Category Archives: Bible 911

Bible 911 – Matthew

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Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? (KJV)

Matthew 9:11 And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to His disciples, “Why is your Teacher eating with the tax collectors and sinners?” (NASB)

First, my appreciation for The Chosen is huge. They are telling the Gospels in story form and have done a great job of weaving things together. Several years ago, I started looking at Kingdom; I chose Matthew to be my go-to Book because of the number of times he used the phrase kingdom of God/Heaven. Then I noticed how these fit in with his references to John the Baptist. So, if you take Matthew’s chronology, he may have been the last disciple called and he was not always there from Chapters 4 to 9. Like Brother Luke he had some studying to do, and like Brother John not every detail in those years of ministry is covered.

Chapter 9 is in the center of a very busy ministry time for Jesus before He sends the Twelve out on their first mission trip. Jesus healed two men in the Gadarenes, made Pharisees mad by forgiving sins and healing a paralytic, called Matthew, and His feasting frustrated Pharisees, then Jesus took questions from John’s disciples about fasting; all of this was before He healed two women.   

Back to the feast that He fearlessly attended to infuriate Pharisees. In the Pharisees minds the attendees were human flotsam, but there were still Jews in attendance. Most translations use tax collectors and sinners, some paraphrases use more edgy terms. The sinners may have been Gentiles, but the tax collectors were probably Jews that were educated and spoke more than one language. (They did have to keep records and talk to the Romans.) The practical and metaphorical references to food stuffs, drinks, meals, and feasting are extensive in the Gospels and the rest of the Bible. (This is a good homework assignment.)

To eat with someone was a BIG deal in first century Galilee and Judah. Jesus had a meal with 5,000 Hebrews, 4,000 Hebrews and Gentiles, He ate with Pharisees, in Luke 19 He ate with Zacchaeus, and in John 12 He ate with Lazarus. Jesus ate His last meal with His disciples before Passover and gave a sop to Judas Iscariot. Don’t forget about the unproductive fig tree. I feel it is a good idea to view this feast as Matthew’s going away party and an evangelism outreach. Paul picked up on that thought and knew you could eat with someone and not sink in your relationship with Jesus. Not everyone is as free as he was; plus, it is hard to evangelize people if you are never around them. To give a hungry person food is great, but taking time to eat with them would be better.

Jesus’ mission statement in verses 12 and 13 are clear. He came for the sick, He gave mercy, and called sinners to come to Him. Amen and Amen!

Father God has a sense of humor and gave me an intensify study session on food; my last three Bible 911’s (Judges, Leviticus, and 1 Corinthians) have a food connection. The last two deal with sacrifice, God’s workers, and the righteous (fellowship) meal we are to partake-in with Him.

Strong’s Greek: 2068. ἐσθίω (esthió) — To eat, consume

Matthew 9:11 Greek Text Analysis

Bible 911 – 1 Corinthians

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1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things? (KJV)
1 Corinthians 9:11 If we have planted the spiritual seed that has been of benefit to you, is it too much if we receive part of the harvest from your earthly goods? (NOG – Names of God Bible)

Why two translations? 400-year-old English may not give you a large amount of understanding. Actually, take a look at several translations, I found that it helped.

For 1 Corinthians 9:11 I feel the thoughts for Chapter 9 start in Chapter 8. Paul did an amazing job of weaving several problems together. He started with food and idols then ended Chapter 9 with running your race with discipline in order to win the prize. The story of the Corinthian Church starts in Acts 18, it will give you a feel for these two Letters. I know it is hard to believe, but the first century Christian churches had problems; just read the start of the Book of Revelations. Chapter 9 builds on 2:1,6; 3:1; and 4:1,6. It seems that the Corinthians were preferring other ministers and giving Paul a bad time for a number of reasons.

FREE and FOOD These two themes are the root of the sharing in Chapters 8 and 9 with Paul’s teachings stemming from them.

Free – Paul talks about “free” quite a bit in Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians. You may want to want to check more than one translation as the number of verses using that word changes a lot. Remember, this is Paul who has a deep understanding of grace and being bound to the Lord for the purpose of spreading the Gospel of the Kingdom. We get lost in the idea of free and forget to look at the lives of Jesus and those He commissioned to spread His message.

