Scriptures3

Understanding Scriptures ( Pg. 3)

"Take it For Nothing"
Genesis 23:11-16

When Ephron the Hittite offered his field to Abraham as a burial place for Sarah, he said, "I give it to thee."; but doubtless, with just as much intention of doing so as the Arab dealers of today when they say, "Take it for nothing.". The Hittite finally charged Abraham far more for the field than it was worth. Today, in Eastern lands, when a customer prices an article, the dealer will usually reply. "Take it for nothing. I shall be happy to make you a present of it.". By this they mean that they expect a present back of far greater value. The best thing to do if one is interested in an article to purchase, is to push it aside indifferently. Then the seller most always will name a price somewhat near it's value. They usually keep the best items in the background, & only bring them out when the inferior goods don't sell.

"The Sabbath was Made for Man"
Mark 2:27

Christ said, "The Sabbath was made for man and not man for the Sabbath.". The weekly day of rest was one of God's beautiful plans for man's mental & physical rest from labor, & a time to cultivate his spiritual nature & communion with God. It began at sunset on Friday & ended at sunset on Saturday. By the time Christ came to earth, the rabbis (teachers of the law) had added so many ridiculous regulations that it became more strenuous to keep the Sabbath than it was to work. Some examples of the 'rules' were: the greatest weight anyone could carry on the Sabbath was less than the weight of a dried fig; women could not look in a mirror for she me see a white hair & be tempted to remove it, which would be labor; one couldn't begin anything new just before the Sabbath,

"He Wrote on the Ground"
John 8:6

"Jesus stooped down, & with his finger, wrote on the ground." This is still a common practice today. It is the way Bedouins pass idle time, calculate sales or describe something to someone.

"A White Stone"
Revelation 2:17

"I will give him a white stone...". There was a custom, that if a man sins against a young woman, he must be put to death. However, sometimes people would accept 'blood money' & the culprit would go free. Afterwards, he would live in a white tent, or ride a white camel & have a large white stone in front of his tent. This was a sign that he had been forgiven & no one was to harm him. The price had been paid!

"Little Children"
II Kings 2:23

As Elisha went up from Bethel 'there came forth little children out of the city & mocked him'. The Hebrew word here, does not mean little children any more than does the word used by the Lord in John 21:5. Then Jesus said to them, "Children, have ye any meat?". Both terms have a general meaning that is no doubt, young men.

"Hands of the Masters"
Psalm 123:2

"As the eyes of servants look unto their masters, and the eyes of the maidens unto the hand of her mistress; so our eyes wait upon the Lord, our God." In Palestine, a servant is summoned, not by calling, but by clapping the hands. The master uses his hands to show what is required of the servant by gestures, never speaking a word. The servant must watch closely, or they will fail in service. This is a beautiful illustration of the relationship that should exist between the Lord & His servants.

"Kicking Against the Pricks"
Acts 26:14

"Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me? It is hard for you to kick against the pricks." The plowman in Bible lands carries a long pole (goad) with a sharp metal point, or prick, on one end, & a flat piece of iron on the other end that is used to clean the plowshare. Young oxen not fully trained will often kick while plowing because he doesn't like his job. The plowman will then hold his goad at such an angle that the oxen will kick the prick and learn it doesn't pay. Paul learned it didn't pay to go against the plan of God.

"Iniquities like a heavy burden"
Psalm 38:4

In Palestine, one can hardly picture the size of the burdens a porter (atal) carries without seeing it. Oftentimes he will carry even a piano on his back for long distances. He cannot easily put the burden down to rest til he reaches his destination. If he requires a rest, he will get a wayfarer to shoulder the load for a short time to give him a short rest. This is what Galatians 6:2 means when it says, "Bear ye one another's burdens." In Galations 6:5 it says, "for every man shall bear his own burden." This sounds like a contradiction, but not so. In verse 2, the word is baros, meaning a very heavy burden like the porter carries. In verse 5, the word is phortion, a light burden that anyone can carry in their hand. In other words, we are to bear the heavy burdens of someone to give them a rest, but are not to dump on anyone, the burdens we can handle ourselves.

"As Trees Walking"
Mark 8:24

In Bible lands, it is a sight to see people & animals carrying a load of brushwood, thorn bushes or branches. The load is so large one can't see what's carrying it. If it's a donkey, all that is seen is the lower part of it's little legs. The half restored sight of the man Jesus healed didn't allow him to see clearly enough to detect the burden bearer until Jesus touched him the second time.

"Redemption of the Purchased Possession"
Ephesians 1:13, 14

"Ye are sealed with the Holy Spirit of promise until.........the redemption of the purchased possession." The seal is a large wooden instrument, 20 inches or longer, and has the symbol of the owner engraved on it. When a man goes to market & purchases a large amount of grain, he carefully impresses the grain on all four sides with his seal. The seal makes it impossible for his grain to be stolen without breaking the seal & protects it until he gets it home. The Bible says that God does this same thing for His redeemed ones, until He removes them to the Owner's house. "After ye have believed, ye were sealed with the Holy Ghost of promise, which is the earnest (pledge) of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of His glory."