Thinking on Scripture with Dr. Steven R. Cook

Matthew 26:36-56 Part 2

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus submitted to the Father’s will
to go to the cross.  As predicted, He is
then betrayed by Judas and the disciples flee.  

Matthew 26:57-75

The Central Idea of the Text is
that Jesus was judged by Israel’s leaders and sentenced to death on the
religious charge of blasphemy.  Peter,
who observed the Lord’s trial, learned through his own trial that his human
heart is weak.

Matthew 27:1-10 Part 1

The Central
Idea of the Text is that the Jews conspired against Jesus to put Him to
death and handed Him over to the Pilate for a Roman trial and execution.  Subsequently, Judas felt remorse that Jesus
had been condemned to die and he returned the betrayal money to alleviate his
conscience; but finding no grace from the religious leaders, he went and hanged
himself.  

Matthew 27:1-10 Part 2

The Central
Idea of the Text is that the Jews conspired against Jesus to put Him to
death and handed Him over to the Pilate for a Roman trial and execution.  Subsequently, Judas felt remorse that Jesus
had been condemned to die and he returned the betrayal money to alleviate his
conscience; but finding no grace from the religious leaders, he went and hanged
himself.  

Matthew 27:11-26 Part 1

The Central
Idea of the Text is that Jesus is unjustly judged before Pilate who
surrendered to the evil wishes of the crowd and agreed to crucify Jesus.

Matthew 27:11-26 Part 2

The Central
Idea of the Text is that Jesus is unjustly judged before Pilate who
surrendered to the evil wishes of the crowd and agreed to crucify Jesus.

Matthew 27:27-44 Part 1

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus is beaten and crucified by the Romans just as was prophesied, both by the OT prophets (Ps. 22:1, 16-18; Isa. 53:1-12) and Jesus Himself (Matt. 12:40; 16:21; 17:22-23; 20:17-19). The substitutionary death of Christ was necessary (Rom. 5:6-10; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), because it propitiated (i.e. satisfied) the Father’s righteous demands toward our sin (Rom. 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10), and opened the flood gates of God’s grace toward ungodly sinners (Rom. 4:1-5; 5:1-6; Eph. 2:1-8).  We are made acceptable to God because of the work of Christ who died for us (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-10; Eph. 1:7), and because God’s righteousness is imputed to us at the moment of salvation (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9).  The cross represents God’s wisdom and power (1 Cor. 1:18-25), for by it men obtain the gifts of righteousness (Rom. 1:17; 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9) and eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28-30), but the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:18).  God controls the crisis of the cross, as He uses sinful men—who crucify the Righteous and Holy One—to accomplish our salvation.  Victory was obtained through the humility of the cross.  The greatness of Jesus is that He refused to answer His mockers, but humbly obeyed the Father’s will and remained upon the cross to bear all our sin that we might have eternal life in Him.  Jesus died as a substitutionary Lamb on Calvary’s hill (John 1:29; Mark 10:45), but at His Second Coming, the King will reign in power and righteousness (Ps. 110:1-7; Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Rev. 19:11-21).

Matthew 27:27-44 Part 2

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus is beaten and crucified by
the Romans just as was prophesied, both by the OT prophets (Ps. 22:1, 16-18; Isa. 53:1-12) and Jesus Himself (Matt. 12:40; 16:21; 17:22-23;
20:17-19). The substitutionary death of Christ was
necessary (Rom. 5:6-10; 1 Cor. 15:3-4), because it propitiated (i.e. satisfied) the Father’s righteous
demands toward our sin (Rom. 3:24-25; 1 John 2:2; 4:10), and opened the flood
gates of God’s grace toward ungodly sinners (Rom. 4:1-5; 5:1-6; Eph.
2:1-8).  We are made acceptable to God
because of the work of Christ who died for us (John 3:16; Rom. 5:6-10; Eph.
1:7), and because God’s righteousness is imputed to us at the moment of
salvation (Rom. 5:19; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9). 
The cross represents God’s wisdom and power (1 Cor. 1:18-25), for by it
men obtain the gifts of righteousness (Rom. 1:17; 5:17; 2 Cor. 5:21; Phil. 3:9)
and eternal life (John 3:16; 10:28-30), but the cross is foolishness to those
who are perishing (1 Cor. 1:18).  God
controls the crisis of the cross, as He uses sinful men—who crucify the
Righteous and Holy One—to accomplish our salvation.  Victory was obtained through the humility of
the cross.  The greatness of Jesus is
that He refused to answer His mockers, but humbly obeyed the Father’s will and
remained upon the cross to bear all our sin that we might have eternal life in
Him.  Jesus died as a substitutionary
Lamb on Calvary’s hill (John 1:29; Mark 10:45), but at His Second Coming, the King will reign in
power and righteousness (Ps. 110:1-7; Isa. 9:6-7; Dan. 7:13-14; Rev. 19:11-21).

