Thematic Bible: Ambition

Strive to go in through the narrow door. Many people will try to go in and will not be able. Verse Concepts

Do you not know that they who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain the prize. Verse Concepts

Zealously seek (earnestly desire) the best gifts. Yet I show you a more excellent way. Verse Concepts

Pursue love, yet zealously desire spiritual gifts, especially prophesy (proclaiming God's Word). Verse Concepts

As much as you are zealous for spiritual gifts, strive to build-up (increase) the enlightenment (understanding) of the congregation. Verse Concepts

Brothers, I could not yet have obtained it. But one thing I do, I forget the things that are behind, and stretch forward to the things that are ahead. I press on toward the goal to the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Be diligent to be presented approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth. Verse Concepts

Adonijah, son of Haggith, was very handsome. His mother gave birth to him after Maacah had Absalom. Adonijah boasted about himself, saying, I will be king. He got a chariot and horses and fifty men to run ahead of him. Verse Concepts

It is true that you have overcome Edom and your heart is uplifted. Let that glory be enough for you and stay in your own country. Why do you make causes for trouble, putting yourself and Judah with you in danger of downfall? Verse Concepts

Inwardly they think their houses are forever, their dwelling place to all generations. So they named their lands after themselves. Verse Concepts

You thought: 'I will go up to heaven (Mount Zion) and set up my throne above God's stars (messengers). I will sit on the mountain of meeting far away in the north where the gods assemble. Verse Concepts

What right do you have here? Who are your relatives here that you have cut out a tomb here for yourself, cutting a tomb on the height, and carving a habitation for yourself in the rock? Verse Concepts

Wine is treacherous and never allows an arrogant man to rest. He never stays home. He has a large appetite like the grave. Like death he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations and collects all the people. Verse Concepts

In that hour the disciples came to Jesus. They asked: Who is greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Verse Concepts

He said: Truly I tell you, if you do not have a change of heart and become like little children, you will not go into the kingdom of heaven. Verse Concepts

Jesus called them to himself and said: You know that the rulers of the nations exercise absolute dominion over them. They lord it over them and behave like tyrants. Verse Concepts

The greatest among you will be your servant. He who exalts himself will be humbled. He who humbles himself will be exalted.

O how you have fallen from heaven, you morning star (shining one), and son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who conquered nations! You thought: 'I will go up to heaven (Mount Zion) and set up my throne above God's stars (messengers). I will sit on the mountain of meeting far away in the north where the gods assemble. I will go above the top of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.' read more.
But you have been brought down to the grave, to the deepest part of the pit.

He who loves transgression loves discord. He who opens his door seeks destruction. Verse Concepts

The Lord Jehovah says: 'Because it is high in stature and has set its top among the clouds, and its heart is haughty in its loftiness, I will give it into the hand of a despot of the nations. He will thoroughly deal with it. According to its wickedness I have driven it away.

The success of the wicked is brief and the joy of the godless lasts but a moment. Though his pride reaches to the heavens and his head touches the clouds, he will perish forever like his own dung. Those who have seen him will say: Where is he? read more.
He flies away like a dream banished like a vision of the night. He cannot be found! The eye that saw him will not see him again. His place (home) will look on him no more.

They are exalted a little while, and then are gone. They wither and fade like everything gathered up. They are cut off like the heads of grain. Verse Concepts

Inwardly they think their houses are forever, their dwelling place to all generations. So they named their lands after themselves. But mortals will not continue here with what they treasure. They are like animals that die. This is the final outcome for fools and their followers who are delighted by what they say: read more.
Like sheep, they are laid in the grave. Death will shepherd them. The upright will rule them in the morning. Their forms will decay in the grave, far away from their comfortable homes. But God will redeem me (buy me back) from the power of the grave because he will receive me. Do not be afraid when someone becomes rich, when the greatness of his house increases. He will not take anything with him when he dies. Even his greatness cannot follow him. Even though he blesses himself while he is alive. (People will praise you when you do well for yourself.) He must join the generation of his ancestors who will never see light again. Mortals, with what they treasure, still do not have understanding. They are like animals that die.

