Notes from Linda:
12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
____________________
8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.
I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.
* * * * *
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
Notes from Linda:
12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
____________________
8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.
I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.
* * * * *
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
Note: Additional "Verse of the Day"
Bible verses can be found here:
Current Month
Previous Months and Years
"Verse of the Day"
Bible Verse(s)
Bible Verse(s)
Today
April 17, 2025
While telling Nicodemus (a Pharisee and a ruler of the Jews) why people must be born again, or saved (see Note 1 below), Jesus said:
John 3:14-15: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent [in this case, the image of a snake, made of brass] [on a pole] in the wilderness [desert] [see Note 2 for explanation], even so [or 'in like manner'] must the Son of man [i.e., Jesus, the Son of God, and Messiah] be lifted up [on the cross] [see Note 3 below]: [so] That whosoever [whoever] believeth [believes] in him [Jesus, meaning those who believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins, and that he was buried and rose again, and who trust him as their personal Savior] should not perish [be destroyed in hell and the lake of fire], but [will] have eternal life [in heaven]."
In order to go to heaven when you die, you must believe the gospel and be born again, or saved, the Bible way. You'll find instructions on how to do this in most of the gospel tracts on the "Printable Gospel Tracts" page of my website. Here's the link: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.
NOTE 2:
According to Chapter 21 of Numbers:
-- Numbers 21:5,6: "And the people [of Israel] spake [spoke] against God, and against Moses, Wherefore [or 'for what reason,' or 'why'] have ye [you] brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread [food] neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth [or 'we loathe' (hate)] this light bread [manna]. And the LORD sent fiery serpents [poisonous snakes] among the people, and they bit the people; and much [many] people of Israel died."
-- Numbers 21:7,8: "Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee [you]; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee [you, or just 'make'] [the image of] a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he [or she] looketh [looks] upon it [the snake], shall live."
-- Numbers 21:9: "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man [or woman or child], when he [or she] beheld [looked at] the serpent of brass, he [or she] lived."
____________________
GotQuestions.org has an article about the bronze serpent. It's called "Why is a bronze serpent used to save the Israelites in Numbers 21:8-9?" and can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/bronze-serpent.html.
In his commentary on today's verses, Albert Barnes said:
Verse 14 -- Jesus Must Be 'Lifted Up':
"… The points of resemblance between his [Jesus'] being lifted up and that of the brass serpent seem to be these:
"I. In each case those who are to be benefited can he aided [helped] in no other way. The bite of the serpent was deadly, and could be healed only by looking on the brass serpent; and sin is deadly in its nature, and can be removed only by looking on the cross.
"II. The mode [manner] of their being lifted up. The brass serpent was in the sight of the people. So Jesus was exalted [or 'lifted up'] from the earth raised on a tree or cross.
"III. The design was similar. The one [i.e., the brass serpent] was to save the life, the other [i.e., Jesus] [was to save] the soul; the one [i.e., the brass serpent] [was] to save from temporal [physical] [death], the other [i.e., Jesus] [was to save] from eternal death.
"IV. The manner [method] of the cure was similar. The people of Israel were to look on the serpent and be healed, and so sinners are to look on the Lord Jesus that they may be saved. …"
Verse 15 -- Whoever Believes 'Should Not Perish':
"That whosoever - This shows the fulness and freeness of the gospel. All [people] may come [to Jesus] and be saved. Believeth in him - Whosoever [whoever] puts confidence in him [Jesus] as [being] able and willing to save. All who feel that they are sinners, that they have no righteousness of their own, and are willing to look to him [Jesus] as their only Saviour [Savior].
"Should not perish - … All who believe on [or trust in] Jesus shall be saved from this condemnation [punishment in hell] and be raised up to eternal life. And from this we learn:
"1.That there is salvation in no other [person] [besides Jesus].
"2.That salvation is here full [complete] and free for all who will come.
"3.That it [salvation] is easy. What was more easy for a poor, wounded, dying Israelite, bitten by a poisonous serpent, than to look up to a brass serpent? So with the poor, lost, dying sinner. And what more foolish than for such a wounded, dying man to refuse to look on a remedy so easy and effectual [effective]? So nothing is more foolish man [or 'than'?] for a lost and dying sinner to 'refuse' to look on God's only Son [Jesus Christ], exalted on a cross to die for the sins of men [or 'human beings'], and able to save to the uttermost [utmost (greatest) degree] 'all' who come to God by him [Jesus] [for salvation]."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/john-3.html, "Verses 14 and 15")
____________________
GotQuestions.org has an article that answers this question: "Why did Jesus say that the Son of Man must be lifted up (John 3:14)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Son-of-Man-lifted-up.html.