A word for “free” was used twice in Chapter 9: 9:1 and 9:19. Paul inferred he was free several times. He was free:

  • To live for God and Jesus
  • From the fear of the Law
  • To eat what is put in front of him
  • Not to cause weak Christians to stumble
  • To be equal with other Christians
  • Not to use his rights as an apostle
  • To boast about not using his rights
  • To be available to be used by God
  • To discipline himself to be useful

Food – 1 Corinthians 9:11 in “modern times” translates to money. Programs, staff, and buildings are expensive; if you enjoy the church community, bearing those burdens are necessary. Paul starts his discourse on food talking about knowledge. Paul tempers what you think you know versus your responsibility towards weak members of Christ’s Body. Animal sacrifice was part of life in the first century, we have some knowledge and understanding of the practice. The Corinthians, however, were not ignorant and neither were Jews. Part of Jewish sacrifice was to have a family meal before God. I have heard it said that the meat market was next to the neighborhood pagan temple in large Gentile cities. Exodus 34:15 and Numbers 25:1-3 are passages about sacrificing to idols, eating the offering, and being led away from God and frequently into sexual sin. Paul did not sacrifice to idols, but he knew food was just food. It seems he had a good understanding of Jesus’ words about “what goes in the mouth does not defile, it is what comes out”. Now, use the knowledge you have right now from the Lord and switch from food to money. What are you sacrificing, eating, and teaching others about your freedom?

Paul offers several examples for 9:11 starting in verse 7 and ends with a question in 12. Why do you support others and not the ones who brought you the Gospel? I would like to offer two other references/examples for Paul’s boasting and behavior:

  • In Genesis 14 Abram gathers an army and rescues Lot. In verse 21 he refuses to take anything from King Bera of Sodom, except the tenth to Melchizedek and the share for allies who went with him.
  • Jesus in Luke 10:4-8 commissions seventy-two apostles/missionaries and sends them out. He told them to go out and that the people they preach to should take care of their needs. This is a food and funds focus from Jesus.  

Leviticus 9:11 – A New Year Thought

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Leviticus 9:11 And the flesh and the hide he burnt with fire without the camp. (KJV)

Hebrew 13: 10 We have an altar from which those who serve the tabernacle have no right to eat. 11 For the bodies of those animals whose blood is brought into the Holy Place by the high priest as an offering for sin are burned outside the camp. 12 Therefore Jesus also suffered outside the gate, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood. 13 So then, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. 14 For here we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come. (NASB from BibleGateway)

Truth be told Leviticus and the sacrifices and offerings have always been intimidating for me, but New Year, new victories. As a Christian, I know Jesus fulfilled the requirements of the Law when He died on that Roman cross. So, these offerings are not for us, but they can still reveal God-truths, point to Jesus, and explain things that happen during that Passover festival when He died. Just to add some knowledge to this post:

  • Zechariah, John’s father, had incense behind the curtain, not blood, because the Day of Atonement offerings could not be done since there was no Ark of the Covenant with the Mercy Seat. It disappeared when Jerusalem fell to Babylon.
  • Jews have not been able to sacrifice for the last 1900 years because there is not a Temple and altar.
  • Like the Passover lamb, most sacrifices were to be eaten. See 1 Samuel 1 and 2. Yes, the priests and Levities got to eat some of the meat and grain offerings, but so did the people.

Leviticus 9 is all about seven offerings, so the glory of the Lord would come to His people. One point that stood out to me was the priest and elders laid their hands on the BULL for this offering. Jesus had hands laid on Him also, at the trial the Sanhedrin hit Jesus, and the Romains also beat Him before making Him carry His cross.

