Thematic Bible: Works


Thematic Bible



And whether the building which any one is erecting on that foundation be of gold or silver or costly stones, of timber or hay or straw-- the true character of each individual's work will become manifest. For the day of Christ will disclose it, because that day is soon to come upon us clothed in fire, and as for the quality of every one's work-- the fire is the thing which will test it. If any one's work--the building which he has erected--stands the test, he will be rewarded. read more.
If any one's work is burnt up, he will suffer the loss of it; yet he will himself be rescued, but only, as it were, by passing through the fire.


It is impossible for the world to hate you; but me it does hate, because I give testimony concerning it that its conduct is evil. Verse ConceptsHatredPersecution, Forms OfSatan, Kingdom OfSuffering, Of Jesus ChristThe Witness Of ChristAll NationsHating GodNot HatingUnable To Do Other ThingsWorld Opposed To God


You are doing the deeds of your father." "We," they replied, "are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God." Verse ConceptsImitating Wicked PeopleAvoid Immorality

(For their lawless deeds were torture, day after day, to the pure soul of that righteous man--all that he saw and heard whilst living in their midst.) Verse ConceptsLawlessnessPainUnceasingContinual Hardship














King Herod heard of all this (for the name of Jesus had become widely known) Verse ConceptsPower, God's SavingSuperstitionTetrarchWho He Might BeWhy It Happened

Now John had heard in prison about the Christ's doings, and he sent some of his disciples to inquire: Verse ConceptsPrisonersHearing About ChristDisciples Of John The BaptistChrist's WorkDiscipleshipjail

Then began He to upbraid the towns where most of His mighty works had been done--because they had not repented. Verse ConceptsRepentance, Importance Of

And He came into His own country and proceeded to teach in their synagogue, so that they were filled with astonishment and exclaimed, "Where did he obtain such wisdom, and these wondrous powers? Verse ConceptsPower, God's SavingSabbath, In NtTownAmazement, Of Jesus ChristTeaching WisdomChrist's WisdomChrist TeachingWhere From?

On the Sabbath He proceeded to teach in the synagogue; and many, as they heard Him, were astonished. "Where did he acquire all this?" they asked. "What is this wisdom that has been given to him? And what are these marvellous miracles which his hands perform? Verse ConceptsAbility, Of ChristSabbath, In NtSynagogueAmazement, Of Jesus ChristChrist's WisdomChrist TeachingOn The SabbathWhere From?Teaching Wisdom

And when He was now getting near Jerusalem, and descending the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began in their joy to praise God in loud voices for all the mighty deeds they had witnessed. Verse ConceptsMiracles, Responses ToPraise, Examples OfThe Disciples ReactionsSpecific Praising Of God

"But the testimony which I have is weightier than that of John; for the work the Father has assigned to me for me to bring it to completion--the very work which I am doing--affords testimony concerning me that the Father has sent me. Verse ConceptsThe Completion Of RedemptionCompletionWitnesses, To Jesus ChristDoing God's WorksGod Giving To The SonInteraction Of Father And Son

"I have told you," answered Jesus, "and you do not believe. The deeds that I do in my Father's name--they give testimony about me. Verse ConceptsAffirmative ActionWitnesses, To Jesus ChristSkepticismNot Believing The GospelRelationship Of Father And SonIn God's NameBelieving In Yourself



It is impossible for the world to hate you; but me it does hate, because I give testimony concerning it that its conduct is evil. Verse ConceptsHatredPersecution, Forms OfSatan, Kingdom OfSuffering, Of Jesus ChristThe Witness Of ChristAll NationsHating GodNot HatingUnable To Do Other ThingsWorld Opposed To God


You are doing the deeds of your father." "We," they replied, "are not illegitimate children. We have one Father, namely God." Verse ConceptsImitating Wicked PeopleAvoid Immorality

(For their lawless deeds were torture, day after day, to the pure soul of that righteous man--all that he saw and heard whilst living in their midst.) Verse ConceptsLawlessnessPainUnceasingContinual Hardship