"… People are foolish. Unless they can understand all the processes by which God is working, they won't accept it. I can't explain to you how that believing in Jesus Christ can cleanse you of your sin and cause you to be born again and become a child of God. All I can tell you is it will. It works. That's what God has ordained [established]. Jesus, hanging on the cross, was bearing the judgment of God for your sins. 'All we like sheep have gone astray, we turn, everyone of us, to our own ways. And God has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquities [sins] of us all' ( Isaiah 53:6 ). 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man [Jesus] be lifted up. ' And Jesus, hanging there on the cross, was there taking the judgment of God for sin, dying for our sins, dying in our place. And even as those [dying people] in the days of Israel looked at the [brass] serpent and lived, so we, by looking at the cross in faith and in trusting in Jesus, live. We have eternal life. And so, it was quite an interesting parallel, symbolism that God had established …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/3-14.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")
John 3:14-15: "And as Moses lifted up the serpent [in this case, the image of a snake, made of brass] [on a pole] in the wilderness [desert] [see Note 2 for explanation], even so [or 'in like manner'] must the Son of man [i.e., Jesus, the Son of God, and Messiah] be lifted up [on the cross] [see Note 3 below]: [so] That whosoever [whoever] believeth [believes] in him [Jesus, meaning those who believe that Jesus died on the cross to pay for their sins, and that he was buried and rose again, and who trust him as their personal Savior] should not perish [be destroyed in hell and the lake of fire], but [will] have eternal life [in heaven]."
_______________
NOTE 1:In order to go to heaven when you die, you must believe the gospel and be born again, or saved, the Bible way. You'll find instructions on how to do this in most of the gospel tracts on the "Printable Gospel Tracts" page of my website. Here's the link: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.
NOTE 2:
According to Chapter 21 of Numbers:
-- Numbers 21:5,6: "And the people [of Israel] spake [spoke] against God, and against Moses, Wherefore [or 'for what reason,' or 'why'] have ye [you] brought us up out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? for there is no bread [food] neither is there any water; and our soul loatheth [or 'we loathe' (hate)] this light bread [manna]. And the LORD sent fiery serpents [poisonous snakes] among the people, and they bit the people; and much [many] people of Israel died."
-- Numbers 21:7,8: "Therefore the people came to Moses, and said, We have sinned, for we have spoken against the LORD, and against thee [you]; pray unto the LORD, that he take away the serpents from us. And Moses prayed for the people. And the LORD said unto Moses, Make thee [you, or just 'make'] [the image of] a fiery serpent, and set it upon a pole: and it shall come to pass, that every one that is bitten, when he [or she] looketh [looks] upon it [the snake], shall live."
-- Numbers 21:9: "And Moses made a serpent of brass, and put it upon a pole, and it came to pass, that if a serpent had bitten any man [or woman or child], when he [or she] beheld [looked at] the serpent of brass, he [or she] lived."
____________________
GotQuestions.org has an article about the bronze serpent. It's called "Why is a bronze serpent used to save the Israelites in Numbers 21:8-9?" and can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/bronze-serpent.html.
* * * * *
NOTE 3:In his commentary on today's verses, Albert Barnes said:
Verse 14 -- Jesus Must Be 'Lifted Up':
"… The points of resemblance between his [Jesus'] being lifted up and that of the brass serpent seem to be these:
"I. In each case those who are to be benefited can he aided [helped] in no other way. The bite of the serpent was deadly, and could be healed only by looking on the brass serpent; and sin is deadly in its nature, and can be removed only by looking on the cross.
"II. The mode [manner] of their being lifted up. The brass serpent was in the sight of the people. So Jesus was exalted [or 'lifted up'] from the earth raised on a tree or cross.
"III. The design was similar. The one [i.e., the brass serpent] was to save the life, the other [i.e., Jesus] [was to save] the soul; the one [i.e., the brass serpent] [was] to save from temporal [physical] [death], the other [i.e., Jesus] [was to save] from eternal death.
"IV. The manner [method] of the cure was similar. The people of Israel were to look on the serpent and be healed, and so sinners are to look on the Lord Jesus that they may be saved. …"
Verse 15 -- Whoever Believes 'Should Not Perish':
"That whosoever - This shows the fulness and freeness of the gospel. All [people] may come [to Jesus] and be saved. Believeth in him - Whosoever [whoever] puts confidence in him [Jesus] as [being] able and willing to save. All who feel that they are sinners, that they have no righteousness of their own, and are willing to look to him [Jesus] as their only Saviour [Savior].
"Should not perish - … All who believe on [or trust in] Jesus shall be saved from this condemnation [punishment in hell] and be raised up to eternal life. And from this we learn:
"1.That there is salvation in no other [person] [besides Jesus].
"2.That salvation is here full [complete] and free for all who will come.