Chapters 8, 9, and 10 are narratives of “real time” events; Chapters 16 and 24 are like this also. If you follow the timeline, Exodus ends at the first day of the first month of the second year, remember Passover is in this month. Numbers begins at the first day of second month of the second year, there is a “second chance” Passover observance in this month. Chapters 8 and 9 describe the ordination of Aaron and his four sons, followed by the “first church service” at the Tabernacle. Chapter 10, the death of Aaron’s oldest sons, and Chapter 16, and the rules for The Day of Atonement, must have happened pretty quick. Chapter 24 is a “real time” call for clear oil for the lamps in the Tabernacle and the death of a blasphemer. It seems like that was a busy month. By the end of the second year, the spies have been sent out (Numbers 13, 14), Miriam and Aaron oppose Moses, and several other important events happened. For a reference, Numbers 20 to 36 take place after the years of wandering just before they are going into the Land.

My big question about Leviticus is why did God insert those laws where He did? I am supposing that they reflect something that may have been going on in the camp.   

Leviticus 9 – The “church building” has been made, the priests have been ordained, and now it is time for God to enter and show His approval. (Compare this with 2 Chronicles 2 – 7, and Jesus returning to heaven in Acts 1 and the things He did in Hebrews.) He does that by burning up the offering with fire coming out of His Cloud/Presence. It was a “new start” for the Children at the beginning of their new year.

After a lot of pages were turned and studies done that covered fat, liver coverings, outside of camp, and the types of sacrifices and offerings, it all come back to God wanted to show His glory to His people. Seven different animals and a grain offering were presented and parts of those had to be burned outside the camp. Sins had to be confessed and transferred to those animals and Aaron had to go into a tent before he could bless the people and have the glory and power of God approve the offering. I hope you can see Passover, Easter, and Pentecost in this paragraph.

2024 was a tumultuous year. Did God preform like you wanted Him too? Humph, did you perform like God wanted? (Romans 8:28 ,29) Read Exodus 11 to the end of the book and see how the Israelites’ year went, did they have problems and attitudes? We have been given a new year and I am sure God is still in control. Prepare yourself in the things you offer to God and find Jesus as you offer them, so the glory of God can be seen in your life.

In 2025 can you pray like Jesus, “Father, Your kingdom come and rule here like You do in heaven.”

Have a blessed year,

Mark

Bible 911 – Judges

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Judges 9:11 But the fig tree said unto them, Should I forsake my sweetness, and my good fruit, and go to be promoted over the trees? (KJV)

Judges 9:11 is part of a parable, proverb, or fable (it depends on who you read) told by a son of Gideon. The story is a prophecy/curse over the people of Shechem for killing his brothers. The drama in Judges 9 is an extension of Gideon’s life. Not everything he did was right or righteous. Yes, he had faith to free and judge Israel, for that he is mentioned in Hebrews 11.

Gideon

Judges 9 is part of Gideon’s legacy. We are taught about his faith for the fleeces and the three-hundred lights and horns; these are what we remember. The gold statue with forty years of its adoration and the seventy sons do not make Sunday School lesson plans. The ugly soap opera drama in Chapter 9 is one huge showcase of fallen humanity and really hits at how far from God Israel was at that time. Yes, the Mercy Seat was just a few miles south in Shiloh.

Gideon is descendent from Manasseh, Jospeh’s oldest son. As a tribe they had the most land because they got portions on both sides of the Jordan. We are not sure where Ophrah, his hometown, was, but he called for help from the tribes of the north that were west of the Jordan.

His initial excuses in Judges 6 had the ringing of Moses when he was first called. He claimed to be the weakest and the least, but was he? No matter how he started by the end of his life he had many wives and seventy sons and a lot of gold. When Chapter 9 ends, he had one living heir, who was in hiding.

This is not the Manasseh in 2 Kings 21. This “most wicked” king was the son of Hezekiah, one of the best kings of Israel. (Interesting name associations. Genesis 41:51)

Abimelech

He was a violent, greedy man. Please, do not blame it on his mother’s status as a concubine. Half of Jacob’s sons came from concubines. https://jewishencyclopedia.com/articles/4585-concubinage There is no indication that Jether or any of his brothers caused a problem.

In 9:2 he claims something that is a little unusual, he identifies with his mother’s family while using his father’s legacy. Similarly, King Saul and Jonathan’s connection to Gilead and Lo Debar are probably from his grandmother’s family roots in that area (Judges 21). The mothers of Israel were and are important.

