Daily Bible Reading Podcast

EZEKIEL 14-15:The title that the Lord calls Ezekiel is 'son of man', which the Lord is using in the normal sense, meaning 'ordinary human'. The title for Jesus— 'Son of Man', is a special usage. For that, check out Daniel 7.  Note in yesterday's reading when Ezekiel acted out how King Zedekiah would go into exile, Ezekiel covered his eyes. It was revealed to Ezekiel that Zedekiah would go to Babylon but not see it. This was fulfilled since Zedekiah had his eyes blinded after watching his sons' deaths. This also fulfilled the prophecy against his sons. SONG OF SOLOMON 8:Yesterday we heard more passionate expressions of love, and today is the final chapter of Solomon's Song. MATTHEW 27a:I imagine that as the high priest tore his clothes and shouted 'blasphemy', the expression on his face would not have been one of grief, but of triumph. And Peter recognized that Jesus was to be sentenced to death when he denied Christ.   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

EZEKIEL 12-13:In yesterday's reading, the vision of the glory of the Lord left the temple. Then God disagreed with what the leaders of the Israelites were saying, that they were safe in the 'pot' of Jerusalem. SONG OF SOLOMON 7:As we heard yesterday, the bride is captivating in beauty, and so radiant that she is compared to the sun and moon. MATTHEW 26b:In yesterday's reading we heard about these events: the plot to kill Jesus, Jesus being anointed at Bethany, the Last Supper, and Peter vowing that he would never deny Jesus. NLT Translation notes:Ez. 12:11 [Then] Explain [to them] that your actions are a sign to show what will soon happen to them, for they will be driven into exile as captives.====SS. [In the NLT, the chapter break comes at an inconvenient place. GNT interprets the last verse as the woman's words.]   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

EZEKIEL 10-11:Yesterday in chapters 8-9 we heard the story of Ezekiel's being transported to Jerusalem and his awesome vision of our glorious God revealing the idolatry of Israel happening right at the temple. Some of the locations shown are literal, and some are to be taken figuratively. One clearly sees that God has every right to be highly offended. Note that the people sharing God's grief at this idolatrous situation received a mark on their foreheads. SONG OF SOLOMON 6:Yesterday in chapter 5, we heard the young woman relating her dream. MATTHEW 26a:Yesterday we heard Jesus' direct and clear teaching about the final judgment. This was no parable. And note the words, "eternal punishment." NLT Translation note:Mat. 26:14 Then Judas [, from the village of Kariot//Iscariot], one of the twelve disciples, went to the leading priests 15 and asked, "How much will you pay me to betray Jesus to you?" And they gave him thirty pieces of silver.   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

EZEKIEL 8-9:Terrible destruction is prophesied against Judah and Jerusalem. The trumpet will sound the battle call, but no one will get ready, because they are under God's wrath. SONG OF SOLOMON 5:Yesterday the young man extolled the perfection of his bride. MATTHEW 25b: Yesterday in Matthew 25, we heard two parables that speak about being ready for Christ's return. Something that is repeated in the parables on this topic is that, "outside there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth." Jesus is by those words teaching an important idea: That the punishment in hell will be conscious punishment (shown by the weeping), and it will be painful (as shown by the gnashing of teeth). NLT Translation notes:Mat. 25:14 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted [them to do business with//0] his money [0//to them] while he was gone. 21 "The  master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good andfaithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this smallamount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. [Come! Celebrate together with me!//Let's celebrate together!]'23 ending same as at the end of 21.25 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it [a hole in the ground//in the earth]. Look, here is your money back.'45 "And [I/he] will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

EZEKIEL 6-7: In yesterday's reading Ezekiel portrayed the punishment of Israel and the siege on Jerusalem for a total of 430 days. Then he took a razor and cut his hair and divided it into three parts with a little left over. This was used as a demonstration that a third of the people would die in the city from disease and famine. The distress will be so severe that parents will eat their children. A third will be killed by the enemy outside the city, and the last third will be scattered by the sword. A small remnant will be saved. SONG OF SOLOMON 4:Yesterday the woman had an extended speech. Today it is the man's turn. MATTHEW 25a:Yesterday was Jesus' extended teaching about the end times and His own return, and the parables about our Being READY to receive our Master. And at the beginning of this chapter, we have one of my favorite parables. NLT Translation notes:Mat. 25:14 "Again, the Kingdom of Heaven can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. He called together his servants and entrusted [them to do business with//0] his money [0//to them] while he was gone. 21 "The  master was full of praise. 'Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in handling this small amount, so now I will give you many more responsibilities. [Come! Celebrate together with me!//Let's celebrate together!]'23 ending same as at the end of 2125 I was afraid I would lose your money, so I hid it [a hole in the ground//in the earth]. Look, here is your money back.'40 "And [I, as the King,//the King] will say, 'I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the least of these my brothers and sisters,f you were doing it to me!'41 "Then [I, as the King,//the King] will turn to those on the left and say, 'Away with you, you cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his demons.45 "And [I/he] will answer, 'I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.'   Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2015 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.