Andrew Robb - June 25, 2023
Reading the Gospels and their Parables
From Series: "Reading the Bible for All It's Worth E"
Understanding the Bible isn't just for a few but it is something all of us can pursue.
A message from the series "Worship that Remembers E." Reading: Malachi 3:6-4:6 Our passage opens with the accusation of theft from God and is defended through the command to bring in all the ‘tithe’. Israel’s holding back of this gift amounts to theft and gives occasion to remind the people of the abundant blessings that are promised to those who honour God in this way. This functions as a warning and an invitation to repentance. 3:14 seems to pulls the whole of God’s accusations in Malachi together: ‘You have said, “It is in vain to serve God. What do we profit by keeping his command…? And yet, Malachi ends with a hopeful ‘note’. It is written by ‘the LORD’ and declares there to be some who ‘revered the LORD’. There is a possessive quality attributed to God here: they are ‘mine’, ‘my special possession’. Malachi ends with a promise for God to act in restoration of the righteous. He will come ‘with healing in his wings’. The prophecy also ends with a strong pointer to the Transfiguration of Jesus, where Moses and Elijah both appear. God’s restoration is promised and coming.
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CloseOften we read the Gospels - and most books of the Bible - in small parts. Our verse and chapter divisions, however, are a letter addition to the text and were primarily intended to enable easy reference. They were not added to break up the flow of a book. The Gospel of Mark has a subtly stated (and re-stated) goal of teaching the reader about the ‘Kingdom of God’. In our readings we learn something of the nature of the Kingdom of God through story and parable. Although these are two short passages, the entire book of Mark does the same thing! Challenge of the Week: Read through the Gospel of Mark in one sitting - as a story! What do you see differently as a result? (‘How to Read the Bible for All Its Worth’, Chapters 7-8)
Related Topics: Parables, Reading the Bible | More Messages from Andrew Robb | Download Audio
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