The word Abimelech is more of a title than a name, not bad for the son of a concubine. Abimelech | The amazing name Abimelech: meaning and etymology

Shechem

The town and its surrounding mountains are a foundation stone in the history of Israel. It starts with the sordid tale of the raping of the virgin daughter of Israel. It continues to the Blessings and Curses in Joshua. In the New Testament we find Jesus talking to the woman at its well and John and Peter praying for the people to receive the Holy Spirit in the same region.  Shechem is a Hebrew word that means “shoulder” or “the seat of a person’s interests”1 2.

Back to Judges 9:11

You know it is fun looking at something that happened several thousand years ago and talking about it with absolute certainty. Imagine the millions of times this account has been read and studied; now we have on-line Bible commentaries to tell us everything. Before you read the fruits of my studies, stop and think about Jotham for a minute. Now, this is the Jotham in Judges; the other Jotham is a grandson of David and in the family-line of Jesus.

Jotham’s name means Yahweh is perfect.

Abimelech had sacrificed his brothers on one stone. Apparently, he did not count well because he missed one. It is not mentioned, but I cannot imagine that just the brothers were killed. Townspeople and family members almost certainly died as well or were taken as slaves. Coups back then aimed at cleaning house with no one left to claim or complain. Jotham went from “riding high” to “hiding in a hole”. So, to brave it up and tell a story, then pronounce a curse against two towns speaks volumes about this young man.

Location, location, location is important here, well at least symbolically. Jotham climbs up Mt. Gerizim where his ancestors stood in the time of Joshua to pronounce the blessings from Deuteronomy 28. He was speaking to people (Manasseh) who were not on his mount; they probably were on the mount of the curses or in the valley surrounding a “great tree” (9:6).

Etz or plants that have a woody stem now takes center stage. I see our perfect God reusing four etz in this story that are mentioned (my opinion) when Adam and Eve betrayed God. There were other trees in Israel and the surrounding nations that could have been used: oaks, cedars, palms, pomegranates are just a few. The olive, fig, and grape all have edible fruit (or products) that were/are important in the daily lives of the people. Thorns, like grapes, have a “woody” stem, but its main product and fame was an unproductive growth that was great for burning and hurting. The olive, fig, and grape knew they would have to give up something to rule, and they felt that it was not worth it. The thorn did not have to give up anything.

In 9:11 the fig did not want to give up its good fruit that was so sweet. Fig may be smug, but it was not wrong; none of the trees were. The natural importance of figs and the other etz make them ripe to be used in spiritual lessons. The fig is associated with religious works because of its debut in the Garden to hide the shame of sin from the eyes of God. Figs are mentioned several times in Numbers and Deuteronomy; the people use them for complaining and God uses them as part of the promise in the new land. Matthew has Jesus referring to them in the Sermon on the Mount and then using them twice in connection to the Sermons on Two Mounts. The last reference to figs is in Revelations when the sixth seal is broken, and they fall off of the tree because of fierce winds. My suggestion – STUDY. I saw and learned things in this study that I had not seen before.

Well, it is time to check my inner Sadducee, step over my Pharisee limitations, and quell my Zealot tendencies and rethink fig. The fig was good (tov) like everything God made in the Garden. It became the second tree (etz) that Adam and Eve tainted. They worked it into a covering to shield them from a righteous God. (Not the work they were made to do.) The Father made a sacrifice and gave them new “skins”. Many references with fig have a negative side, especially if you want to be grumpy, but the fig tree helped Zacchaeus to see Jesus. I will keep the thought of the fig and its tree representing works and remember there are religious works and works of righteousness.

Does Jotham’s parable have more than one layer? I am sure it does. Abimelech and the townspeople probably thought about it and asked questions for several years. Then reality and its truth grew thorns, stuck them, and blossomed into open hostility. Think about what groups or thoughts the four etz may represent.

These are some references that may help you study.

