Everand Logo

Welcome to Everand!

  • Discover millions of ebooks, audiobooks, and so much more with a free trial

    Only $11.99/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

    Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees
    Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees
    Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees
    Ebook132 pages1 hour

    Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees

    By Shirley Stephens

    ()

    Read preview

    About this ebook

    Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees presents ten conversations of Jesus with the Pharisees and their scribes who were considered to be experts in the interpretation of the Old Testament Scriptures. The conversations reveal Jesus’ passionate attempts to connect with these leaders who opposed his teachings and his mission from the moment he arrived on the religious scene. While he conversed with the Pharisees, Jesus taught great truths about the Christian faith that continue to inform and inspire.
    The author presents Jesus' conversations in dialog fashion, using fiction techniques to enliven the text while remaining true to the biblical account. The presentations take into account the cultural and political background of the period and places.
    Following the account of each conversation are interactive learning exercises that can be completed individually or in a group setting. This book is a handy tool for group and individual Bible study.

    Contents:

    Introduction: Conversation: A Way to Connect

    Conversation 1: Why Am I Here?
    Reflection 1
    Conversation 2: When Will the Kingdom of God Come?
    Reflection 2
    Conversation 3: What Must I Do to Obtain Eternal Life?
    Reflection 3
    Conversation 4: Is It Lawful to Heal on the Sabbath?
    Reflection 4
    Conversation 5: Why Do You Eat with Sinners?
    Reflection 5
    Conversation 6: Why Don’t You Wash Your Hands?
    Reflection 6
    Conversation 7: Who Is My Neighbor?
    Reflection 7
    Conversation 8: What Is Blasphemy of the Holy Spirit?
    Reflection 8
    Conversation 9: What Sign Will You Give Us?
    Reflection 9
    Conversation 10: Born Again? How Can This Happen?
    Reflection 10

    What Happened Next?

    Scripture Index
    Subject Index
    Glossary of Terms
    About the Author
    Links to Other Books by Shirley St ephens

    LanguageEnglish
    PublisherShirley Stephens
    Release dateJan 16, 2015
    ISBN9780986341274
    Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees
    Author

    Shirley Stephens

    Shirley Stephens has written and edited over a period of thirty-plus years. She is a graduate of Grand Canyon University, Phoenix, Arizona, and Southwestern Seminary, Fort Worth, Texas. She is the author of eleven books and countless articles. Books to her credit: My Daughter Susan Smith, the story of a troubled young mother who sent her children to their deaths in a South Carolina lake; Under the SS Shadow, the true story of a former Hitler Youth and the son of an SS major; A New Testament View of Women, a detailed exegesis of all of the New Testament passages that deal specifically with the role of women; Breaking Crime's Vicious Cycle, the gripping, true-life story of hardened criminal Don Dennis and his conversion and transformation into a life of service to inmates; From the Cell to the Cross, an update of Breaking Crime's Vicious Cycle; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Women presents, in dialog fashion, nine truths that Jesus taught women; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Men presents, in dialog fashion, eleven truths that Jesus taught men; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees presents, in dialog fashion ten truths that Jesus taught Pharisees; Great Truths from One Woman's Conversations With the Apostle Paul presents, in dialog fashion, nine teachings of Paul on the role of women in the home, church and society; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With the Apostle Peter presents, in dialog fashion, nine truths that Jesus taught the Apostle Peter; Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With the Apostle John presents, in dialog fashion, Jesus' letters to the seven churches of Revelation.

    Read more from Shirley Stephens

    Related to Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees

    Related ebooks

    Christianity For You

    View More
    View More

    Related podcast episodes

    Related articles

    • Article

      The Parables Of Jesus

      Jun 16, 2023

      The Parables Of Jesus
      4 min read

    • Article

      (Extra)ordinary Women

      Jan 24, 2020

      (Extra)ordinary Women
      2 min read

    • Article

      CHARACTERS OF THE BIBLE Jonah

      Jun 15, 2020

      We like to throw around the term “man of God” today, with the implication that such a person is mighty, anointed by God, and spiritually superior to all others. Often, people love to call themselves a “prophet” for similar reasons. They believe that

      3 min read

    • Article

      Wrapping Our Prayers Around The Immigration Crisis

      Oct 22, 2019

      Strongly held convictions about immigration crises around the world can polarize and divide people. But prayer that seeks God’s answers brings less stridency and more listening, opens the door to wise and balanced solutions, and lifts thoughts from f

      3 min read

    • Article

      Trump’s God Machine

      Jun 4, 2016

      Trump’s God Machine
      9 min read

    • Article

      The Great Upholder

      Mar 16, 2021

      The Great Upholder
      1 min read

    • Article

      How Well Do You Actually Know Your Bible?

      Aug 7, 2020

      The Bible is the handbook for Christianity. It includes every single instruction that we need d in in this this w world to survive. It is the only book that we have directly from God. You would think that as Christians ians who who have have spent ye

      1 min read

    • Article

      In LGBT-Welcoming Britain, Church of England Tries to Find Its Path

      Dec 22, 2017

      Anglican membership in Britain has shrunk radically in recent decades, particularly among youth. One cause is Britons' embrace of LGBT issues, which has outpaced the church's. But the church's efforts to respond are causing internal tensions.