"Then the King will say to those at His right, "'Come, my Father's blessed ones, receive your inheritance of the Kingdom which has been divinely intended for you ever since the creation of the world. For when I was hungry, you gave me food; when I was thirsty, you gave me drink; when I was homeless, you gave me a welcome; when I was ill-clad, you clothed me; when I was sick, you visited me; when I was in prison, you came to see me.' read more.
"'When, Lord,' the righteous will reply, 'did we see Thee hungry, and feed Thee; or thirsty, and give Thee drink? When did we see Thee homeless, and give Thee a welcome? or ill-clad, and clothe Thee? When did we see Thee sick or in prison, and come to see Thee?' "But the King will answer them, "'In solemn truth I tell you that in so far as you rendered such services to one of the humblest of these my brethren, you rendered them to myself.'

What good is it, my brethren, if a man professes to have faith, and yet his actions do not correspond? Can such faith save him? Suppose a Christian brother or sister is poorly clad or lacks daily food, and one of you says to them, "I wish you well; keep yourselves warm and well fed," and yet you do not give them what they need; what is the use of that? read more.
So also faith, if it is unaccompanied by obedience, has no life in it--so long as it stands alone. Nay, some one will say, "You have faith, I have actions: prove to me your faith apart from corresponding actions and I will prove mine to you by my actions. You believe that God is one, and you are quite right: evil spirits also believe this, and shudder." But, idle boaster, are you willing to be taught how it is that faith apart from obedience is worthless? Take the case of Abraham our forefather.

This is a faithful saying, and on these various points I would have you insist strenuously, in order that those who have their faith fixed on God may be careful to set an example of good actions. For these are not only good in themselves, but are also useful to mankind. Verse ConceptseagernessProfitsWork, And RedemptionProfitable ThingsFaithful SayingsBelief In GodDo Good!Useful ThingsWorks Of FaithAnxiety And StressWork Ethic


Impress on those who are rich in the present age that they must not be haughty nor set their hopes on riches--that unstable foundation--but on God who provides us richly with all things for our enjoyment. They must be beneficent, rich in noble deeds, open-handed and liberal;



But we, even while we speak in this tone, have a happier conviction concerning you, my dearly-loved friends--a conviction of things which point towards salvation. For God is not unjust so that He is unmindful of your labour and of the love which you have manifested towards Himself in having rendered services to His people and in still rendering them.




Jesus remonstrated with them. "Many good deeds," He said, "have I shown you as coming from the Father; for which of them are you going to stone me?" Verse ConceptsKnowing God, Nature OfDoing God's WorksFear Of StoningThe Father



She must have been true to her one husband, and well reported of for good deeds, as having brought up children, received strangers hospitably, washed the feet of God's people, given relief to the distressed, and devoted herself to good works of every kind. Verse ConceptsFoot washingFeet Washingethics, personalProperty, HousesReputationSaintsAfflicted, Duty To ThemHospitalityWives, DressTravellersLoving ForeignersClean FeetCare Of FeetDoing GoodRaising ChildrenHelping Those In NeedPetsGrandmothers


So He said to them, "A man of noble family travelled to a distant country to obtain the rank of king, and to return. And he called ten of his servants and gave each of them a pound, instructing them to trade with the money during his absence. "Now his countrymen hated him, and sent a deputation after him to say, 'We are not willing that he should become our king.' read more.
And upon his return, after he had obtained the sovereignty, he ordered those servants to whom he had given the money to be summoned before him, that he might learn their success in trading. "So the first came and said, "'Sir, your pound has produced ten pounds more.' "'Well done, good servant,' he replied; 'because you have been faithful in a very small matter, be in authority over ten towns.' "The second came, and said, "'Your pound, Sir, has produced five pounds.' "So he said to this one also, "'And you, be the governor of five towns.' "The next came. "'Sir,' he said, 'here is your pound, which I have kept wrapt up in a cloth. For I was afraid of you, because you are a severe man: you take up what you did not lay down, and you reap what you did not sow.' "'By your own words,' he replied, 'I will judge you, you bad servant. You knew me to be a severe man, taking up what I did not lay down, and reaping what I did not sow: why then did you not put my money into a bank, that when I came I might have received it back with interest? "And he said to those who stood by, "'Take the pound from him and give it to him who has the ten pounds.' ("They said to him, "`Sir, he already has ten pounds.') "'I tell you that to every one who has anything, more shall be given; and from him who has not anything, even what he has shall be taken away. But as for those enemies of mine who were unwilling that I should become their king, bring them here, and cut them to pieces in my presence.'"

