Monday, December 28, 2015

On 1-3-16, Genesis 29:15-30 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A Bride Worth Waiting For

A Bride Worth Waiting For
Genesis 29:15-30
January 3, 2016




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough




I almost never read from week to week what others have to say about the current week’s scripture because I want to not lose “my voice”.  This is one week after I am done that I plan on making an exception.  It should prove interesting to see what every one is inspired to bring to the study table concerning this most interesting scripture.

I am not terribly knowledgeable what the marriage practices were in that day so that might take me off the mark.  And I am not terribly familiar with the wedding traditions either.  I might be way off base this week but what I see are the characters of the individuals involved.

Some of what I do involves a great deal of negotiation.  Seldom is a term put out there and accepted.  Rather there is the give and take that is expected and figured in until both parties are satisfied.

Laban showed some good character by offering to pay Jacob for his labors and Jacob showed his hand in this negotiation immediately.  I am sure that the pay choice might have come as a surprise to Laban but not Jacob’s feelings for his daughter so Laban went for the jugular, another indication of his character.

Jacob’s impetuous character or his romantic nature blinded him from what must have been a big part of an adult male’s business dealings, that being negotiation.  Jacob merely acquiesced.  

Laban’s character showed again with the ruse and the same Jacob showed up.

Jacob could have negotiated more favorable terms the first time such as first the daughter then the seven years.  And the second time, well you’ll have to forgive me but this is bordering on the less than intelligent.

Sacrilegious to say so?  Why should it be?  We are not all Solomon.  I think it is important that the Bible shows us the character, the strong and weak points of individuals if we are to understand and relate to them.  It makes it all the more real to me and thus relevant.

For Discussion:

  1. Discuss what you think of Laban.
  2. Discuss what you think of Jacob.
  3. Discuss how you think Jacob would not have recognized this was not Rachel.
  4. How do less than perfect characters in the Bible help you?
  5. Discuss other individuals in the Bible and their character.
  6. Look into what verse 17 means by “weak eyes”.  It varies from version to version and the word “but” plays in to this.
  7. Discuss the thoughts/feelings of Leah and Rachel.


Upcoming Lessons


1-10-16     The Most Beautiful Bride     Song of Solomon 6:4-12






Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Monday, December 21, 2015

On 12-27-15, Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as A Generous Gift

A Generous Gift
Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44
December 27, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough



Reading the scriptures from today should send shivers down the spines of some who teach and at least give pause to all who do!

Really I don’t think there are too many teachers especially Sunday School ones who are in danger of this but then again I have not been exposed to all that there is and there could be much more than I think.

No, I think that most of these labor without glory in this day and age because those they labor for do not encourage them but instead they take.  Rather hard in that situation to become too full of one’s self.

But I suppose there are some who succeed in certain ways and the accolades they receive from men may lead to some of what we read in today’s scripture.

More likely and in fact definitely what is in sight are our “supreme” church leaders.  Those that wear the robes and speak from the pulpit or whatever form that takes and are called whatever title your church bestows.

The position brings with it automatic respect, automatic credit from doubt and a supposition of correctness.  People have always wanted to align themselves with power and when you get treated special it naturally leads to the danger of the downfall of the devil himself which was pride.

As with most things, being aware of the danger and being prayerful about it are the first solid steps to remaining grounded.  But I think that this fault is most likely to occur with those who have not truly received the gift from the Holy Spirit to teach but rather have inserted themselves into the position.  So if they have reached for a position for which they are not truly ordained it stands to reason there can be fall out.

Whichever the case these individuals are not alone in their blame if the elders that surround them do not help them, if their education didn’t prepare them for this and if those who have chosen them along the way have not shown discernment or the individual in the church shows favoritism.  

The widow from today shows the gravity of these leaders position in what they do with what they are given.  They decide how to spend what this poor woman who gave everything provided to them.

How will they be judged by their choices?  Did they choose that they were worthy of a building addition, a special sound system, a special house or car or even a jet over feeding the poor, clothing the ragged, seeding a new church, nurturing a missionary or spreading the gospel?

What she gave she gave to God but these who lead are the intermediaries who write the check.  In their pride do they decide that God’s clear examples of how to give are no longer relevant.  Do they twist and turn it to say that they need those things mentioned above or some variant in order to accomplish this?

Truly as I said those who do this should have shivers run down their spine and especially when they read what Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’


For Discussion:

  1. Discuss from verse 3 how Jesus stressed the need to follow those in authority despite their shortcomings.
  2. With regard to verse 4 discuss how leaders such as Rabbis overcomplicated things such as the Sabbath.
  3. If no one should be called Rabbi or instructor or teacher or father what might we me doing wrong in titles we use today in light of this scripture?
  4. Discuss how we might help the situation.
  5. Discuss when the needs of the church or improvements in the church should come in versus widows, orphans, the poor, the prisoner and of course the gospel.
  6. Was Jesus being critical of the wealthy who gave or just praising the poor woman?  Discuss.
  7. Happy New Year!



