Thematic Bible: Character of


Thematic Bible






































He was the 'Lamp that was burning' and shining, and you were ready to rejoice, for a time, in his light. Verse ConceptsRadiancyRadiant LivesLight Of God's PeopleSeasons Changing

Because Herod stood in fear of John, knowing him to be an upright and holy man, and protected him. He had listened to John, but still remained much perplexed, and yet he found pleasure in listening to him. Verse ConceptsPuzzlementSpecific Holy IndividualsFear Of Individuals























Faith caused the parents of Moses to hide the child for three months after his birth, for they saw that he was a beautiful child; and they would not respect the King's order. It was faith that caused Moses, when he was grown up, to refuse the title of 'Son of a Daughter of Pharaoh.' He preferred sharing the hardships of God's People to enjoying the short-lived pleasures of sin. read more.
For he counted 'the reproaches that are heaped upon the Christ' of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, looking forward, as he did, to the reward awaiting him. Faith caused him to leave Egypt, though undaunted by the King's anger, for he was strengthened in his endurance by the vision of the invisible God. Faith led him to institute the Passover and the Sprinkling of the Blood, so that the Destroyer might not touch the eldest children of the Israelites.













(For the Pharisees, and indeed all strict Jews, will not eat without first scrupulously washing their hands, holding in this to the traditions of their ancestors. Verse ConceptsAblutionelders, as community leadersJews, TheCharacteristics Of PhariseesHow People EatThe Elderlypharisees

And how, in my devotion to Judaism, I surpassed many of my contemporaries among my own people in my intense earnestness in upholding the traditions of my ancestors. Verse ConceptsLegalismPharisees, Beliefs OfNew Age BeliefsResolving Conflictzealotscredibility

So the Pharisees and the Teachers of the Law asked Jesus this question--"How is it that your disciples do not follow the traditions of our ancestors, but eat their food with defiled hands?" His answer was: "It was well said by Isaiah when he prophesied about you hypocrites in the words--'This is a people that honor me with their lips, While their hearts are far removed from me; But vainly do they worship me, For they teach but the precepts of men.' read more.
You neglect God's commandments and hold to the traditions of men.

The Pharisee stood forward and began praying to himself in this way--'O God, I thank thee that I am not like other men-- thieves, rogues, adulterers--or even like this tax-gatherer. Verse ConceptsExtortion, Examples OfAttitudes, in prayerHypocrisy, Description OfPrejudiceStandingStatusTax CollectorsHypocrites, Description OfSelf DelusionEvildoersNot Like PeopleAvoid AdulteryWe Thank GodConfession of sin

I was circumcised when eight days old; I am an Israelite by race, and of the tribe of Benjamin; I am a Hebrew, and the child of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee; As to zeal, I was a persecutor of the Church; as to such righteousness as is due to Law, I proved myself blameless.

I was circumcised when eight days old; I am an Israelite by race, and of the tribe of Benjamin; I am a Hebrew, and the child of Hebrews. As to the Law, I was a Pharisee; Verse ConceptsCircumcision, physicalDay 8ScholarsLess Than A Year OldTaking The Law To HeartJewszealots

Some of the Pharisees' party, however, who had become believers in Christ, came forward and declared that they were bound to circumcise converts and to direct them to observe the Law of Moses. Verse ConceptsExclusivenessCircumcision, physicalBelieversHeresiesJudaismSectsNecessity Of CircumcisionThose Who Believed In ChristKeep The Commandments!pharisees


Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You destroy widow's houses, even while pretending to make long prayers; therefore you shall receive greater condemnation. Verse ConceptsLegalismHypocrites, Description OfProfessingAge DiscriminationNot Helping WidowsToo Many WordsHypocritesHypocrisy

"John's disciples," they said to Jesus, "Often fast and say prayers, and so do the disciples of the Pharisees, while yours are eating and drinking!" Verse ConceptsFasting, Practice OfAsceticism, People PracticingPharisees, Beliefs OfPrayer, Practicalities OfDisciples Of John The BaptistEating And DrinkingWho Will FastFastingFasting And Prayer




and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 'Rabbi' for everybody. But do not allow yourselves to be called 'Rabbi,' for you have only one Father, the heavenly Father. And do not call any one Father, the heavenly Father. read more.
Nor must you allow yourselves to be called 'Leaders,' for you have only one Leader, the Christ.