Matthew 27:45-66 Part 1

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus was crucified for our sins, voluntarily gave up His life, and was buried in a tomb.  There were supernatural signs before and after the cross.  Before the death of Christ, there was a great darkness that covered the land and everyone saw it (Matt. 27:45).  After Jesus died, the temple veil was torn, the earth shook, the rocks split (Matt. 27:51), and graves were opened and the dead came to life and entered the city of Jerusalem (Matt. 27:52-53).  Jesus gave up His life and simply “yielded up His spirit” (Matt. 27:50).  He had prophesied this to the disciples before His death (John 10:17-18).  After His death, Joseph of Arimathea obtained the body of Jesus and placed it in his personal tomb (Matt. 27:57-60; cf. Isa. 53:9).  Some of the women who followed Jesus during His ministry watched the crucifixion from a distance and were the first to arrive at His grave (Matt. 27:55-56, 61). Some of the religious leaders who had Jesus crucified feared His disciples would steal the body and claim He’d been raised from the dead (Matt. 27:62-63), so they tried to control matters by requesting Pilate secure the tomb of Jesus for several days (Matt. 27:64-66).

Matthew 27:45-66 Part 2

The Central Idea of the Text is
that Jesus was crucified for our sins, voluntarily gave up His life, and was
buried in a tomb.  There were supernatural
signs before and after the cross.  Before
the death of Christ, there was a great darkness that covered the land and
everyone saw it (Matt. 27:45).  After
Jesus died, the temple veil was torn, the earth shook, the rocks split (Matt.
27:51), and graves were opened and the dead came to life and entered the city
of Jerusalem (Matt. 27:52-53).  Jesus
gave up His life and simply “yielded up His spirit” (Matt. 27:50).  He had prophesied this to the disciples
before His death (John 10:17-18).  After His death, Joseph of Arimathea
obtained the body of Jesus and placed it in his personal tomb (Matt. 27:57-60;
cf. Isa. 53:9).  Some of the women who
followed Jesus during His ministry watched the crucifixion from a distance and
were the first to arrive at His grave (Matt. 27:55-56, 61).  Some of the religious leaders who had Jesus
crucified feared His disciples would steal the body and claim He’d been raised
from the dead (Matt. 27:62-63), so they tried to control matters by requesting
Pilate secure the tomb of Jesus for several days (Matt. 27:64-66).

Matthew 28:1-15 Part 1

The Central Idea of the Text is that Jesus was resurrected bodily to life just as He said (Matt. 20:18-19). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to several hundred people whom He had chosen (Acts 10:40-41; 1 Cor. 15:3-8).  After the Roman guards fled the tomb, they reported the earthquake, the angel, and the empty tomb to the Sanhedrin (Matt. 28:11).  The resurrection of Christ hardened the hearts of the Jewish leadership and they conspired to falsify the historical reality of the event (Matt. 28:12-15).  Many Jewish leaders attacked Jesus’ disciples and tried to suppress the spreading gospel (Acts 4:1-3).

Matthew 28:1-15 Part 2

The Central
Idea of the Text is that Jesus was resurrected bodily to life just as He
said (Matt. 20:18-19). After His resurrection, Jesus appeared to several
hundred people whom He had chosen (Acts 10:40-41; 1 Cor. 15:3-8).  After the Roman guards fled the tomb, they reported the earthquake, the angel, and the empty tomb to the Sanhedrin (Matt.
28:11).  The resurrection of Christ hardened the hearts of the
Jewish leadership and they conspired to falsify the historical reality of the
event (Matt. 28:12-15).  Many Jewish
leaders attacked Jesus’ disciples and tried to suppress the spreading gospel (Acts
4:1-3).

