Thematic Bible


Thematic Bible







when any one heareth the doctrine of the gospel, and considers it not, then comes the wicked one, and catches away what was sown in his heart: he is the person meant by the high-way, where some of the seed was sown: but the stony ground, where other seed fell, denotes the man that heareth the word, and at first receives it with pleasure: but having no root in him he has only an occasional faith: for as soon as any oppression or persecution arises upon account of the gospel, he presently relapses. read more.
he that is meant by the thorny ground, where other seed fell, is one that heareth the word: which by cares of this life, and the deceitful love of riches, is soon stifled, and becomes unfruitful:

they who receiv'd seed by the wayside, are those in whom the word is sown, who no sooner have heard it, but satan comes and takes away the word that was sown in their hearts. in like manner, they who receive seed on stony-ground, are such as upon hearing the word, do immediately receive it with joy. but having no root at the bottom, they are only occasional professors, for if they meet with any trouble or persecution upon account of the word, immediately they revolt. read more.
as for those, who receive seed as among thorns: they are such as hear the word. but the cares of this life, the deceitful love of riches, and a crowd of different passions, stifle the word, and it becomes unfruitful.


For there are many, especially among the Jews, who are obstinate, vain talkers and deceivers; who ought to be curb'd, who pervert whole families, teaching things which they ought not, for sordid lucre. one of their own prophets said, "the Cretans are always liars, evil beasts, slow bellies." read more.
the charge is true: wherefore rebuke them sharply, that they maybe sound in the faith; not doating on Jewish Fables, and the tenets of men, that deviate from the truth. to the pure all things are pure: but to corrupt infidels nothing is pure; whose very mind and conscience is polluted. they make a profession of knowing God; but in fact they deny him, being execrably incredulous, and utter strangers to all virtue.


Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions.

by the beaten road is meant, they who only hear: the word, by the lurking wiles of the devil, being hinder'd from taking root in their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved. by the stony ground is understood such persons as receive indeed the doctrines they hear, with joy: but for want of resolution, believe only occasionally, and desert when the trial comes. the ground over-run with thorns denotes such as have embraced the doctrine, but are so immerst in the business, enjoyments, and pleasures of life, as not to improve it to any real advantage.

Jesus answered him, he that loves me, will observe my precepts: and my father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. he does not love me, who does not observe my precepts: for the doctrine which you have heard, is not mine, but the father's who sent me.


Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.



where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputant of this age? has not God prov'd the wisdom of this world to be downright folly. for whereas the world, with all their learning, did not distinguish the characters of his divine wisdom, in his works, it pleased God to save those who believe, by preaching, which they counted folly. while the Jews require signs, and the Greeks seek wisdom: read more.
we preach Christ crucified, an obstacle to the Jews indeed, and to the Gentiles foolishness: but to those who believe, both Jews and Gentiles, he is the Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God. for this divine doctrine, as foolish and weak as men may think it, far surpasses all their wisdom, and baffles all their power.


wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters. 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

If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances? Verse ConceptsMortificationAbolish, Evil ThingsChristian Liberty Is Freedom FromFormalityDying With ChristDead To SinElements Of The UniverseHuman Law



"this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. Verse ConceptsLipsHypocrites, Description OfEstrangementEvil HeartsLack Of MeaningMere TalkNot Praising GodHypocrisyPraising God With Your Lips


observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years. you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.



Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.



"this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. Verse ConceptsLipsHypocrites, Description OfEstrangementEvil HeartsLack Of MeaningMere TalkNot Praising GodHypocrisyPraising God With Your Lips


Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.


"this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. Verse ConceptsLipsHypocrites, Description OfEstrangementEvil HeartsLack Of MeaningMere TalkNot Praising GodHypocrisyPraising God With Your Lips




the prophecy of Esaias exactly suits such hypocrites as you; "this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. but in vain they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men."



where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputant of this age? has not God prov'd the wisdom of this world to be downright folly. Verse ConceptsPresent Evil AgePride, Examples OfThoughtReasoned ArgumentFalse WisdomFoolishness Of MenQuestioning GodAgemangirlfriendswise




wo unto you, Scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites, who pay tithe of mint, anise, and cummin, but neglect those more important matters of the law, justice, mercy, and fidelity: these were the things ye ought to have practis'd, without neglecting however the other matters. 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

If then you are dead with Christ, in respect of those shadows of the Jewish state; why do ye, as if you were still in that state, submit to those ordinances? Verse ConceptsMortificationAbolish, Evil ThingsChristian Liberty Is Freedom FromFormalityDying With ChristDead To SinElements Of The UniverseHuman Law



"this people, says he, draw nigh to me, they honour me with their lips: while their hearts are far from me. Verse ConceptsLipsHypocrites, Description OfEstrangementEvil HeartsLack Of MeaningMere TalkNot Praising GodHypocrisyPraising God With Your Lips


observing as you do, the days, the moons, the feasts and years. you make me apprehensive, that the labour I have bestowed upon you will be all in vain.


Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.


Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.

Whoever is a skilful moralist, let him show by his virtuous conduct, that he practises the humble precepts of wisdom. but if envy and contention imbitter your minds, don't think your false pretences can stand against the truth: such wisdom is not derived from heaven; but is terrestrial, sensual, demoniacal. read more.
where false zeal, and a spirit of contention reign, there confusion and every vice prevail.



However, what we preach is wisdom, to those who are thoroughly instructed: yet not the wisdom of this age, nor of the rulers of this age, who will soon come to nothing. Verse ConceptsMaturity, SpiritualMiddle AgePhilosophyStrength, HumanThoughtPerfectionPeople Passing AwayThe Present AgeWorldly WisdomNature Of KingsGod Gives WisdomPassing AwayMaturity

For tho' the doctrine of the cross seems folly to those that perish: yet we that are to be saved, do feel its energy is divine. for it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputant of this age? has not God prov'd the wisdom of this world to be downright folly.

let no man deceive himself: if any among you pretends to worldly wisdom, let him commence fool, in order to be truly wise. for the wisdom of this world is folly, in the eye of God: as it is written, "he surprizes the wise in all their artifices." and again, "the Lord knows, that the thoughts of the wise are vain." read more.
therefore, let no one glory in men: for all are yours: whether Paul or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; and you are Christ's; and Christ is God's.



Jesus answered, to such hypocrites as you may well be applied those words of the prophet Esaias, "this people honour me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the institutions of men." for laying aside what is of divine appointment, you stick to their human traditions, about the washing of pots, and cups, and many other the like practices. read more.
You are in the right, said he, to abolish the laws of God, to make way for such traditions. Moses said, "honour thy father and thy mother;" and, if any one speak contemptibly of his father, or his mother, let him be put to death. but your doctrine is this, if any one shall tell his father or his mother, that what he could bestow for their relief, is corban, that is, to be given to the temple; you discharge him from the obligation of doing any thing for his father or his mother. by such traditions, and such a number of practices, as you have settled, the word of God is stript of all its authority.