many goods laid up for many years to come; take your ease, eat, drink and be merry.20 But God said to him, You fool! This very night your soul is required of you; and now who will own what you have prepared?21 So is the man who stores up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.22 And He said to His disciples, For this reason I say to you, do not worry about your life, as to what you will eat; nor for your body, as to what you will put on.23 For life is more than food, and the body more than clothing.24 Consider the ravens, for they neither sow nor reap; they have no storeroom nor barn, and yet God feeds them; how much more valuable you are than the birds!25 And which of you by worrying can add a single hour to his lifes span?26 If then you cannot do even a very little thing, why do you worry about other matters?27 Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; but I tell you, not even Solomon in all his glory clothed himself like one of these.28 But if God so clothes the grass in the field, which is alive today and tomorrow is thrown into the furnace, how much more will He clothe you? You men of little faith!29 And do not seek what you will eat and what you will drink, and do not keep worrying.30 For all these things the nations of the world eagerly seek; but your Father knows that you need these things.31 But seek His kingdom, and these things will be added to you.32 Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom.33 Sell your possessions and give to charity; make yourselves money belts which do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near nor moth destroys.34 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.35 Be dressed in readiness, and keep your lamps lit.36 Be like men who are waiting for their master when he returns from the wedding feast, so that they may immediately open the door to him when he comes and knocks.37 Blessed are those slaves whom the master will find on the alert when he comes; truly I say to you, that he will gird himself to serve, and have them recline at the table, and will come up and wait on them.38 Whether he comes in the second watch, or even in the third, and finds them so, blessed are those slaves.39 But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have allowed his house to be broken into.40 You too, be ready; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour that you do not expect.41 Peter said, Lord, are You addressing this parable to us, or to everyone else as well?42 And the Lord said, Who then is the faithful and sensible steward, whom his master will put in charge of his servants, to give them their rations at the proper time?43 Blessed is that slave whom his master finds so doing when he comes.44 Truly I say to you that he will put him in charge of all his possessions.45 But if that slave says in his heart, My master will be a long time in coming, and begins to beat the slaves, both men and women, and to eat and drink and get drunk;46 the master of that slave will come on a day when he does not expect him and at an hour he does not know, and will cut him in pieces, and assign him a place with the unbelievers.47 And that slave who knew his masters will and did not get ready or act in accord with his will, will receive many lashes,48 but the one who did not know it, and committed deeds worthy of a flogging, will receive but few. From everyone who has been given much, much will be required; and to whom they entrusted much, of him they will ask all the more.49 I have come to cast fire upon the earth; and how I wish it were already kindled!50 But I have a baptism to undergo, and how distressed I am until it is accomplished!51 Do you suppose that I came to grant peace on earth? I tell you, no, but rather division;52 for from now on five members in one household will be divided, three against two and two against three.53 They will be divided, father against son and son against father, mother against daughter and daughter against mother, mother-in-law against daughter-in-law and daughter-in-law against mother-in-law.54 And He was also saying to the crowds, When you see a cloud rising in the west, immediately you say, A shower is coming, and so it turns out.55 And when you see a south wind blowing, you say, It will be a hot day, and it turns out that way.56 You hypocrites! You know how to analyze the appearance of the earth and the sky, but why do you not analyze this present time?57 And why do you not even on your own initiative judge what is right?58 For while you are going with your opponent to appear before the magistrate, on your way there make an effort to settle with him, so that he may not drag you before the judge, and the judge turn you over to the officer, and the officer throw you into prison.59 I say to you, you will not get out of there until you have paid the very last cent.
1 Corinthians 5 (NASB)
1 It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his fathers wife.2 You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst.3 For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this, as though I were present.4 In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus,5 I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.6 Your boasting is not good. Do you not know that a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough?7 Clean out the old leaven so that you may be a new lump, just as you are in fact unleavened. For Christ our Passover also has been sacrificed.8 Therefore let us celebrate the feast, not with old leaven, nor with the leaven of malice and wickedness, but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth.9 I wrote you in my letter not to associate with immoral people;10 I did not at all mean with the immoral people of this world, or with the covetous and swindlers, or with idolaters, for then you would have to go out of the world.11 But actually, I wrote to you not to associate with any so-called brother if he is an immoral person, or covetous, or an idolater, or a reviler, or a drunkard, or a swindler--not even to eat with such a one.12 For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Do you not judge those who are within the church?13 But those who are outside, God judges. REMOVE THE WICKED MAN FROM AMONG YOURSELVES.
Ephesians 6 (NASB)
1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him. In love5 He predestined us to adoption as sons through Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the kind intention of His will,6 to the praise of the glory of His grace, which He freely bestoed on us in the Beloved.7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace8 which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight9 He made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His kind intention which He purposed in Him10 with a view to an administration suitable to the fullness of the times, that is, the summing up of all things in Christ, things in the heavens and things on the earth. In Him11 also we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to His purpose who works all things after the counsel of His will,12 to the end that we who were the first to hope in Christ would be to the praise of His glory.13 In Him, you also, after listening to the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation--having also believed, you were sealed in Him with the Holy Spirit of promise,14 who is given as a pledge of our inheritance, with a view to the redemption of Gods own possession, to the praise of His glory.15 For this reason I too, having heard of the faith in the Lord Jesus which exists among you and your love for all the saints,16 do not cease giving thanks for you, while making mention of you in my prayers;17 that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him.18 I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints,19 and what is the surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe. These are in accordance with the working of the strength of His might20 which He brought about in Christ, when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly places,21 far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.22 And He put all things in subjection under His feet, and gave Him as head over all things to the church,23 which is His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all.