Rom. 11:11-24, Stumbling and Falling

In Rom. 11:11 Paul asks concerning Israel: have they stumbled that they should fall? His answer is, Certainly not! But through their fall, to provoke them to jealousy, salvation has come to the Gentiles.  What does this mean?  It is obviously possible to stumble and “fall” or “not fall,” as is the case with Israel. Further, the two words “fall” are related but different.   This study should help understand this critically important passage.  (We will list “piptō” in the next post.  It speaks of falling in a complete sense, used of people falling (bowing) before someone in total worship.  This is Paul’s question did they stumble so as to have a complete fall?

ptaiō (verb): to stumble, trip

·       Rom 11:11: did Israel "stumble" so as to fall (piptō)

·       James 2:10: stumble in one part of the law & you're guilty of all

·       Jas 3:2ab: we stumble in many things; he who doesn’t stumble in word is perfect

·       2Pt 1:10: make calling/election sure, do these things & you'll never stumble.

ptōsis (noun): falling, fall

·       Mt 7:27: great was the fall of the house on sand.  (This refers to falling.  But note that Jesus must qualify it, saying this fall was “great.”

·       Lk 2:34: Jesus destined to cause the fall & rise of many.

paraptōma (noun): false step, transgression, sin (This is that by which you stumble, the rock in the pathway. It may or may not result in a complete fall.)

·       Mt 6:14,15: if you forgive men their transgression your Father will forgive you; if not, he will not forgive your transgressions. (Mk 11:25,26).

·       Rom 4:25: Christ delivered up bec. of our offences, raised bec. of justification

·       Rom 5:15ab,16,17,18,20: free gift not like offence; by one man's offense many died; free gift came from many offenses resulted in justification; by one man's offense death reigned; as thru one man's offense judgment came to all; the law entered that the offense might abound.

·       Rom 11:11,12: the Jews "trespass" is for salvation of Gentiles; if the "trespass" is riches for the world how much more their fulfillment.  (I.e. as the passage goes on to say, Israel can, and will be, restored from this stumble.)

·       2 Cor 5:19: God in Christ reconciling world, not imputing their trespasses

·       Gal 6:1: bro overtaken by trespass to be restored by the spiritual

·       Eph 1:7: in Christ, forgiveness of sins

·       Eph 2:1,5: Christ made alive those dead in T's & sins; even when dead in T's we're made alive together w/Christ

·       Col 2:13ab: you being dead in T's, made alive w/Him having forgiven you all T's

parapiptō (verb): to fall beside or away

·       Heb. 6:6: impossible to renew to repentance if they fall away.  (They fall hard but they fall off to the side of the path, away from the path.)

2 Thess. 2:1-12, Some Revelations are Still Future

Some things that were hidden before have now been revealed.  The “Mystery of God” is a great illustration of this.  Paul was God’s tool for revealing this Mystery.  As Eph. 3, Col. 1, Rom. 16 tell us: these things were hidden in OT times but then revealed to the Church.  In today’s passages we see that Christ is revealed in the heart of the believer.  We can only affirm Christ as Lord by the Holy Spirit (1 Cor. 12:1ff).  And yet. we still await the fullest revelation of Jesus when He returns.  There is much yet that is hidden.  We do not put our faith and hope in Him because we know all there is to know, but rather because we know He is worthy of that faith and hope. 

apokaluptō (verb): to uncover, unveil, reveal

·       Mt 10:26: nothing covered that won't be revealed to apostles (Lk 12:2)

·       Mt 11:25: tho hidden fr wise God has revealed truth to babes (Lk 10:21)

·       Lk 11:27: none know Father except those to whom Son reveals (Lk 10:22)

·       Mt 16:17: Peters confession not revealed by men but by Father

·       Lk 2:35: bec of Christ thoughts of many hearts to be revealed

·       Lk 17:30: Sodom, Noah, will be same in day when Son of Man is revealed

·       Jn 12:38: Isa 53: to whom is arm of Lord revealed

·       Ro1:17,18: righteousness of God revealed fr faith to faith; wrath of God revealed fr. heaven against all wickedness.

·       Rom 8:18: suffering not worthy of comparison w/glory to be revealed in us

·       1Co 2:10: deep things revealed to us by God's Spirit

·       1Co 3:13: each mans work revealed by fire @ judgment seat

·       1Co 14:30: in church, if revelation made to someone, they 1st speaker to sit

·       Gal 1:16: God revealed his Son in Paul so he could preach

·       Gal 3:23: under law we were shut up to faith later to be revealed.