  1. Olives the oil honors gods and men; oil Strong’s Hebrew: 1880. דָּ֫שֶׁן (deshen) — fatness, ashes of fat, honor Strong’s Hebrew: 3513. כָּבַד (kabad or kabed) — to be heavy, weighty, or burdensome   give up oil not fruit
  2. Figs good and sweet; sweetness Strong’s Hebrew: 4987. מֹ֫תֶק (motheq) — sweetness, good Strong’s Hebrew: 2896. טוֹב (towb) — beautiful, fruit Strong’s Hebrew: 8570. תְּנוּבָה (tenubah) — fruit, produce
  3. Grapes cheer gods and men; new wine Strong’s Hebrew: 8492. תִּירוֹשׁ (tirosh) — must, fresh or new wine, rejoice Strong’s Hebrew: 8055. שָׂמַח (samach) — rejoice, be glad
  4. Thorn – get low (humble yourself) and come under my shade Strong’s Hebrew: 6738. צֵל (tsel) — a shadow

Do not leave these out of your quiet time reading, they may be appealing.  

Strong’s Hebrew: 5128. נ֫וּעַ (nua) — to quiver, wave, waver, tremble, totter

Strong’s Hebrew: 6086. עֵץ (ets) — tree, trees, wood

When I branched out from Judges 9:11 I found these and thought they were interesting.

Rabbi Meir 

Forbidden fruit – Wikipedia This one is wild and has many “different” ideas.

Judges is history. In the accounts are natural and supernatural deeds and lessons, some have been okayed for Sunday School and others would require too much explaining. Four Judges are mentioned by name in Hebrews 11 and not all of those are children’s stories. It is very easy to pick and pull at them, like Chapter 9, and miss the real hero in the Book – Father God. He had a plan and a purpose, but His people had other ideas. Take your focus off of the Judges and find what God did in them and through them to carry Israel. Father wanted a righteous relationship with them just as He wants one with us now.

Bible 911 – 1 Chronicles 9:11

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1 Chronicles 9:11 And Azariah the son of Hilkiah, the son of Meshullam, the son of Zadok, the son of Meraioth, the son of Ahitub, the ruler of the house of God (KJV) See Nehemiah 11:11.

Aaron’s family from the Tribe of Levi are the main focus of this edition of Bible 911. In between King David’s family and the Trible of Benjamin, especially King Saul’s family, the journey of the Tribe of Levi is well documented in the Bible. Levi and Simeon led the “pillaging” of Shechem in Genesis 34 when their sister was defiled. Remember, these guys were in their teens when they took matters into their own hands. The history in 9:11 starts in the time of Samuel, goes through David’s rule, and is talking about family around the time of Jeremiah and beyond. (1 Samuel 14:3 and Ezra 7:2) This family and tribe played important roles throughout Israel’s history for both good and bad.

Priest not after the Order of Aaron

  • Samuel was not a priest after Aaron. He was a servant to Eli that God elevated to prophet and judge. Any sacrifice he made was not in connection with the Tabernacle or Ark.
  • David was a priest after the Order of Melchizedek. (Psalms 110)
  • Jesus is our High Priest in the Order of Melchizedek. (Hebrews 4 and 7)
  • We are kings and priest because we are in Jesus; so, being like Melchizedek.

Cohen or Kohen – Aaron’s Family

A very important thing to remember when studying names, especially in the Levities, is that names are reused to honor family. So, a casual glance may not work well as there could be multiple Ahitub’s, or Zadok’s, or Ananias’. Family linage was/is important in the Jewish community, just look in Matthew 1 and Luke 3. Matthew 1 focuses on Joseph and Luke 3 is Mary’s. They have a common point after the exile in Babylon with Zerubbabel and Shealtiel. No, I do not know how that works, but Mary’s is through Nathan not Solomon.

(A side note.) I know there are other cultures that might be able to trace their families back many generations, but the recorded historical legacy of the Hebrew people is amazing.

Here are a few Cohens in the Bible.