Matthew 28:16-20 Part 1

The Central Idea of the Text is that the
resurrected Jesus shows Himself to the apostles and commands them to go into
all the world and make disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives one command
to make disciples.  The three participles (going, baptizing and teaching) are subordinate to the command
(to make disciples), expressing the
means for accomplishment.  The world
often does not come to the church, so believers must go out to the world and
share the gospel message (Rom. 10:12-15).  Once saved, a person is water baptized, which
symbolically identifies him with the Triune God.  The primary purpose of the apostles was to
teach what had been communicated to them, both concerning the gospel message
about Christ (1 Cor. 2:1-2; 15:3-4), and the life-commands pertaining to
sanctification (NT teaching).  Believers participate
in God’s ministry to the world, knowing He is revealing Himself and working in
the hearts of men everywhere (John 16:7-11).

Matthew 28:16-20 Part 2

The Central Idea of the Text is that the
resurrected Jesus shows Himself to the apostles and commands them to go into
all the world and make disciples. In Matthew 28:19-20, Jesus gives one command
to make disciples.  The three participles (going, baptizing and teaching) are subordinate to the command
(to make disciples), expressing the
means for accomplishment.  The world
often does not come to the church, so believers must go out to the world and
share the gospel message (Rom. 10:12-15).  Once saved, a person is water baptized, which
symbolically identifies him with the Triune God.  The primary purpose of the apostles was to
teach what had been communicated to them, both concerning the gospel message
about Christ (1 Cor. 2:1-2; 15:3-4), and the life-commands pertaining to
sanctification (NT teaching).  Believers participate
in God’s ministry to the world, knowing He is revealing Himself and working in
the hearts of men everywhere (John 16:7-11).

Genesis Chapter 1 Part 1

The central idea of Genesis 1:1-2:3 is that God is the sovereign Creator of
the universe. The earth was created by God and therefore has purpose, doing what He
designed it to do.  To the evolutionist,
the earth exists by chance, and its value is not intrinsic, but is imputed by
men, who also exist by chance. God created the universe and earth in six literal days (Ex.
20:8-11).  God created the earth to
have the appearance of age, and this explains why it appears older than it
really is.  The use of numerals with the
Hebrew yom narrows the meaning to
literal 24 hour creative days. God appears in Genesis chapter 1 as a blue collar worker
who personally creates and then evaluates his work.  God made physical separations during
the creation of earth, and He continues to make divisions every time he creates
new life in those who trust in Jesus for salvation. Subsequent to creation, God is providentially
controlling and directing His creation toward a new heavens and new earth (Rev.
21-22).

Genesis Chapter 1 Part 2

The central idea of Genesis 1:1-2:3 is that God is the sovereign Creator of
the universe. The earth was created by God and therefore has purpose, doing what He
designed it to do.  To the evolutionist,
the earth exists by chance, and its value is not intrinsic, but is imputed by
men, who also exist by chance. God created the universe and earth in six literal days (Ex.
20:8-11).  God created the earth to
have the appearance of age, and this explains why it appears older than it
really is.  The use of numerals with the
Hebrew yom narrows the meaning to
literal 24 hour creative days. God appears in Genesis chapter 1 as a blue collar worker
who personally creates and then evaluates his work.  God made physical separations during
the creation of earth, and He continues to make divisions every time he creates
new life in those who trust in Jesus for salvation. Subsequent to creation, God is providentially
controlling and directing His creation toward a new heavens and new earth (Rev.
21-22).

Genesis Chapter 2

“The LORD God” (Yahweh
Elohim) is the major subject of chapter two, as His name appears 11 times
in the text (2:4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 18;
19, 21, 22). The six-day creation account in Genesis 1:1-2:3 is followed
in Genesis 2:4-24 by a more careful consideration of the creation of mankind. The
central idea of this section is that God created mankind in His image with the
capacity to understand and obey Him.  

Genesis Chapter 3 Part 1

Operation “fig leaves”
was Adam and Eve’s attempt to cover up their sin; however, God provided a
better solution (Gen. 3:21). The animal skins provided to Adam and Eve
signified the first atoning death in Scripture, in which blood was shed that
another might be covered.  

Genesis Chapter 3 Part 2

God's judgment on Adam, Eve, and Satan.

Genesis Chapter 3 Part 3

God's judgment on Adam, Eve, and Satan.

