How Long Is Today?

Paul means to say that he is quoting scripture. The Holy Spirit moved the writers of both the Old and the New Covenants to record what they did (Mark 12:36; Acts 1:16; 1Peter 1:21). They may have put the scripture in their own words, but those words expressed the heart of God. Therefore, it can be said: the Holy Spirit says (Hebrews 3:7). Paul was probably quoting from the Septuagint, as is usually the case in the New Covenant. He quoted Psalm 95:7-11 (some versions of the Septuagint have Psalm 95 8-11; cf. Hebrews 3:7-11):

 

Jesus’ Trial Before Herod

from Google Images

After Jesus’ first appearance before Pilate, the Jewish authorities could hardly believe their ears, when Pilate pronounced his verdict of innocence! Immediately they began to accuse Jesus more passionately. The Vulgate translates: “But,” they insisted, “He rouses sedition among the people; he has gone round the whole of Judaea preaching, beginning in Galilee and ending here.” The phrase: “…ending here” probably has reference to his entries into Jerusalem in recent days, publicly showing himself to be the Messiah and the large crowds gathering around him.

 

The Rich Man and Resurrection

from Google Images

In Luke 16:19-31 Jesus tells the story of the Rich Man and Lazarus. The second character mentioned in this story, of course, is a beggar named Lazarus (Luke 16:20-21). According to the text, he is full of sores, which seems to represent the fact that he is a sinner (Luke 15:1-2), whom the Pharisees and other Jewish authorities would never entertain at their tables, where discussion of the word of God was made.