Year: 2014

Bible Term: Lord’s Prayer

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Jesus‘ disciples saw that prayer was an important part of his life and work. They realized he prayed in a new and fresh way, not the stale and ritualistic way they had been taught.

Though the prayer that Jesus taught to them is commonly called the Lord’s Prayer (or the “Our Father”), a more accurate label would be “the disciple’s prayer,” since it was a prayer for the disciples, not Jesus, to pray.

Some people recite the prayer as it is recorded in the Bible, whereas others use it as a template for prayer or illustrative example.

The prayer is simple and succinct; it is:

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, you will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen.”

The Lord’s Prayer is recorded in Matthew 6:9-13; an alternate version is in Luke 11:2-4.

A lifelong student of the Bible, Peter DeHaan, PhD, wrote the 1,000-page website ABibleADay.com to encourage people to explore the Bible. His main blog and many books urge Christians to push past the status quo and reconsider how they practice their faith in every area of their lives.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Loose

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Loose literally means not fastened, restrained, contained, fixed, or rigid. A secondary understanding is to release from obligation or to absolve.

In Bible times, a yoke was essentially a Rabbi‘s teaching of what was prohibited and what was allowed, according to his interpretation of Scripture. The process of determining what things were allowed was the act of “losing.” To “lose” something was to allow it, that is, to let it go. To “loose” implies freedom.

Since Jesus‘ yoke was light, there must have been many things that he had “loosed.”

Contrast to bind.

Key verse about Loose: I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Matthew 16:19, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Leviathan

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The leviathan is an unknown marine animal that is referenced in the Old Testament of the Bible. It’s mentioned three times in Job, twice in Psalms, and once in Isaiah.

It’s precise identity is debated. Suggestions include a mythical sea creature or a crocodile. It’s described in some translations as a sea beast (in Job) or a serpent (Isaiah). Regardless, it was respected for its massive power and might.

Key verse about Leviathan: “Can you pull in Leviathan with a fishhook or tie down its tongue with a rope? ( Job 41:1, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Letter

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The New Testament contains many letters written by church leaders to various groups or people. See epistle for more information.

Key verse about Letter: So the men were sent off and went down to Antioch, where they gathered the church together and delivered the letter. Acts 15:30, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Leprosy

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Leprosy is a mildly contagious, progressive skin disease that until recently could not be treated and as such would lead to permanent damage of skin, nerves, eyes, and appendages.

In biblical times, because of a lack of treatment and its infectious nature, the Jewish law contained strict guidelines for how leprosy and lepers would be handled.

People with leprosy were segregated from the general population and were required to call out “unclean” when other people approached them.

It is noteworthy that Jesus healed many lepers, as did the prophet Elisha (2 Kings 5).

Key verse about Leprosy: She said to her mistress, “If only my master would see the prophet who is in Samaria! He would cure him of his leprosy” ( 2 Kings 5:3, NIV)

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Legalistic

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The words legalistic and legalism are not found in most translations of the Bible (Philippians 3:6 is a notable exception), however the concept of legalism and legalist practices are found throughout the Bible, especially the New Testament.

Essentially, legalism is to strictly follow a set code of behavior (that is, laws or rules) at the expense of something more important, such as loving God or treating others right.

In the Bible, the Jews, especially the leaders, were criticized for their legalistic behavior. This was all the more prevalent in the New Testament, where Jesus was particularly harsh on the Jewish leaders (the Pharisees and the Sadducees).

For some examples, see Mark 7:8-13, Luke 11:42, and Matthew 23:16-28.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Leaven

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

Leaven is a food ingredient that causes dough to rise via fermentation. Yeast is a common leavening ingredient.

Use of the word leaven is found mostly in the Books of Moses in the Old Testament, whereas yeast is used throughout the Bible.

See the entry for yeast for more information about the symbolic meaning of leaven and yeast, us well as unleavened.

Key verse about Leaven: Burn leavened bread as a thank offering and brag about your freewill offerings— boast about them, you Israelites, for this is what you love to do,” declares the Sovereign Lord (Amos 4:5, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Law of Moses

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Law of Moses is more correctly the Law of God, which God revealed to Moses. Although this law came from God, it’s sometimes attributed to Moses as he was the one who documented it and communicated it to the Israelites.

The Law of Moses is recorded in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, forming the basis of belief for the Jewish people.

Jesus, however, came to fulfill this law (Matthew 5:17).

Key verse about Law of Moses: as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings (Joshua 8:31, NIV).

Also see the books of Moses.

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Law of God

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

The Law of God is a set of rules, commands, and instructions which God revealed to Moses. God gave the law, whereas Moses was the one who documented it and communicated it to the Israelites. As such, the Law of God is sometimes referred to as the Law of Moses.

The Law of God is recorded in the books of Leviticus and Deuteronomy, forming the basis of belief for the Jewish people.

Jesus, however, came to fulfill this law (Matthew 5:17).

Key verse about Law of God: They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people understood what was being read, Nehemiah 8:8, NIV).

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Bible Terms

Bible Term: Law

Post author By Peter DeHaan
Post date February 3, 2014

In the Bible, Law is used narrowly to refer to the Ten Commandments and more broadly to represent the entire body of commands and instructions given to Moses by God for the Israelites to follow.

Some people (such as the Hebrews in the Old Testament) follow the Law with a legalistic fervor, with their relationship to God becoming a list of dos and don’ts. This wasn’t what God intended or wanted from them.

Jesus said he came, not to replace the law but to fulfill it (Matthew 5:17). This signaled an change of perspective away from the letter of the law to the intent behind it.

Also, see Law of Moses / Law of God.

Key verse about Law: This observance will be for you like a sign on your hand and a reminder on your forehead that this law of the Lord is to be on your lips. For the Lord brought you out of Egypt with his mighty hand (Exodus 13:9, NIV)

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