Upcoming Lessons


1-3-16     A Bride Worth Waiting For     Genesis 29:15-30












Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved

Monday, December 14, 2015

On 12-20-15, Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Dedications of Firstborn

Dedications of Firstborn
Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32
December 20, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough



At this our last Sunday before Christmas it strikes me when I read today’s scripture how important it was for the devoted of Israel to recognize the work God had done in releasing them from slavery from Pharaoh.

Today’s scripture doesn’t cover all the scriptures involved but you know well the story of how God spared those of Israel because they had been instructed to spread the blood of lambs on their door frames.  All the first born of Egypt, in this the final plague before Pharaoh released Israel from slavery, were taken by the destroyer.

Thus Israel was instructed by God to always remember this deliverance.  We must think on that awhile.  Each first born of Egypt was taken and each first born of Israel was spared.  Just as for us when the Day arrives and those who are His will be spared and those who are not will not be.

These people of Israel, such as Jesus’ family, were recognizing all that had been done so many generations before.

Maybe for some it was pure tradition and for others more devout it still meant much to them after so long.  What do you think about that?  Surely Mary and Joseph who though poor (thus the two doves instead of a lamb) had been blessed so greatly through their experiences of Jesus birth would have been motivated but what about all those others who redeemed their firstborns in remembrance?  I wonder at the rate of prevalence in that day.  Was it all, most, half or only some?

Simeon’s joy was obvious in his words from today’s scripture.  These words show that though Jesus was a baby Simeon had it revealed to him that this was the Messiah.  How excited he must have been!

How excited are you this Christmas season?  We might be wealthy or we might be poor like Jesus’ family but we too can share in recognizing God’s work, not in releasing us from a mortal king who enslaves but the slavery of death.

Simeon was a devout and devoted servant to whom the Messiah was revealed as a babe but as Simeon said, “For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations.”  Eventually all would know the fulfillment of God’s plan.

Again, how excited are you this Christmas?  What will you do to remember His birth and sacrifice and resurrection?  What will you do to share your excitement with others.  Don’t just let this be a season of going through the motions of remembering as some might have done in remembering the Passover.  Rather think of the sparkle that must have been in the eyes of Mary and Joseph when they consecrated their son to the Lord!


For Discussion:

  1. Discuss how important it is that we remember what God has done.
  2. Discuss the things that we might remember.
  3. Discuss the social condition of Jesus family.
  4. Discuss this in light of their being the family of the Messiah.
  5. What can we give as a remembrance this Christmas season for what God has done.
  6. Discuss the life to god Simeon must have lived.
  7. I think that next Sunday is a very important one for students so don’t take a break just because Christmas will be past!
  8. Merry Christmas!





Upcoming Lessons

12-27-15     A Generous Gift     Matthew 23:2-12; Mark 12:38-44
1-3-16     A Bride Worth Waiting For     Genesis 29:15-30





Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved


This Christmas season as you study Exodus 13:13-15; Luke

Monday, December 7, 2015

On 12-13-15, Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33 will be our Adult Sunday School/ Uniform Series/ International Sunday School Lesson, herein is my commentary. This lesson is known by some as Acceptable Offerings

Acceptable Offerings
Leviticus 22:17-25, 31-33
December 13, 2015




Commentary 
by
Jed Greenough







Examples are invaluable to us as human beings.

It is through example that a child learns everything that they become.  They see and hear their family as they walk and talk and they want to emulate these things.  They see good behavior and this example helps bring that out in them.  Likewise when a child hears or sees nothing but bad things in their environs you know what happens.  This is how we raise children, by example.

God was raising up a children in the Israelites wasn’t he?  He showed them by example that He was holy and how they could be holy in turn.  When God gave to the children of Israel He did not give to them the worst but the best.

Being holy seems to go against our nature even though God kindly shows us what being holy is all about.  We are often stingy with what we give back despite the fact that all we have came from Him.  Do we want to give to Him the blemished when He has given us the perfect?  He doesn’t mind when we give more than the perfect but rather when we only give of the least of the best.  Surely this is not how we want to be treated.

God knows what He has given and He just wants us to love Him as He loves us.  This goes back to the idea of examples.  As we read in Leviticus we saw even foreigners were to respect this model of giving and the Israelites were to acknowledge God’s holiness in how they gave.  It is that example idea.

Likewise for us when we acknowledge God is holy through our example we show non-Christians something that might cause them to want to emulate us and in turn treat God as holy.

What do people see in you as an example?




For Discussion:

  1. Those who give generously to God know that He rewards them for this even though they are only doing what they should.  Discuss this.
  2. Discuss from a mortal standpoint the receiving or giving of flawed things if that is all that is being given.
  3. Discuss the way we are examples.
  4. Discuss how being bad examples is negative in it’s results.
  5. Discuss how we come to God relates to this aside from in how we give.
  6. Discuss Christ as sacrifice.




Upcoming Lessons

12-20-15     Dedications of Firstborn     Exodus 13:13-15; Luke 2:22-32








Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved