Author Archives: Mark

Great Faith

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Great Faith started as a study of the centurion in Matthew 8: 5-13 and Luke 7:1-10. He is still important, but he needs to be contrasted and compared to Little Faith. The 3/12 devotion by Joseph Prince was the seed and it does deserve some time. So, with text analysis, word searches, and foundational thoughts added, here is my study.

A Foundation Stone

Paul in Galatians 3:6-9 quotes Genesis 18:18 and 22:18 as his revelation into the Gospel and his mission from the Lord: non-Jews were to share in the Kingdom of God. Jesus’ main mission was to the Jews but Matthew, by the Holy Spirit, adds two events of great faith by Gentiles. We have decided that Matthew was writing for a Hebrew audience, so these two stories of faith are important.

Great Faith

Analysis of the Greek text reinforced two things for me: STUDY and pray for translators. I expected to find the word megas in Matthew 8: 5-13 and Luke 7:1-10, but I did not. I found “tosauten” faith. The centurion had a faith that Jesus had not seen before in Israel; it was “great” but special. (tosauten G 5118)

This Roman soldier’s faith had synthesized his authority in the natural world to Jesus’ authority in the spiritual world. How few of us today have that same understanding. Had this soldier been present for the Sermon on the Mount? Had he witnessed the healing of the leper? Was he Cornelius in Acts 10? Okay, I have none of those answers, but he saw and knew Jesus walked on the earth and commanded the heavenlies. So, his “like this” faith was beyond even that of the disciples at that time.

Jesus is chiding His listeners in verses 11 +12 to check their faith, especially in light of the Sermon. To use the thoughts of a great thinker: Just because you spend a lot of time in a garage, that does not make you a car. These verses are a powerful part about Kingdom teachings.

Megas faith was found in the Canaanite woman, outside of Israel in Tyre, who knew Jesus could deliver/heal her daughter (Matthew 15:28). Good News can produce great things and it is clear the word about Jesus spread outside of Israel. From the text, you can get the idea that she asked many times and that it was probably loud. There are varied opinions on this conversation, but her faith that had come from hearing about miracles and her knowledge of the descendant of King David got her what she needed and wanted.

A Contrast

Joseph Prince in his 3/12 devotion in Destined to Reign contrasts the faith of the centurion to Jarius (my take on it). Both of these men had faith that Jesus could heal but they had different working levels of faith. Jesus worked with both of them so that His Father would get the glory.

Little Faith

Please note that I said “little faith” NOT “no faith”. The Greek term is oligopistos G 3640. To compare faith is not a Kingdom activity that will have a positive outcome, no matter where you think you stand on the faith chart. The majority of the people who got to ponder this label were the Twelve. I think we can agree they changed so we can too. Here is a summary of the verses in Matthew.

  • 6:30 – Sermon on the Mount about clothing
  • 8:26 – the disciples in a storm
  • 14:31 – Peter and his walk
  • 16:8 – the disciples worried about food after thousands were fed

A Muse Moment from the Holy Spirit

Please add 8: 5-13 and 15: 8 in between those of little faith and get how our Master Teacher was guiding his followers in a series of life lessons. Their great faith came through many lessons.

Matthew 8:10 Greek Text Analysis (biblehub.com)

τοσοῦτος | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com It means “like this”. Just reading through the verses listed was a great study.

μέγας | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com   megas

πίστις | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com  faith  

Ephesians 1: 17

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This verse is one of many that shows God the Father, the Lord Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit (the Spirit of Wisdom and Revelation).

That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him (KJV)

  • God, theos G2316.
  • Lord, kyrios G2962.
  • Jesus, iesous G2424.
  • Christ, christos G5547.
  • Father, pater G3962.
  • Glory, doxa G 1391.
  • May give, didomi G1325.
  • Spirit, pneuma G4151.
  • Wisdom, sophia G4678.
  • Revelation, apokalypsis G 602. Luke first uses this word in 2:32, it is for us Gentiles. It is also used in 3:3 in connection with the mystery made known to Paul.
  • Coming to know, epignosis G 1922. Paul and Peter use this word in their Epistles. It is also used in 4:13 with our faith and knowledge of the Son of God.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ  Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

Ephesians 1: 16

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Ephesians 1: 16

Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers (KJV)

  • Cease, pauo G 3973.
  • Giving thanks, Eucharisteo G2168. Paul uses this word again in 5:20.
  • Making, Poieo G 4160.
  • Mention, Mentin G 3417. Paul is the only New Testament writer to use this word.
  • In, epi G 1900 or 1909, this word is used frequently.
  • My, ego G 1473.
  • Prayers, proseuche G 4335. It is used in 6:18.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ  Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)

2 Corinthians Bible 911

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2 Corinthians 9:11 is part of a teaching on generosity and sowing (6 – 14). I have understood verses 10 and 11 as a prayer (it starts in #8) that Paul prayed over the Churches. I personalized it, so below is my rewrite of those verses.