So when they had received it, they grumbled against the employer, saying, "'These who came last have done only one hour's work, and you have put them on a level with us who have worked the whole day and have borne the scorching heat.' "'My friend,' he answered to one of them, 'I am doing you no injustice. Did you not agree with me for a shilling? read more.
Take your money and go. I choose to give this last comer just as much as I give you. Have I not a right to do what I choose with my own property? Or are you envious because I am generous?'

"But give me your judgement. There was a man who had two sons. He came to the elder of them, and said, "'My son, go and work in the vineyard to-day.' "'I will not,' he replied. "But afterwards he was sorry, and went. He came to the second and spoke in the same manner. His answer was, "'I will go, Sir.' "But he did not go. read more.
Which of the two did as his father desired?" "The first," they said. "I solemnly tell you,' replied Jesus, "that the tax-gatherers and the notorious sinners are entering the Kingdom of God in front of you.

"Why, it is like a man who, when going on his travels, called his bondservants and entrusted his property to their care. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one--to each according to his individual capacity; and then started from home. Without delay the one who had received the five talents went and employed them in business, and gained five more. read more.
In the same way he who had the two gained two more. But the man who had received the one went and dug a hole and buried his master's money. "After a long lapse of time the master of those servants returned, and had a reckoning with them. The one who had received the five talents came and brought five more, and said, "'Sir, it was five talents that you entrusted to me: see, I have gained five more.' "'You have done well, good and trustworthy servant,' replied his master; 'you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.' "The second, who had received the two talents, came and said, "'Sir, it was two talents you entrusted to me: see, I have gained two more.' "'Good and trustworthy servant, you have done well,' his master replied; 'you have been trustworthy in the management of a little, I will put you in charge of much: share your master's joy.' "But, next, the man who had the one talent in his keeping came and said, "'Sir, I knew you to be a severe man, reaping where you had not sown and garnering what you had not winnowed. So being afraid I went and buried your talent in the ground: there you have what belongs to you.' "'You wicked and slothful servant,' replied his master, 'did you know that I reap where I have not sown, and garner what I have not winnowed? Your duty then was to deposit my money in some bank, and so when I came I should have got back my property with interest. So take away the talent from him, and give it to the man who has the ten.' (For to every one who has, more shall be given, and he shall have abundance; but from him who has nothing, even what he has shall be taken away.)

And He gave them the following parable. "A man," He said, "who had a fig-tree growing in his garden came to look for fruit on it and could find none. So he said to the gardener, "'See, this is the third year I have come to look for fruit on this fig-tree and cannot find any. Cut it down. Why should so much ground be actually wasted?' "But the gardener pleaded, "'Leave it, Sir, this year also, till I have dug round it and manured it. read more.
If after that it bears fruit, well and good; if it does not, then you shall cut it down.'"

So also the right actions of some are evident to the world, and those that are not cannot remain for ever out of sight. Verse ConceptsThings Manifestdeeds


But he who looks closely into the perfect Law--the Law of freedom--and continues looking, he, being not a hearer who forgets, but an obedient doer, will as the result of his obedience be blessed. Verse ConceptsBeing A BlessingBeing Blesseddiscipleship, benefits ofPerfection, DivineReward, DivineSanctification, Means And ResultsScripture, Sufficiency OfHearing God's WordForgetting ThingsGod Will BlessThe Law Of ChristOne's DeedsChristian LibertyFreedom