      4 min read

    • Article

      Wednesday, September 15

      Aug 14, 2021

      ON A RECENT VISIT TO my mom’s house, we were talking quietly one evening when the dogs started barking. I looked out the window and felt amazed to see how the security light illuminated so much of the yard. Quite a contrast to my childhood memories.

      1 min read

    • Article

      Truth You Can Trust

      Apr 27, 2021

      If we’re faced with confusion or deceit, it can seem hard to know what truth is. But understanding God’s nature as infallible Truth itself empowers us to discern between what’s true and what’s false.

      3 min read

    • Article

      Caregivers For The Spirit

      Jul 21, 2020

      Caregivers For The Spirit
      6 min read

    • Article

      The Danger Of Isolation

      Jun 12, 2020

      It seems that a new ‘style’ of church has swept onto the scene with some extraordinary success and incredible impact on young and old alike. Steven Furtick is the founder and lead pastor of an ‘off beat’ evangelical ministry called Elevation Church,

      6 min read

    • Article

      Why Do The Wicked Prosper?

      Sep 4, 2020

      Why Do The Wicked Prosper?
      3 min read

    • Article

      The Bible Doesn’t Suggest We Attend Church, It Instructs Us!

      Oct 21, 2019

      As the editor, I often receive letters from our readers requesting help or advice. I always try my best to refer people to the right organisations or people that I think could help them. Some enquiries are genuine, and others are from people simply t

      2 min read

    • Article

      Letters To The EDITOR

      Mar 18, 2022

      Dear readers, we love to hear your thoughts on the stories that we publish, what is going on around the world, and what the Lord has placed on your heart! Email your letter through to editor@joymag.co.za for a chance to be featured – please try to ke

      7 min read

    • Article

      God’s Power in Weakness

      May 18, 2020

      God’s Power in Weakness
      1 min read

    • Article

      RELIGIOUS, But Lost…

      Nov 18, 2019

      RELIGIOUS, But Lost…
      2 min read

    • Article

      Test Your Bible knowledge BIBLICAL JOURNEYS

      Jan 1, 2021

      See how many of these you can fill in before checking the answers on page 69. After you test yourself, try reading the questions aloud to a friend or family member and see how they do! 1. Where in Galilee did the wedding take place at which Jesus

      1 min read

    • Article

      fearless IN A FEARFUL WORLD

      Sep 4, 2020

      fearless IN A FEARFUL WORLD
      3 min read

    • Article

      Following Jesus, Or Following Trump?

      Apr 24, 2018

      "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other." (Matthew 6:24) The verse refers to money, but in light of today's debate about the unaccountable devotion many C

      2 min read

    • Article

      The Most IMPORTANT DECLARATION You Will Ever Make

      Jun 24, 2019

      On April 6, 1980, 205 people attended the first public worship service in a new church in California, planted by Rick Warren. Twenty-five years later, 30 000 people gathered at Angel Stadium in California to celebrate 25 years of ministry at Saddleba

      2 min read

    Related categories

    Reviews for Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees

    0 ratings

    0 ratings0 reviews

    What did you think?

    Tap to rate

    Review must be at least 10 words

      Book preview

      Great Truths from Jesus' Conversations With Pharisees - Shirley Stephens

      Great Truths from

      Jesus’

      Conversations

      With

      Pharisees

      Shirley Stephens

      © Copyright 2011 by Shirley L. Stephens

      All rights reserved.

      ISBN: 978-0-9833672-0-8

      Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version of the Bible. Scripture quotations marked GNB are taken from the Good News Bible, The Bible in Today’s English Version. Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE®, Copyright © 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.

      No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any form without written permission from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

      Printed in the United States of America

      Authors Book Nook

      P. O. Box 513

      Brentwood, TN 37024-0513

      Website: www.authorsbooknook.com

      Email: authorsbooknook@bellsouth.net

      A note to the reader

      The ten conversations in this book are based solidly on the biblical record. Some liberties have been taken to recreate the scene related to each conversation, such as likely responses of the persons involved and background information about the people and the locations where the conversations took place

      Following the account of each conversation are interactive exercises designed to delve into the truths to be learned and the life applications that can be made as a result of studying the conversation.

      Subject and Scripture indices, along with a glossary of terms, are provided to aid in study and understanding.

      CONTENTS

      Introduction: Conversation:

      A Way to Connect

      Conversation One: Why Am I Here?

      Reflection One

      Conversation Two: When Will the

      Kingdom of God Come?

      Reflection Two

      Conversation Three: What Must I Do

      to Obtain Eternal Life?

      Reflection Three

      Conversation Four: Is It Lawful

      to Heal on the Sabbath?

      Reflection Four

      Conversation Five: Why Do You

      Eat with Sinners?

      Reflection Five

      Conversation Six: Why Don’t You

      Wash Your Hands?

      Reflection Six

      Conversation Seven: Who Is My

      Neighbor?