·       Eph 3:5: mystery (church) now revealed to apostles & prophets

·       Phil 3:15: if you have diff. attitude in anything God will reveal it to you

·       2Th 2:3,6,8: man of sin to be revealed bef. day of Lord. He is not w'held so he can be revealed in his time. Then lawless one to be revealed whom Christ will devour.

·       1Pt 1:5: Xians kept by power of God to salvation ready to be R at the last time

·       1Pt 1:12: Prophets in OT: revealed to them that they served us, not themselves.

·       IPt 5:1: Peter witness of Christ's suffering, partaker of glory to be revealed.

If you have been born again, Jesus Christ will be revealed in you in a deep way.  Like Peter (Mt. 16:17) and Paul (Gal. 1:16), you will know who He is in truth!

Psalm 70

Here is a simple song of “remembrance” (as the title says).  It seems to have no specific event in mind; it’s just the basics. Psalm 70 is almost word for word identical to Psalm 40:13-17. Perhaps 70 was a short prayer that David often prayed that seemed to fit the situation of Psalm 40. In other words, David didn't have to write some new thought every day. But he did want to come to the Lord in faith everyday. 

Psalm 70 is written in simple Hebrew poetic form.  Note the rhyming of ideas.

Hurry     Deliver me         Help me (v1)			Hurry     Deliver me Help me (v5)
	Against those who seek my life, desire my hurt and say “aha” (v2-3)	For those who seek you, love your salvation and say “Let God be magnified”         (v4)

We have seen in countless of the Psalms the prayer for God’s help and deliverance from the wicked.  These prayers come from a wide variety of situations, some of the psalmist’s own making and others where he is the innocent party.  But the prayers are similar: help me against those who are against you, and for the sake of your people as well as for me.

So Psalm 70 is for those of us who need it short and sweet.  Five verses to MEMORIZE that will fit in any situation in life.  Remember we face a terrible foe, a roaring lion who would love to devour us (Eph. 6:12; 1 Peter 5:8).  And ultimately our problems are bigger than us.  They involve those around us that they might not be hurt should we stumble.  And ultimately it is all about the glory of God.  His Name will be magnified if He is the one we call on in trouble.

Gal. 1:11-16, Present Day Revelation

This is an important study.  The key term is “apokalupsis” by which you might see the connection with the NT book of Revelation, commonly called the “Apocalypse.”  The essence of the second coming of Christ is that He is revealed for all to see and understand as to who He is.  All men will know.  This means that to a certain degree He was “hidden” from Men.  But it is not simply Jesus who is hidden, as you will see in these next 2 posts.  Consider: what was/is hidden?  Has it been or when will it be “revealed?”

apokruptō (verb): to hide, conceal

·       Lk 10:21: Jesus thanks Father for hiding fr. wise, revealing to babes.

·       1Co 2:7: we speak wisdom of God in mystery, hidden fr. princes of world, revealed to spiritual men by God (vs8-14)

·       Eph 3:9: the mystery, hidden fr. ages past, now manifested to universe

·       Col 1:26: the mystery, hidden fr. ages past, now manifested to saints.

apokruphos (adj): hidden

·       Mk 4:22: nothing hidden that won't be manifested (Lk 8:17)

·       Col 2:3: in Christ are hidden all treasures of wisdom & knowledge

Note: each use of above 2 words refers to something hidden that is to be revealed.  Who receives that info? Babes, spiritual men, saints.

apokalupsis: an uncovering, revelation

·       Lk 2:32: Jesus is a light of revelation to Gentiles.

·       Ro 2:5: wrath in day of wrath & revelation of righteous judgment of God

·       Ro 8:19: creation eagerly awaits the revelation of the sons of God

·       Ro 16:25: the revelation of the mystery hidden fr. ages past

·       1Co 1:7: Corinthians eagerly await R of our LJC

·       1Co 14:6: tongues useless w/o revelation, knowledge.

·       1Co 14:26: some have psalm, revelation, teaching, etc: do it for edification.

