Comments for marv.us

Comment on Matthew 6:1,16-18 by передає

передає — Mon, 30 Mar 2026 23:30:28 +0000

Fantastic article, very well presented. I’m grateful
for such a helpful website.

Comment on Matthew 6:1,16-18 by на Ситомо

на Ситомо — Sat, 25 Oct 2025 15:56:40 +0000

Как раз хотел углубиться в подобное, и вот нашёл в этом разборе супер контент:
)

Comment on Matthew 7:24-27 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 13:31:09 +0000

Good point Bruce, I have not done that well.
This study has most certainly laid OT next to NT in a topic by topic comparison. Wonderful idea Doug and execution. I can see why some argue that the God of the OT is a different one from the God of the NT. One clear difference is the OT ideology that righteousness results in a good life while not following God’s rules results in bad things. This, of course, is only partly true. The NT contrasts this ideology with the message that we should try to live righteously, but will not be able to, and that’s okay. As long as you try, it will work out. This too, is only partly true. We are left with only hope that there will be justice in the end. Many today find such pipe dreams irrelevant. I am sympathetic to their views. Faith has no balm to ease its difficulty. Faith must come from the Holy Spirit, or it doesn’t come. This is in our essential tenets, and rightfully so.
Thank you Doug! Well done my friend.

Comment on Matthew 7:24-27 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Sat, 27 Apr 2024 12:23:12 +0000

This is why it’s so important to build a good foundation with children when they are beginning to grow. The stronger the foundation, the more they will withstand trials.
It is better to shape a child then it is to repair an adult.

Comment on Matthew 7:21-23 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 12:28:06 +0000

This verse is a puzzle to be sure. Jesus indicates that the choice of salvation rests solely with him.

The word “wicked” is a good one. This property is surely in the hearts and minds of many. We should heed the words of those that declare a desire to kill us all. Why do we coddle people who say they want to kill us? Wicked world leaders tend to say what their plans are, yet we pay no attention. I suppose a wolf in sheep’s clothing is even more wicked.

Comment on Matthew 7:21-23 by Skip

Skip — Fri, 26 Apr 2024 10:13:30 +0000

The modern gospel that preaches grace but no repentance is a broad highway that leads to you know where. The sanctification process is a necessity that helps align our hearts with God, and it establishes Jesus as Lord of our lives. It’s knowing him through the Word and his vehicle of community- the church. It’s where Christians make themselves distinct from the world. Many claim Jesus, but they don’t claim him Lord.

Comment on Matthew 7:15-20 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 12:21:13 +0000

Prophecy is a strange part of scripture. What are we to make of it? Apparently, there are no more prophets. What is the deal with that? These verses really codify the principle that prophets can only be prophets in hindsight. Otherwise, we have no test with which to know.

Comment on Matthew 7:15-20 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Thu, 25 Apr 2024 11:44:46 +0000

If we judge ourselves first before we judge our neighbor, the question we should ask ourselves is do we bear fruit for the glory of God?

Comment on Matthew 7:13-14 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 12:57:58 +0000

The OT passages seem to be saying to live by the rules and things will go well for you. And, fail to follow the rules and you will be punished. Perhaps we need some of this today to manage the obviously wicked among us.

Conversely, the NT verse recognizes the difficulty of living a righteous life. I am unconvinced that any of these passages is a reference to salvation.

We tend to no longer believe that God rewards or punishes individuals in this life as he did in the OT. Largely because reality seems not to support such a conclusion. It is troublesome to observe so much suffering at the hands of evil and wickedness. Many people exclaim, where is your god! And rightfully so.

Thank goodness we need not worry about how many will fall to Satan. It is not a competition. All will be turned to good in the end. Double predestiny is simply part of the plan. Those who are part of the elect should rejoice at God’s grace and mercy, for surely it is undeserved. If it was a numbers game, none would have eternal life.

Comment on Matthew 7:13-14 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 10:58:03 +0000

It seems like it’s one extreme to the other. We know God’s way and what it takes to be righteous. There is no in between because Satan owns that as well.

Comment on Matthew 7:13-14 by Skip

Skip — Wed, 24 Apr 2024 09:52:02 +0000

According to this verse and other verses, it blatantly says few will be saved while the majority will be condemned. Does Satan win if he takes the vast majority of people with him to eternal damnation? It seems he does. However, God is truthful telling us the righteous path is hard.

Comment on Matthew 7:12 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 11:09:35 +0000

Supposedly, Islam does not have this concept. Yet, it seems the basis of sharia law. 1 Corinthians 4&5 emphasize the difference between how we judge those inside versus those outside the church. These passages also recognize a separation between those within a community of faith and those outside.

Comment on Matthew 7:12 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Tue, 23 Apr 2024 10:44:19 +0000

For some reason I remember this verse in the negative sense, that is, don’t do to others as you would not want them to do to you. But Jesus put this scripture in a positive way.