How can you believe? You seek praise and glory from one another? Why do you not seek the glory that comes from the only God? Verse Concepts

He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and declares (promotes) himself to be like God. (Ezekiel 28:2) Verse Concepts

Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself. He had an escort of fifty men to run ahead of him. He would rise early in the morning and stand by the road at the city gate. When someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. After the man told him what tribe he was from,

He added: How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me. I would give him justice. Verse Concepts

What is your desire? he asked. She said to him: Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom. Verse Concepts

Woe to you Pharisees! You love the prominent seats in the synagogues, and the greetings in the marketplaces. Verse Concepts

Let us go down and confuse their language so they will not understand each other. Verse Concepts

Cursed are those who are joining house to house, and putting field to field, till there is no more living-space for any but themselves in all the land! Verse Concepts

He opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god and object of worship. As a result, he seats himself in the sanctuary of God and declares (promotes) himself to be like God. (Ezekiel 28:2) Verse Concepts

During his lifetime Absalom built a monument for himself in King's Valley. He had no son to keep his name alive. So he named it after himself. To this day it is known as Absalom's Monument. Verse Concepts

Absalom provided a chariot and horses for himself. He had an escort of fifty men to run ahead of him. He would rise early in the morning and stand by the road at the city gate. When someone came there with a dispute that he wanted the king to settle, Absalom would call him over and ask him where he was from. After the man told him what tribe he was from, Absalom would say: My friend, the law is on your side. However, there is no representative of the king to hear your case. read more.
He added: How I wish I were a judge! Then anyone who had a dispute or a claim could come to me. I would give him justice. The man would approach Absalom and bow down before him. Then Absalom would reach out and hug and kiss him. Absalom did this with every Israelite who came to the king for judgment. That way he won their loyalty. After four years Absalom said to King David: My lord let me go to Hebron and keep a promise I made to Jehovah. When I lived at Geshur in Syria (Aram), I promised Jehovah that if he would take me back to Jerusalem, I would worship him in Hebron. Go in peace, the king said. So Absalom went to Hebron. He sent messengers to all the tribes of Israel. He told them: When you hear the sound of trumpets, shout: 'Absalom is king in Hebron!' Absalom had two hundred men who at his invitation traveled from Jerusalem with him. They knew nothing of the plot and went in good faith. Absalom was offering sacrifices. He sent for Ahithophel, David's adviser, to come from his home in Giloh. Meanwhile, the conspiracy grew stronger. The number of people siding with Absalom kept getting larger. A messenger told David: Absalom has the hearts of the people of Israel.

Then on that day Haman went out full of joy and glad in heart. When he saw Mordecai in the king's gate and he did not get to his feet or give any sign of fear before him, Haman was full of wrath against Mordecai. But controlling himself, he went to his house; and he sent for his friends and Zeresh, his wife. He gave them an account of the glories of his wealth. The number of children he had. He recalled the ways in which he had been honored by the king. How the king put him over the captains and servants of the king. read more.
Haman continued: Truly, Esther the queen let no man but myself come in to the feast she made ready for the king. Tomorrow again I am to be her guest with the king. But all this is nothing to me as long as I see Mordecai the Jew seated by the king's gate.

So Haman came in. And the king said to him: What is to be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring? Then the thought came into Haman's mind, whom, more than myself, would the king have pleasure in honoring? Haman answered: For the man whom the king has delight in honoring, Let them take the robes that the king generally puts on, and the horse on which the king goes, and the crown that is on his head: read more.
And let the robes and the horse be given to one of the king's most noble captains, so that they may put them on the man whom the king has delight in honoring. Let him go on horseback through the streets of the town, with men crying out before him. So let it be done to the man whom the king has delight in honoring.

The people who remain will plunder you because you have plundered many nations. It is because of the blood you shed and the violence you brought on the land, the city and all who dwell there. He who receives a dishonest profit for his house will have trouble. He may set his nest on high in order to be delivered from the hand of evil!