·       2Co 12:1,7: Paul speaks of revelations he has received

·       Gal 1:12: Paul rec'd gospel by revelation from Christ

·       Gal 2:2: Paul went to Jerusalem by revelation

·       Eph 1:17: Paul prays for Sp of wisdom, revelation in knowledge of Him

·       Eph 3:3: by revelation a mystery was made known to Paul

·       2Th 1:7: in day of rev. of Lord Jesus God will reward and deal out retribution

·       1Pt 1:7: rejoice in tribulation so your faith will praise God at rev. of Christ

·       1Pt 1:13: gird up minds, fix hope on grace to be brot at rev. of Jesus Christ

·       1Pt 4:13: as you share in X's suffering, rejoice so at revelation of X's glory you can rejoice w/exultation

·       Rev 1:1: the revelation of Jesus Christ to John.

1 Peter 1:3-9, Honor and Dishonor

·       Col 2:23: religious activity are of no value against indulgence of the flesh

·       1 Th. 4:4: possess your own vessel in sanctification and honor

·       1 Ti. 1:17; 6:16: to God be honor & glory forever

·       1 Tim. 5:17: elders who rule well worthy of double honor

·       1 Tim. 6:1: bondservants count masters worthy of honor so God not blasphemed

·       2 Tim. 2:20,21: house has items for honor and dishonor; be a vessel for honor

·       Hb. 2:7,9: Jesus crowned with glory and honor; 3:3: more glory than Moses just as builder has more honor than the house.

·       Hb. 5:4: No one takes honor of being priest to himself; God must call him

·       1 Pt. 1:7: faith tested so as to be found to honor at revelation of Christ

·       1 Pt. 2:7: to believers Jesus is precious

·       1 Pt. 3:7: husbands must give honor to wife as to weaker vessel

·       2 Pt. 1:17: Christ received honor & glory fr. Father at transfiguration

·       Rev. 4:9,11; 5:12,13; 7:12; 19:1: occasions when honor given to the Lord

·       Rev. 21:24,26: kings, nations bring their glory and honor into Holy City

timios (adj): as of great price, precious; esteemed

·       Ac. 5:34: Gamaliel was held in respect by all the people

·       Ac. 20:24: Paul does not count his life dear to himself

·       1 Cor. 3:12: building material for life include precious stones

·       Hb. 13:4: marriage is honorable among all

·       Jas. 5:7: be patient, like farmer who waits for precious fruit of earth

·       1 Pt. 1:7: genuineness of our faith needs to be more precious than gold

·       1 Pt. 1:19: purchased with precious blood of Christ

·       2 Pt. 1:4: we have been given exceedingly great and precious promises

·       Rev. 17:4: woman adorned with gold, precious stones

·       Rev. 18:12,16: trade on earth includes precious stones

·       Rev. 21:11:  light of heavenly city like a most precious stone

·       Rev. 21:19: walls of heavenly city adorned with precious stones

atimia (noun; word for “honor” with negative “a”): infamy, dishonor

·       Rom. 1:26: God gave up sinful men to vile passions.

·       Rom. 9:21: potter can make vessel for honor or dishonor from same lump of clay

·       1 Cor. 11:14: long hair is a dishonor to a man (male)

·       1 Cor. 15:43: our bodies sown in dishonor, raised in glory.

·       2 Cor. 6:8: Paul was known from situations of honor and dishonor

·       2 Cor. 11:21: to his shame Paul was too weak to honor himself

·       2 Tim. 2:20: in a big house there are some vessels for honor, some for dishonor

John 5:16-23, Honoring God!

To “honor” someone is to set a value or price on them.  Or, as someone once said, it is to put that person on the top shelf for all to see.  “Honor” and it’s opposite, “shame,” is a huge part of Biblical society and religion.  As you will see, it has nothing to do with flattery.  It required submission on the part of the one who seeks to honor another.

timaō (verb): to honor, value someone

·       Mt 15:4: God said "Honor father & mother" (Mk 7:10)

·       Mt 15:6: but Pharisees tradition allowed man not to honor ma & pa

·       Mt 15:8: Isaiah was right: they honor me w/lips, not hearts (Mk 7:6)

·       Mt 19:19: honor father & mother (to rich ruler) (Mk 10:19; Lk 18:20)

·       Mt 27ab:9: 30 pieces of silver = price of him that was valued (in other words, it is possible to dishonor someone through the way that you honor them; if I claim to honor Christ and yet do not submit to Him, then I actually dishonor Him; cf. Mt. 15:8 above).