  • Hilkiah was an important priest; you will find his name mentioned many times in 2 Chronicles, 2 Kings, and Jeremiah. He is not the only Hilkiah mentioned in the Bible.
  • Jeremiah, Ezekiel, and Ezra were priests.
  • Ezra may have been the “author” of Chronicles and Malachi. Jeremiah/Baruch may have complied Kings. Both probably used common source material, there are many “lost” writings mentioned in the Bible.
  • Much of Jeremiah’s trouble came from family members (Sons of Hilkiah, the priest).
  • Azariah or Seraiah was after the captivity of Babylon. (In 9:11)
  • At the time of Eli, in 1 Samuel, there were two branches of the family of Aaron. (2 Samuel 8:17 and shows the name Seraiah) Eleazar and Ithamar were the branches, the other two sons died – Leviticus 10:1 and 6.
  • See Samuel and the Priest, Priest, Priest 2
  • Because of Eli, his side of the family was downgraded, but not removed from being priest; that extended into King Saul (1 Samuel 22:9), David, and Solomon reign’s.
  • At the time of Luke 1 the High Priest office was “bought” from Herod. The selling of sacrifices and money exchanging in the Temple was a lucrative concession. (Josephus) 
  • Zechariah (Luke 1) and his son John the Baptist were priest.
  • There are good records from this time that can be found on the internet about the High Priest in Jerusalem before 70 AD.

1 Chronicles 9, for me, is a transition chapter. Chapters 1 – 8 are family lines and a wealth of information. Chapter 8 ends with the linage of King Saul past Jonathan’s son, Mephibosheth or Meribbaal. This works into the Book of Esther. Chapter 9 begins with the return of exiles from Babylon and repeats King Saul’s family line. It connects with the work of David and Samuel, and lays the foundation for the positions of responsibility in the Second Temple. Chapter 11 begins David’s time as king.

9:3 adds an interesting historical footnote, Ephraim and Manasseh (Joseph’s sons) are included in those who returned. Their ancestral lands were in the Northern Kingdom, that was carried into exile by Assyria. In Kings and Chronicles there are verses that some returned to the South and the Temple before that exile. There is no indication that these families came from the Habor Valley, but they might have.

Zechariah and John

The role that these two Cohens play in life of Jesus should not be limited to His birth. Zechariah was behind the curtain offering incense. In Leviticus 23 this was done in the “seventh month” on the Day of Atonement (See Leviticus 16). His self-centered lack of faith got him nine months of silence. Contrast this to his very vocal son announcing the need to repent for the Kingdom of God is at hand. The father stood in an empty room, where the Mercy Seat should have been, confessing the sins of Israel. The son announced in the open, that the Lamb of God was here to take away the sins of the world. Now contemplate the symbolic transfer from the Law, that was about to be fulfilled, to Mercy and Grace when Jesus put His blood on the heavenly Mercy Seat.

The “name change” from Zechariah to John is another indicator of this shift. Zechariah means “God remembers” and John means “God is gracious”. Something should be noted here. The Law and the priest worked under the watchful eye of Herod. John lost his head to an entertainer at a party under the same watchful eye of Herod.

Jesus’ Family Line

As Christians we have a natural and a spiritual family line. Tribes and nations are important to the Father, He ordained them. So, research and learn about your natural family, it may be very long and have many fathers and mothers in it. Your spiritual family line is shorter. What would your family branch look like if it was in the Book of Luke Chapter 3? It may look like this – (Your name), the son or daughter of God. 2 Corinthians 6:17-18 NASB – Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST – Bible Gateway    Galatians 3:26 NASB – For you are all sons and daughters of – Bible Gateway

Paul

Paul, who was from the Tribe of Benjamin, wrote about genealogies and sons.

1 Timothy 1:4 and Titus 3:9 advise each of his “sons in the faith” to avoid the trap of genealogies because they do not support the “plan of God”. I get the feeling that people were claiming importance because of their heritage and demanding certain Laws must be followed.

Our 9:11 verse made me think of long family lines to prove you are connected to God, He made a much shorter path.

1 Timothy 1:2, Titus 1:4, and Galatians 3:7 NASB – Therefore, recognize that it is those – Bible Gateway  talk about an intriguing father/child relationship that can happen because of faith.