God you supply seed to the sower and bread for food, supply and increase my store of seed and enlarge the harvest of my righteousness. I will be made rich in every way so that I can be generous on every occasion, and my generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. (2 Corinthians 9: 10 + 11, my paraphrase.)

Unless your Bible is well equipped with footnotes and references you may not appreciate how much of the Old Testament is incorporated into the New. Below are some references that I have found while reading and have written them next to our verse for today (In my Bible.). All of these references are in KJV. 

Isaiah 55:10 For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

Isaiah 30:23 Then shall he give the rain of thy seed, that thou shalt sow the ground withal; and bread of the increase of the earth, and it shall be fat and plenteous: in that day shall thy cattle feed in large pastures.

Psalm 111:5 He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.

Psalm 126:6 He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 112:9 He hath dispersed, he hath given to the poor; his righteousness endureth for ever; his horn shall be exalted with honour.

3 John 2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

Philippians 1:11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Hosea 10:12,13 Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the Lord, till he come and rain righteousness upon you. 13 Ye have plowed wickedness, ye have reaped iniquity; ye have eaten the fruit of lies: because thou didst trust in thy way, in the multitude of thy mighty men.

Proverbs 11:18 The wicked worketh a deceitful work: but to him that soweth righteousness shall be a sure reward.

Ecclesiastes 11:6 In the morning sow thy seed, and in the evening withhold not thine hand: for thou knowest not whether shall prosper, either this or that, or whether they both shall be alike good.

Just because there is a lot said about sowing and reaping, I will chime in lightly, but a study of some of the words in verses 6-11 was worth the time. Oral Roberts credits a farmer he talked to with planting the idea of seeds, sowing, and reaping in modern Christian thought. Jesus used agricultural metaphors, often, in His parables. So, Paul builds on those parables and thoughts from the Old Testament in writing this portion of his letter.

  • Sparingly – pheidomenos G5340. This word is used twice in the New Testament, both are in this verse (9:6). I used Mounce as a reference.
  • Generously – epi eulogia is a phrase that means a blessing, blessed object, or Holy Eucharist. Eulogia – Wikipedia A reference verse is Ephesians 1:3.
  • Decided – proaireo G 4255 is used only in this verse (9:7). “Choose” is a good definition.
  • You need – autarkia G 841. It is used here (9:8) and in 1 Tim. 6:6. Having what is necessary for life and contentedness are the ideas associated with this Greek word.

There are three ideas in Paul’s teaching and prayer: 1. God wants you to give just as He has given. 2. We are to receive what He wants to give us. 3. In all of this He is to be praised and given glory.

May this happen to you as you study His word. In another reading I was directed to Philippians 4:10-20, this passage mirrors our focus passage. I suggest you read it.

In 2 Corinthians Paul uses autarkia, in Philippians two related words are translated as “need”. Use the links to study those words.

ὑστερέω | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

ὑστέρησις | Free Online Greek Dictionary | billmounce.com

Take a Muse Moment for “need”.

Ephesians 1:15

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Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

  • Having heard, akouo G191.
  • Faith, pistis G4102.
  • Lord, kyri G 2962. Remember that capital letters and punctuation were not in the original Greek.
  • Love, agape G 26.
  • Saints, hagious G 40.

Verse 15 starts a prayer that goes to the end of the chapter.

We need to remember that it has been several years since Paul was in Ephesus. I see and hear the heart of a father rejoicing that his spiritual children are doing well in their faith.

Use the links below to explore all of the words in the passage in Ephesians.

Ephesians 1 MOUNCE – Paul, an apostle of Christ  Jesus by the – Bible Gateway

Ephesians 1 Interlinear Bible (biblehub.com)