Genesis Chapter 4

The Way of Cain
refers to the ways of the world with its godless values and methodologies.  It is self-righteous religion in which
arrogant men play the pipe and expect God to dance.  It is morality based on relative values
rather than the absolutes of God’s word. 
It is society functioning independently of God in every respect,
excluding, silencing, or perverting His truth in government, law, education,
music, literature, art, or any other institutions or activities in which men
regularly engage.  For the average man it
is his whole life, all he sees and hears, and all he will ever know so long as
he continues in unbelief.  To live for Christ is to be set against the world
– The Way of Cain (Jo. 15:18-19; Jas.
4:4; 1 Jo. 2:15-17; 5:4-5).

Genesis Chapter 5

Both Enoch and Noah “walked with God” (Gen. 5:24; 6:9). To
“walk with God” is the ideal standard for a believer (Lev. 26:3-12; Col.
2:6-7; Gal. 5:16, 25; cf. Rev. 3:4). 
Walking with God does not mean sinless perfection, but does mean that
when the believer sins, he handles it in a biblical manner (e.g. David 2 Sam.
12:1-23; cf. 1 Kings 11:4; 1 Jo. 1:8-10). 
Walking with God means we go in the same direction God is going, and
like a friend, we are glad to share in His fellowship (1 Jo. 1:1-10).  Walking with God means He is regularly in our
thoughts, and we live every day conscious of Him and His will for our lives
(Rom. 12:1-2; Col. 3:16).  Walking with
God means we are open and honest with Him about everything, and agree to let
His light shine in our lives, not fearing what it exposes (1 Jo. 1:5-7). Walking
with God means being sensitive to what may offend Him, and making every effort to
please Him through a life of faith (Heb. 11:6). Walking with God means learning
His word and living by faith in every area of our lives (Rom. 1:17; 10:17; Heb.
11:6; cf. Gal. 5:16, 25). 

Genesis Chapter 6 Part 1

God judges the earth because of the corruption of men. 

Genesis Chapter 6 Part 2

God judges the earth because of the corruption of men. 

Genesis Chapter 6 Part 3

God judges the earth because of the corruption of men. 

Genesis Chapters 7 & 8

God commands Noah to build the ark and enter the ark. God then saves Noah and his family from the flood He sends on the earth. 

Genesis Chapter 9

Noah after the flood and the establishment of the Noahic Covenant. 

Genesis Chapter 10

The genealogies
were to show how the nations of the earth came into being.

Genesis Chapter 11:1-9

God disrupts the human arrogance at the tower of Babel. 

Genesis Chapter 11:10-32

The genealogy of Shem to Abram. 

Genesis Chapter 12:1-3

The promises of the Abrahamic Covenant are given in Genesis 12:1-3. The
Abrahamic Covenant is ratified in Genesis 15. The sign of the Abrahamic
Covenant is provided in Genesis 17. The promises of the Abrahamic Covenant (and
their amplifications) find fulfillment only when Christ is seated on David’s
throne in Jerusalem for His one thousand year reign (Rev. 20:4-6).

Genesis Chapter 12:4-20

By faith, Abram understood and obeyed God’s call to leave his homeland
and go to a land that was promised to him (Gen. 12:4-6; cf. Acts 7:2-4). By
faith, Abram received the promise that his “descendants” would inherit the
Promised Land, and he openly worshiped God. Once in the land of Canaan, God
tested Abram’s faith with a famine, and Abram failed by looking to Egypt rather
than God (Gen. 12:10-20; cf. Isa. 31:1). Abram was driven by fear of being
physically hurt rather than by faith in God’s promises. In his failure to live
by faith in God, Abram practiced deception which resulted in the wrongful
accumulation of wealth (which later caused him problems), and judgment on the
house of Pharaoh (Gen. 12:11-20). 

Genesis Chapter 13

This section of
Scripture opens with an account of a conflict between Abram’s
herdsman and Lot’s herdsman.  Apparently
their great wealth brought unintended and unforeseen problems into their lives.
Though Abram had the promise of God that the whole land was his by divine
right, yet he graciously offered to Lot a section of it in order to resolve a
family conflict. Lot—unlike Abram—lived not by faith, but by what
his human eyes saw before him.  The text tells
us that Lot “lifted up his eyes” and “saw” and “chose for himself” what
appeared best to him.  God
spoke to Abram after Lot had departed and confirmed His promises of land and seed.  God said to
Abram “now lift up your eyes” and “look” for “all the land which you see, I
will give it to you and to your descendants forever”