Alas for you, Teachers of the Law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You pay tithes on mint, fennel, and caraway seed, and have neglected the weightier matters of the Law--justice, mercy, and good faith. These last you ought to have put into practice, without neglecting the first. Verse ConceptsFaithfulness, In Human Relationshipsethics, incentives towardsHerbs And SpicesJudaismLegalismMercy, HumanMind, Of ChristNeglectPharisees, Beliefs OfNeglecting God's ThingsNeglecting DutiesReligionSin, Nature OfUnforgivenessFormalityFinancial AdviceCumminSins Of OmissionFractions, One TenthTithesThe Need For MercyTithing ProduceHerbsHypocritesHypocrisypharisees

Alas for you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, hypocrites that you are! You scour land and sea to make a single convert, and, when he is gained, you make him twice as deserving of the Pit as you are yourselves. Verse ConceptsExploitationsJudaismMission, Of IsraelPharisees, Beliefs OfPassing OverSonsTravelHypocrites, Description OfGehennaProselytesSea TravelOnly One PersonDouble PenaltyCrossing To The Other SideHypocrisy

and to be greeted in the markets with respect, and to be called 'Rabbi' for everybody. Verse ConceptsGreetingsMarketsMarketplacesSpoken Greetingsrecognition

and like to have the place of honor at dinner, and the best seats in the Synagogues, Verse ConceptsBanquets, CharaceristicsMealsLoving Other ThingsSeeking Honourimportance

While they make up heavy loads and pile them on other men's shoulder's they decline, themselves, to lift a finger to move them. Verse ConceptsFingersYokesBindingJoining ThingsShouldersHeavy BurdensFingers Of PeopleNo Helprelaxationweight

Meanwhile Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest, And asked him to give him letters to the Jewish congregations at Damascus, authorizing him, if he found there any supporters of the Cause, whether men or women, to have them put in chains and brought to Jerusalem.







It was by this that the holy women of old, who rested their hopes on God, adorned themselves; submitting to their husbands, as Sarah did, who obeyed Abraham, and called him master. And you are her true children, as long as you live good lives, and let nothing terrify you.

Again, it was faith that enabled Sarah to conceive (though she was past the age for child-bearing), because she felt sure that he who had given her the promise would not fail her. Verse ConceptsGod, Faithfulness OfBarren WomendisabilitiesOffspringWeakness, SpiritualExploits Of FaithGod's Promise To AbrahamThe Promise Of A BabyPromises respectingHer Strengthfaith and strengthGod's FaithfulnessStrength And FaithWomen's Strengthsarahchildbearing



"Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas for you, Bethsaida! For, if the miracles which were done in you had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Yet, I tell you, the doom of Tyre and Sidon will be more bearable in the 'Day of Judgment' than yours.




While the boy was coming up to Jesus, the demon dashed him down and threw him into convulsions. But Jesus rebuked the foul spirit, and cured the boy, and gave him back to his father. Verse ConceptsRebukeSpiritsSatan, Work OfConvulsionsThose Jesus HealedSigns Of Possible Demon Possession

For Jesus was commanding the foul spirit to come out from the man. On many occasions it had seized him, and, even when secured with chains and fetters, and watched, he would break through anything that bound him, and be driven by the demon into the Wilds. Verse ConceptsChainsDemons, Nature OfRestlessnessSatan, Character OfIron ChainsLiving In The WildernessJesus Casting Out DemonsBreaking Chains

All at once a spirit will seize him, suddenly shriek out, and throw him into convulsions till he foams, and will leave him only when he is utterly exhausted. Verse ConceptsBruisesevil, origins ofSpiritsConvulsionsFoamsIndividuals ShoutingThose DemonisedLeaving People Alone








Then the Devil took him to the Holy City, and, placing him on the parapet of the temple, said to him: "If you are God's Son, throw yourself down, for Scripture says- -'He will give his angels commands about thee, And on their hands they will upbear thee, Lest ever thou shouldst strike thy foot against a stone.'"




I am writing, Fathers, to you, because you have learned to know him who has been from the Beginning. I am writing, Young Men, to you, because you have conquered the Evil One. I write, Children, to you, because you have learned to know the Father. Verse ConceptsGod, Fatherhood OfSatan, Character OfOvercomersVirtues Of Young PeopleSpiritual FathersWriting LettersStrong PeopleFrom The BeginningChildren And The KingdomChildren In The FaithOvercoming Through ChristThe FatherMan's Authority Over The DevilOvercomingDadsfatherhood


I urged Titus to go, and I sent our Brother with him. Did Titus take any advantage of you? Did not we live in the same Spirit, and tread in the same footsteps? Verse ConceptsSpirit, Nature OfThose Who Deceived