·       Jn 5:23abcd: all should honor son as they honor Father. He that honors not Son honors not Father (this is such a powerful truth in this age in which we live; you cannot “praise God” without praising the Son; the Father’s will is that the Son be exalted, Phil. 2:9-11).

·       Jn 8:49: Jesus: "I honor my Father"

·       Jn 12:26: if any man serve Christ, the Father will honor him

·       Ac 28:10: mayor honored Paul w/honor

·       Eph 6:2: honor father & mother

·       1 Tim 5:3: honor widows that are widows indeed

·       1 Pet 2:17ab: honor all men; honor the king

timé (noun): the price, value ascribed to something/someone

·       Mt. 27:6,9: the price (30 pieces of silver) ascribed to Christ

·       Jn. 4:44: Jesus: a prophet has no honor in his own country

·       Ac. 4:34; 5:2,3: proceeds for sale of land, part of it held back by Ananias

·       Ac. 7:16: price of tomb Abraham purchased

·       Ac. 28:10: Paul, company honored by people of Malta

·       Rom. 2:7,10: honor from God for those who seek Him, do good (note: God ascribes a “value” for those who seek Him).

·       Rom. 9:21: potter can make vessel for honor and for dishonor from same lump

·       Rom. 12:10: in honor give preference to each other

·       Rom. 13:7: give honor to whom honor is due

·       1 Cor. 6:20; 7:23: we were bought with a price

·       1 Cor. 12:23,24: on less honorable members we bestow great honor

1 John 2:9-17, Lust or a Godly Desire? (2)

Again, note: how can we be sure we are led not by evil lusts but Godly desires?

·       2 Tim 4:3: time comes when they'll not endure sound doctrine but go after lusts

·       Titus 2:12: we should deny worldly lusts

·       Titus 3:3: we once served various lusts

·       Jas 1:14,15: man tempted when drawn away by lust; lust conceives, brings sin

·       1Pet 1:14: obedient children, not living acc. to former lusts

·       1 Pet 2:11: abstain from fleshly lusts

·       1 Pet 4:2,3: sufferers live his life in God's will, not for lusts of men; in time past we walked in lusts

·       2 Pt 1:4: corruption in the world through lust

·       2 Pt 2:10: judgment for those walking after flesh in lust of uncleanness

·       2 Pt 2:18: false teachers entice others through lust of the flesh

·       2 Pet 3:3: in last days scoffers, walking after their own lusts

·       1 Jn.2:16ab,17: lust of flesh, eyes are in world; world & lust passes away

·       Jude 16,18: murmurers & complainers, walking after their own lusts; in last time these heretics will walk after own ungodly lusts

·       Rev. 18:14: fruits thy soul hated are gone

epithumeō (verb): to lust, desire, long for

·       Mt. 5:28: whoever looks at a woman to lust has committed adultery with her

·       Mt. 13:17: many prophets, righteous men, desired to see what you see

·       Lk. 15:16: prodigal would gladly have filled his stomach with pig food

·       Lk. 16:21: Lazarus desiring to be fed with crumbs from rich man’s table

·       Lk. 17:22: days will come when disciples desire to see one of the days of the Son of Man and will not see it

·       Lk. 22:15: Jesus: "with desire (noun form) I have desired to eat Passover w/you"

·       Ac. 20:33: Paul: “I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or apparel

·       Rom. 7:7: Paul would not have known covetousness had law not said, “You shall not covet.”

·       Rom. 13:9: commandments: “You shall not covet.”

·       1 Cor. 10:6: OT stories are example so we should not lust after evil as they lusted (only use of “epithumetes,´one who craves).

·       Gal. 5:17: flesh lusts against the Spirit.

·       1 Tim. 3:1: if a man desires (Grk. oregō) office of bishop he desires a good work

·       Hb. 6:11: writer desires readers to be diligent to the end

·       Jas. 4:2: you lust and do not have

·       1 Pt. 1:12: angels desire to look into things Peter is speaking of

·       Rev. 9:6: in those days men will desire to die but death will flee from them

Gal. 5:16-26, Lust or a Godly Desire? (1)

Having considered “covetousness” let’s consider “lust.”  he first use of the term “epithumia” to start our thinking: “Now these are the ones sown among thorns; they are the ones who hear the word, and the cares of this world, the deceitfulness of riches, and the desires for other things entering in choke the word, and it becomes unfruitful” (Mark 4:18-19).