      Reflection Seven

      Conversation Eight: What Is Blasphemy

      of the Holy Spirit?

      Reflection Eight

      Conversation Nine: What Sign Will

      You Give Us?

      Reflection Nine

      Conversation Ten: Born Again?

      How Can This Happen?

      Reflection Ten

      What Happened Next?

      Scripture Index

      Subject Index

      Glossary of Terms

      About the Author

      Other Books

      by Shirley Stephens

      Introduction

      Conversation:

      A way to Connect

      Who were Jesus’ greatest enemies? If you asked that question of anyone familiar with the Scriptures, the answer probably would be: The Pharisees. From the moment Jesus came on the religious scene, the Pharisees opposed him.

      The Pharisees were hostile toward Jesus for a number of reasons. First, he claimed that his arrival brought in the kingdom of God. For the Pharisees, that meant he was claiming to be the Messiah. But Jesus was not the kind of Messiah they expected. They thought the Messiah would be a military leader after the order of King David; and, as king, he would establish such a kingdom. Jesus did not fit that mold.

      A second reason the Pharisees were hostile toward Jesus was what he taught. On many points, he went against the Pharisees’ interpretation of the Old Testament Law. They followed and promoted a body of material known as the tradition of the elders. This body of material contained all kinds of rules and regulations and interpretations related to holy Scripture. It is in regard to the strict adherence of this body of material that Jesus and the Pharisees differed remarkably. Jesus was committed to the Old Testament Scriptures but not to this body of material. And that difference in viewpoint was the basis for most of their conflicts.

      A third reason for the Pharisees’ hostility was that Jesus criticized their viewpoint. On one occasion, he told his disciples and the crowd to Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1). By leaven, he meant their teachings.

      A fourth reason for the Pharisees’ hostility was all about fear of losing power and influence. Their interpretation of God’s law was the rule of the day. They set the standards for living as a member of God’s people. The devout tried to live up to their interpretations and example. The Pharisees were convinced they would lose this place of power over the people if Jesus’ teachings prevailed. They did not want to be usurped by the teachings of someone they considered to be an itinerant preacher who did not view the Law of Moses as they did.

      Not all Pharisees were opposed to Jesus. Nicodemus was one Pharisee who evidently had a positive view of Jesus. While he did not necessarily accept him as the Messiah, he did feel Jesus was a teacher sent by God (John 3:2; Conversation 10). And there were other Pharisees who had a favorable attitude toward Jesus. But the prevailing impression given by a reading of the New Testament is that the Pharisees, as a religious - political party, were opposed to Jesus and worked passionately to turn the people against him.

      In spite of the Pharisees’ hostility, though, Jesus attempted to teach them many great truths about God. The ten conversations in this book reveal how he took advantage of opportunities to teach the Pharisees and others about God’s plan for his people. These conversations contain messages that have informed and encouraged countless individuals down through the centuries.

      Conversation One

      Why Am I Here?

      Matthew 9:9-13

      Mark 2:13-17

      Luke 5:27-32

      "Follow me," Jesus said to Matthew

      in a rather commanding tone of voice.

      Matthew stood up and went with him.

      -- Matthew 9:9

      **********

      Capernaum, located on the northwestern shore of the Sea of Galilee, became Jesus’ base of operations in Galilee. He evidently moved his mother and siblings there after his hostile reception at the synagogue in his hometown of Nazareth (Matt. 4:13; Luke 4:16-31). While the timing of the move corresponds with this incident, Jesus likely moved to Capernaum because its strategic location worked well with carrying out his public ministry.

      A tax office was located at the entrance to Capernaum. This particular tax office probably collected tolls on the fishing and trade of the Sea. The Romans taxed just about everything.

      On one occasion, Jesus emerged from his home, where he had healed a paralytic (Matt. 9:1-8), and was walking by the shore of the Sea (Mark 2:13). As he came near the tax office, he saw a man collecting tolls. That tax collector is called Matthew in the Gospel that bears his name. Luke calls him Levi (5:27) while Mark refers to him as Levi the son of Alphaeus (2:14). It was very common for a Jew to have two names — a Hebrew name and a Greek name. The first readers of the Gospels would certainly have known that the one called Levi, the son of Alphaeus, was also called Matthew. It is not surprising that Matthew would give only the name he was known by as an apostle and would avoid, as the Apostle Paul did, the name that was associated with his life before meeting Jesus. Matthew, Mark and Luke all include the name Matthew in their lists of the twelve apostles (Matt. 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:15).

      Some argue that this Matthew was not the Gospel writer because he is spoken of in the third person. But it was common in ancient times and has also been common in modern times for writers to speak of themselves in this way. The Apostle John, in his Gospel, used various techniques to avoid mentioning his own name, such as referring to himself as the disciple whom Jesus loved and the disciple who testifies of these things and wrote these things (John 13:23;21:20,24).

      While Matthew does not mention any previous contact with Jesus, this meeting, in all probability, was not the first time the two had met. It is quite possible

      Enjoying the preview?
      Page 1 of 1