Woe to him who builds a town with bloodshed and establishes a city with iniquity! Verse Concepts

What is your desire? he asked. She said to him: Let my two sons be seated, the one at your right hand, and the other at your left, in your kingdom. Verse Concepts

God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened. Then you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

You defy Jehovah and through your servants you say: 'With my many chariots I ride up the high mountains, up the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses. I travel to its most distant borders and its most fertile forests. Verse Concepts

([Psalm of David]) O Jehovah, my heart is not proud, my eyes are not haughty. I do not involve myself in great matters. I do not get involved in things too difficult for me. Surely I am composed and quiet. I am like a weaned child who rests against his mother. Inside of me I am like a weaned child.

Then they said: Let us build ourselves a city, with a lofty tower that reaches into space, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth. Verse Concepts

Wine is treacherous and never allows an arrogant man to rest. He never stays home. He has a large appetite like the grave. Like death he is never satisfied. He gathers all nations and collects all the people. Verse Concepts

What right do you have here? Who are your relatives here that you have cut out a tomb here for yourself, cutting a tomb on the height, and carving a habitation for yourself in the rock? Verse Concepts

Then they said: Let us build ourselves a city, with a lofty tower that reaches into space, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth. Verse Concepts

They asked: Did Jehovah speak only through Moses? Did he not also speak through us? Jehovah heard their complaint. Verse Concepts

They came together to confront Moses and Aaron. They said: You have gone far enough! Everyone in the whole congregation is holy. Jehovah is among them. Why do you set yourselves above Jehovah's assembly? Verse Concepts

O how you have fallen from heaven, you morning star (shining one), and son of the dawn! How you have been cut down to the ground, you who conquered nations! You thought: 'I will go up to heaven (Mount Zion) and set up my throne above God's stars (messengers). I will sit on the mountain of meeting far away in the north where the gods assemble. I will go above the top of the clouds. I will be like the Most High.' read more.
But you have been brought down to the grave, to the deepest part of the pit.

What causes wars and fighting among you? Is the cause of fighting your sensual lusts for pleasure that battle within you? You lust, and do not have. You murder and covet and cannot obtain! You fight and war. You do not have because you do not ask.

Contention grew between them concerning which of them was the greatest. Verse Concepts

They came together to confront Moses and Aaron. They said: You have gone far enough! Everyone in the whole congregation is holy. Jehovah is among them. Why do you set yourselves above Jehovah's assembly? When Moses heard this, he bowed with his face touching the ground. Then he said to Korah and all his followers: In the morning Jehovah will show who belongs to him, who is holy. He will have that person come near him. Only the person Jehovah chooses will be allowed to come near him. read more.
Korah, you and all your followers must do this tomorrow: Take incense burners, Put burning coals and incense in them in Jehovah's presence. Jehovah will choose the man who is holy. You have gone far enough! Moses also said to Korah: Listen, you sons of Levi! Is it not enough for you that the God of Israel has separated you from the rest of the congregation of Israel? Jehovah has brought you near to do the work for his tent and stand in front of the community to serve them. He brought you and all the other Levites near. But now you demand to be priests. You and all your followers have joined forces against Jehovah! Who is Aaron that you should complain about him? Then Moses sent for Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab. But they said: We will not come! Is it not enough that you brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey only to kill us in the desert? Do you also have to order us around? You have not brought us into a land flowing with milk and honey or given us any fields and vineyards to own. Do you think you can still pull the wool over our eyes? We will not come. Moses became angry and said to Jehovah: Do not accept their offering. I have not taken anything from them, not even a donkey. And I have not mistreated any of them. Moses said to Korah: Tomorrow you and all your followers must come into Jehovah's presence. Aaron will also be there with you. Each man will take his incense burner and put incense in it. They will offer all two hundred and fifty incense burners to Jehovah. Then you and Aaron offer your incense burners. So each man took his incense burner. He put burning coals and incense in it and stood with Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. Korah assembled all his followers who opposed Moses and Aaron at the entrance to the tent of meeting. The glory of Jehovah appeared to the entire group. Jehovah said to Moses and Aaron: Move away from these men. I will destroy them instantly. Immediately, they bowed with their faces touching the ground and said: O God, you are the God who gives the breath of life to everyone! If one man sins, will you be angry with the entire congregation? Then Jehovah said to Moses: Tell the congregation: 'Move away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram.' Moses got up and went to Dathan and Abiram, and the elders of Israel followed him. He said to the congregation: Move away from the tents of these wicked men. Do not touch anything that belongs to them, or you'll be swept away because of all their sins. So they moved away from the tents of Korah, Dathan, and Abiram. Dathan and Abiram came out and were standing at the entrances to their tents with their wives and children. Moses said: This is how you will know that Jehovah sent me to do all these things and that it wasn't my idea: If these men die a natural death like all other people Jehovah has not sent me. But if Jehovah does something totally new, if the ground opens up, swallows them and everything that belongs to them, and they go down alive to their graves; then you will know that these men have treated Jehovah with contempt. When he finished speaking, the ground under them split, and the earth opened up to swallow them, their families, the followers of Korah, and all their property. They went down alive to their graves with everything that belonged to them. The ground covered them. They disappeared from the assembly. All the Israelites around them ran away when they heard their screams. They thought the ground would swallow them, also. Fire came from Jehovah and consumed the two hundred and fifty men who were offering incense.