There are legitimate “cares” in this life (1 Cor. 7:32; cf. post on Aug. 26-27, 2025).  Likewise, riches can be used to do good and store up a good foundation in heaven (1 Tim. 6:18-19)..  Likewise, “other things” are not necessarily sinful.  The issue Jesus says is the “desire” for other things.  What desire?  The word Jesus used is “lust/epithumia.”  If I say “lust” (and that is translation translation of this word) you think sin.  But there are at least three uses where this word is a good desire: Luke 22:15, Phil. 1:23, and 1 Th. 2:17.

Thus, we must see “desire” as seated in the soul or heart.  The Christian can only follow his heart if he knows it is submitted to Christ.  Yet they did not obey or incline their ear, but followed the counsels and the dictates of their evil hearts, and went backward and not forward (Jer. 7:24).  God did not make us to be lifeless-zombies.  “Desire” is a critical part of life.  This can be a powerful study as you note how a believer can live a life that pleases God. 

epithumia (fem. noun): lust, desire, longing (usually but not always evil)

·       Mk.4:19: the lusts of other things choke the word

·       Lk.22:15: Jesus: "with desire I have desired (verb form) to eat Passover w/you"

·       Jn.8:44: Jesus to Jews: the lusts of your father (Satan) you will do

·       Rom.1:24: man unclean thru lust of his heart

·       Rom.6:12: don't let sin rule that you obey its lusts

·       Rom 7:7,8: I would not have known coveting if law didn't say don't covet (verb form); but sin made me covet

·       Rom 13:14: put on Christ, make no provision for flesh to fulfill it's lusts

·       Gal.5:16: walk in Spirit & you won't fulfill lust of flesh

·       Gal 5:24: Christians have crucified flesh w/its affections & lusts

·       Eph 2:3: time past lived a life in lusts of flesh

·       Eph 4:22: put off old man who is corrupt acc. to deceitful lusts

·       Phil 1:23: Paul's desire to be with Christ

·       Col 3:5: mortify your members: fornication....evil desires....etc

·       1 Th. 2:17: Paul's great desire to see their faces

·       1 Th 4:5: possess vessel w/honor, not in lust of sensuality

·       1 Tim 6:9: rich fall into many hurtful lusts

·       2 Tim 2:22: flee youthful lusts

·       2 Tim 3:6: silly women laden w/sin, led away w/various lusts

Luke 12:13-21, Beware of Covetousness

Here is a family of words for meditation, but only if you are willing to exercise repentance.  These are the “coveteous” words.

pleonekteō: take advantage of, defraud, cheat

·       2 Cor 2:11: forgive lest Satan take advantage of you; we know his devices

·       2 Cor 7:2: receive us; we have defrauded no man

·       2 Cor 12:17-18: did I make a gain of you from the offering? Did Titus make a gain?

·       1 Th 4:6: that no man defraud his bro in any matter

pleonektés: one who is greedy, a covetous person

·       1 Cor 5:10-11: you must be w/the covetous of this world; but not w/a so called brother who is covetous one

·       1 Cor 6:10: covetous shall not inherit the kingdom of God

·       Eph 5:5: no covetous man has inheritance in K of Christ or God (he is an idolator)

pleonexia: greediness, covetousness, avarice

·       Mk.7:22: covetousness, etc. comes from within a man, heart

·       Lk.12:15: beware of covetousness; life not in abundance of things one possesses

·       Rom 1:29: covetousness in list of sins of mankind

·       2 Cor 9:5: Paul wants offering as result of liberality, not covetousness

·       Eph 4:19: gentiles work all uncleanness w/greediness

·       Eph 5:3: covetousness: let it not once be named among you

·       Col 3:5: mortify members on earth: etc, covetousness which is idolatry

·       1 Th 2:5: Paul's words not flattery, as a cloak of covetousness

·       2 Pet 2:3: false teachers, through covetousness, make merchandise of them

·       2 Pet 2:14: they exercise their hearts with covetousness

Vincent notes that it has a "wider and deeper sense" than just a desire for money, describing it as an "eager grasping after more and more" of anything—including uncleanness or other evils.

A related term is philargyria, used once in the NT (1 Tim. 6:10: For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil).  Literally it combines “philos” (love) and “arguros” (silver). 

Key thought here is that “covetousness” is idolatry!  We don’t have statues of wood or precious metal, but covetousness describes the essence of idolatry in all ages: a desire to have something other than what God provides.  Put this attitude to death, so that it is not once named among the people of Christ.