"3.That it [salvation] is easy. What was more easy for a poor, wounded, dying Israelite, bitten by a poisonous serpent, than to look up to a brass serpent? So with the poor, lost, dying sinner. And what more foolish than for such a wounded, dying man to refuse to look on a remedy so easy and effectual [effective]? So nothing is more foolish man [or 'than'?] for a lost and dying sinner to 'refuse' to look on God's only Son [Jesus Christ], exalted on a cross to die for the sins of men [or 'human beings'], and able to save to the uttermost [utmost (greatest) degree] 'all' who come to God by him [Jesus] [for salvation]."
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/john-3.html, "Verses 14 and 15")
____________________
GotQuestions.org has an article that answers this question: "Why did Jesus say that the Son of Man must be lifted up (John 3:14)?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Son-of-Man-lifted-up.html.
* * * * *
In his commentary on John 3:14, Pastor Chuck Smith said:"… People are foolish. Unless they can understand all the processes by which God is working, they won't accept it. I can't explain to you how that believing in Jesus Christ can cleanse you of your sin and cause you to be born again and become a child of God. All I can tell you is it will. It works. That's what God has ordained [established]. Jesus, hanging on the cross, was bearing the judgment of God for your sins. 'All we like sheep have gone astray, we turn, everyone of us, to our own ways. And God has laid on Him [Jesus] the iniquities [sins] of us all' ( Isaiah 53:6 ). 'As Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of man [Jesus] be lifted up. ' And Jesus, hanging there on the cross, was there taking the judgment of God for sin, dying for our sins, dying in our place. And even as those [dying people] in the days of Israel looked at the [brass] serpent and lived, so we, by looking at the cross in faith and in trusting in Jesus, live. We have eternal life. And so, it was quite an interesting parallel, symbolism that God had established …"
(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/john/3-14.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")
In case you're wondering, before adding my comments
in brackets to the above verse(s), I usually refer to Bible
commentaries by Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, John Gill,
and others (which can be found online) and try to summarize
what they say. For verses from Proverbs, I also refer to the
Bible study notes written by Jim Delany, pastor of Salem
Bible Church. Word definitions are taken from online
dictionaries (including Bible dictionaries).
* * * * *
Note: The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and is full of wisdom.
It's been suggested in the past that Christians should get in the habit
of reading one chapter from Proverbs each day, corresponding to
the date of the month. I think it's a great idea and have decided
to follow that advice. The chapter for today is posted below:
Proverbs Chapter 17
1 Better is a dry morsel, and quietness therewith, than an house full of sacrifices with strife.in brackets to the above verse(s), I usually refer to Bible
commentaries by Albert Barnes, Matthew Henry, John Gill,
and others (which can be found online) and try to summarize
what they say. For verses from Proverbs, I also refer to the
Bible study notes written by Jim Delany, pastor of Salem
Bible Church. Word definitions are taken from online
dictionaries (including Bible dictionaries).
* * * * *
Note: The book of Proverbs has 31 chapters and is full of wisdom.
It's been suggested in the past that Christians should get in the habit
of reading one chapter from Proverbs each day, corresponding to
the date of the month. I think it's a great idea and have decided
to follow that advice. The chapter for today is posted below:
Proverbs Chapter 17
2 A wise servant shall have rule over a son that causeth shame, and shall have part of the inheritance among the brethren.
3 The fining pot is for silver, and the furnace for gold: but the LORD trieth the hearts.
4 A wicked doer giveth heed to false lips; and a liar giveth ear to a naughty tongue.
5 Whoso mocketh the poor reproacheth his Maker: and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished.
6 Children's children are the crown of old men; and the glory of children are their fathers.
7 Excellent speech becometh not a fool: much less do lying lips a prince.
8 A gift is as a precious stone in the eyes of him that hath it: whithersoever it turneth, it prospereth.
9 He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends.
10 A reproof entereth more into a wise man than an hundred stripes into a fool.
11 An evil man seeketh only rebellion: therefore a cruel messenger shall be sent against him.
12 Let a bear robbed of her whelps meet a man, rather than a fool in his folly.
13 Whoso rewardeth evil for good, evil shall not depart from his house.
14 The beginning of strife is as when one letteth out water: therefore leave off contention, before it be meddled with.
15 He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the LORD.
16 Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?
17 A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.
18 A man void of understanding striketh hands, and becometh surety in the presence of his friend.
19 He loveth transgression that loveth strife: and he that exalteth his gate seeketh destruction.
20 He that hath a froward heart findeth no good: and he that hath a perverse tongue falleth into mischief.
21 He that begetteth a fool doeth it to his sorrow: and the father of a fool hath no joy.
22 A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.
23 A wicked man taketh a gift out of the bosom to pervert the ways of judgment.
24 Wisdom is before him that hath understanding; but the eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth.
25 A foolish son is a grief to his father, and bitterness to her that bare him.
26 Also to punish the just is not good, nor to strike princes for equity.
27 He that hath knowledge spareth his words: and a man of understanding is of an excellent spirit.
28 Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.