Old Testament reading: Exodus 36-40
Today’s reading may be summed with the words of Exodus 39:42 — “According to all that God commanded Moses, so the children of Israel did all the work.” Three notes about this text: 1) The people had to be restrained from giving to the work of the Lord (36:3-6 — this may be the one and only time this ever happened!); 2) Having already more carefully read the instructions, I was not as studious in this reading; 3) There is a lesson found 25 times throughout this text, “as the Lord had commanded Moses.” We are not at liberty to change the word of God. Moreover, when one preaches or teaches the word of God, it should be accepted and obeyed as if given directly from the mouth of God. One note from the end of yesterday’s reading (Ex 35:30-35) – God gave the artisans the ability both to envision and accomplish their work. Though not miraculously endowed with such abilities today, the church still needs men with vision and the ability to see it through!
New Testament reading: Luke 22
“But I have prayed for you, that your strength should not fail” (Luke 22:32). How would you feel if you heard these same words from the mouth of Jesus. “Lord, you are praying for me?” One textual consideration needs to be noted. The modern translations (NKJV included), do not distinguish between singular and plural pronouns as does the King James Version. In so doing, they fail to note a distinction made by the Lord in verses 31-32. This is why I keep my KJV handy in my studies for comparison and clarification. Quick lesson, when you see “thee,” “thou,” “thy” and “thine,” the subject is singular. When you see “you,” “ye,” “your” and “yours,” the subject is plural. In verse 31, Satan desired to have all of the apostles, and not Peter alone, as the “you” there is plural. In verse 32, the “you” of the NKJV is singular, indicating that Jesus had specifically prayed for Peter, and not all the apostles in this respect. Thus, this was Peter’s first warning about his impending denial of the Lord, for Jesus said specifically to him, “when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” Read Luke 22:31-34 in the KJV and see the difference.
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