They asked: Did Jehovah speak only through Moses? Did he not also speak through us? Jehovah heard their complaint. Moses was a very humble (meek) man. He was more humble than anyone else on earth. Suddenly, Jehovah said to Moses, Aaron, and Miriam: All three of you come to the tent of meeting. So all three of them went to the tent. read more.
Then Jehovah came down in the column of smoke and stood at the entrance to the tent. He called to Aaron and Miriam. They both came forward. He said: Listen to my words: 'When there are prophets of Jehovah among you, I make myself known to them in visions or speak to them in dreams. But this is not the way I treat my servant Moses. He is the most faithful person in my household. I speak with him face to face. I speak plainly and not in riddles. He even sees the form of Jehovah. Why were you not afraid to criticize my servant Moses?' Jehovah was angry with them, so he left. After the smoke left the tent, Miriam was covered with an infectious skin disease. She was as white as snow. Aaron turned to her and saw she was covered with the disease.

I wrote something to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us. Verse Concepts

I wrote something to the congregation. But Diotrephes, who loves to have the preeminence among them, did not receive us. If I come, I will remind you of what he does. He unjustly accuses us with wicked words and is never satisfied. He does not allow the brothers to greet one another and he throws them out of the congregation.

You defy Jehovah and through your servants you say: 'With my many chariots I ride up the high mountains, up the slopes of Lebanon. I cut down its tallest cedars and its finest cypresses. I travel to its most distant borders and its most fertile forests. Verse Concepts

Ahithophel saw that his advice had not been followed. He saddled his donkey and went back to his hometown. He arranged his affairs in order and he hanged himself. He was buried in the family grave. Verse Concepts

Gideon's son Abimelech went to the town of Shechem. All his mother's relatives lived there. He told them: Ask the men of Shechem: 'Which is better for you. To have all seventy of Gideon's sons govern you or to have just one man? Remember that Abimelech is your own flesh and blood.' His mother's relatives talked to the men of Shechem about this for him. The men of Shechem decided to follow Abimelech because: He is our relative. read more.
They gave him seventy pieces of silver from the temple of Baal-Berith. Abimelech hired worthless and reckless men to join him. He went to his father's house at Ophrah. There on top of a single stone he killed his seventy brothers, Gideon's sons. Gideon's youngest son Jotham hid and therefore was not killed. All the men of Shechem and Bethmillo got together and went to the sacred oak tree at Shechem, where they made Abimelech king.

God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened. Then you will be like God, knowing good and evil. When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it.

Jehoash king of Israel sent to Amaziah king of Judah, saying: The thorn-tree in Lebanon sent to the cedar in Lebanon, saying: 'Give your daughter to my son for a wife.' A beast from the woodland in Lebanon went by, crushing the thorn under his feet. Verse Concepts

Is it not enough that you brought us out of a land flowing with milk and honey only to kill us in the desert? Do you also have to order us around? Verse Concepts