Comment on Matthew 7:1-6 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 13:31:21 +0000

How do we determine just who are dogs or pigs, so that we do not waste holy pearls and get attacked? Much like the founding of our country, scripture makes some basic assumptions about those who fall under its governance. Turning the other cheek and judging in love are concepts to be realized among civilized, Christian people. Boundaries are not something that Christians do very well, yet Jesus persistently and resoundingly acknowledges the need for boundaries when his counsel delineates what and who are not to be embraced. Namely, dogs and pigs.

Comment on Matthew 7:1-6 by DJ

DJ — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 12:26:24 +0000

In reply to Skip. That makes sense to me. I also think Jesus is emphasizing our tendency to judge from a perspective of "holier-than-thou" and that he wants us to judge with love for the other person and with a humble awareness that we are also sinners reliant totally on his mercy. I do not believe that he wants us to tolerate all sin to avoid being judgmental. We are to rebuke each other with love for our mutual benefit.

Comment on Matthew 7:1-6 by Skip

Skip — Sun, 21 Apr 2024 11:37:05 +0000

We all have to judge. God asks us to judge good character and to judge our or someone else’s actions. I always interpreted this passage to mean judging someone’s worthiness, especially in terms of eternal judgment- heaven or hell. God never gave us that role; it’s his prerogative. Maybe why he never wanted Adam /Eve to eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Thoughts?

Comment on Matthew 6:25-34 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 21:23:37 +0000

“I can’t think about that right now. If I do, I’ll go crazy. I’ll think about that tomorrow.”

-Scarlett O’Hara, ‘Gone With The Wind’.

Comment on Matthew 6:25-34 by Skip

Skip — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 12:25:05 +0000

Truly, one of the most comforting passages I know!

Comment on Matthew 6:25-34 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Sat, 20 Apr 2024 11:59:46 +0000

God doesn’t want us to worry.
He wants us to remember the past, plan for the future, but live in the present.

Comment on Matthew 6:24 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:31:17 +0000

Jesus was talking about the heart in these verses. We can’t think that we can love, serve God and love money at the same time. We just can’t. Our money should serve God.

Comment on Matthew 6:24 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Fri, 19 Apr 2024 12:27:27 +0000

Prosperity gospels are such a challenge for our culture. What are we to do with these passages and capitalism? No doubt, humans are homo economicus species. Yet, Paul suggests we should live in commune-like societies sharing equally among one another. This, of course, has never worked throughout human history, but we keep trying. Anarchy, dictatorship, representative governance, followed by revolution has been the cyclical nature of civilization for the past 5000 years. It appears this is not likely to change any time soon. Thus, we must not completely understand these passages.

Comment on Matthew 6:22-23 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:36:38 +0000

Who are these needy and poor people? Are they the same as the needy and poor today? How should we react when our poorest live at a higher standard of living than most other people in the world? What is scripture calling us to do?

Comment on Matthew 6:22-23 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Thu, 18 Apr 2024 11:21:46 +0000

Having darkness in the eye and it affecting your whole body can be the same thing as a bad attitude, i.e. bad mood, and makes everything around you dark as well.

Comment on Matthew 6:19-21 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 16:15:40 +0000

“… the earth will wear out like a garment…”
Interesting comment from Isaiah

Comment on Matthew 6:19-21 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 11:07:19 +0000

To me it feels like He is talking about do not love anything you cannot take to heaven with you. Store up what you love in your heart and bring it with you.

Comment on Matthew 6:19-21 by Skip

Skip — Wed, 17 Apr 2024 09:57:03 +0000

It’s a bit ambiguous what treasures in heaven are, plus it sounds like you can accrue much of it. Besides letting the lordship of Jesus rule in our hearts, is there more that I’m missing here?

Comment on Matthew 6:1,16-18 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 17:17:53 +0000

These verses remind me of my mother who seemed to have had eyes, not only in the back of her head, but somehow knew everything I did and thought! While my mom was not God, she sure had some of his powers of perception and presence.

Comment on Matthew 6:9-15 by DJ

DJ — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 12:02:54 +0000

In reply to Bruce Powers. Thanks Bruce. I added Proverbs 19:11.

Comment on Matthew 6:1,16-18 by Bruce Powers

Bruce Powers — Tue, 16 Apr 2024 11:47:55 +0000

Fasting is a practice that Jesus spoke about and expected His followers to do.
We don’t practice this and I don’t think I have ever tried to fast. I know that fasting is associated with prayer. Maybe I’m missing something I should be doing?

Comment on Matthew 6:9-15 by Philip Gibson

Philip Gibson — Mon, 15 Apr 2024 13:09:50 +0000

Frequently, I say to myself, THIS is the most important verse in all of scripture. The Bible is dense with such passages. The Lord’s Prayer is a gem to be sure. When I don’t know what to pray, the Lord’s Prayer is my go to. I suspect I am not alone in this. Thanks be to God for His special revelation of scripture so that we might know Him and know how to live. It is simple enough for children yet deep enough for a lifetime of study. Who could write such a book?