Genesis Chapter 14

Abram won two victories in one day: He won a military
victory over those who captured his nephew Lot. 
In his victory, Abram used all his resources (the trained men in his
house), called on friends with whom he had entered into a covenant (the
Amorites), and employed tactical skill in his military efforts to win the
battle (attacked on two fronts under the cover of darkness).  He won a spiritual victory by continuing in
God’s promises rather than accepting the financial reward of a wicked
king.  For Abram, the promises of God
were of greater value than the treasures of the world. Abram was greeted by
Melchizedek—a spiritual brother—who blessed him with refreshments and a
prophetic word that it was God who gave him his victory (Gen. 14:18-20).  

Genesis Chapter 15

Genesis 15:1-6
shows Abram to be a man of faith, trusting God at His word. Genesis 15:7-21
reveals the ratification of the Abrahamic Covenant. 

Genesis Chapter 16

God had promised a son to Abram (Gen. 12:2; 13:15-16; 15:5), but Sarai was
never specifically identified as the woman who would give him that son.  After ten years, they apparently felt the
conflict between God’s promise of a son and Sarai’s inability to conceive; and
because of impatience, Sarai proposed the marriage with Hagar as a
solution to their problem.  It appears
God intentionally created a dilemma in which Abram and Sarai were helpless to
produce a son, so that it would be obvious in the end that what God had
promised them, only He was able to execute (cf. Rom. 4:18-21).  Delay in fulfillment should not be seen as a
denial of God’s promise.

Genesis Chapter 17

Genesis 17
reminds us that what is recorded in Genesis 12-25 is not a biography of the
life of Abraham, but a theological history of God’s sovereign workings in the
life of a man through whom He chose to bless the world.  Some of the chapters have large time gaps
between them, because God wants us to pay attention to Him, and His working in
the life of Abraham.  

Genesis Chapter 18

The Central Idea of the Text is the display of righteous hospitality
and prayerful intercession in contrast with the wickedness and selfishness of
those in Sodom and Gomorrah. 

Genesis Chapter 19

The Central Idea of
the Text is that God is righteous to judge and destroy the cities of
Sodom & Gomorrah for its wickedness, and to deliver Lot who is
counted among the righteous (2 Pet. 2:7).

Genesis Chapter 20

The Central Idea of the Text is that God providentially intervened to
preserve Abraham and Sarah’s marriage in spite of their deceptive practices.

Genesis Chapter 21

The Central Idea of the Text is that God is
faithful to Abraham and Sarah, providing a son as He had promised twenty five
years earlier (Gen. 12:1-3; 15:5; 17:15-16, 19; 18:10, 14; 21:1-3).

Genesis Chapter 22

The Central Idea of the Text is that Abraham feared God and obeyed His
command to offer up his most precious possession: Isaac, the miracle son of
promise.

Genesis Chapter 23

The Central Idea of the Text is that Sarah
died and Abraham grieved her passing and buried her in the land of Canaan (Gen.
23:19).

Genesis Chapter 24

The Central Idea of
the Text is that God providentially selected Rebekah as a wife for
Isaac.  In the actions of God, He
directed both Abraham’s servant as well as Rebekah to meet at a specific
location, a well, in order to manifest His will to them both.

Genesis Chapter 25

God faithfully blessed Abraham right up to the time of his death.

Genesis Chapter 26

The Central Idea of the Text is that God was
faithful to bless Isaac as the son of Abraham through whom the promises would
come (Gen. 26:3-5, 24).

Genesis Chapter 27

The Primary Idea of
the Text is that Jacob was blessed as the rightful heir of Isaac (Gen.
27:33).

Genesis Chapter 28

The
Central Idea of the Passage is that
God is faithful to keep His promise to Abraham, Isaac, and now Jacob, regarding
property, descendants, and Gentile blessing (Gen. 28:13-15; cf. Gen. 12:1-3;
13:16; 15:18; 17:8; 22:15-18).

Genesis Chapter 29

The Primary Idea of the Passage
is that Jacob (the deceiver) was deceived by his uncle Laban into marrying Leah
before Rachael (Gen. 29:25).

Genesis Chapter 30 Part 1

The
Central Idea of the Passage is that
God was faithful to bless Jacob with sons according to the covenant promise
spoken at Bethel (Gen. 28:13-15).