Opened Scriptures Bible Studies

After Jesus foretold His betrayal, after He said that all the disciples would flee when He was arrested, and after He predicted Peter's threefold denial, Jesus and the disciples went into the garden of Gethsemane.  Matthew 26:36-37  Then cometh Jesus with them unto a place called Gethsemane, and saith unto the disciples, Sit ye here, while I go and pray yonder.  37  And he took with him Peter and the two sons of Zebedee, and began to be sorrowful and very heavy.  John 18:1  When Jesus had spoken these words, he went forth with his disciples over the brook Cedron, where was a garden, into the which he entered, and his disciples.  John's gospel added another detail that is important. As they exited Jerusalem, another preview of Christ in the Old Testament was literally fulfilled. Late in his life, King David was rejected by his brethren during a coup staged by his son, Absalom.  David and his faithful followers were forced to flee from Jerusalem....

It may help to remember that this portion of Matthew's gospel is narrative, so it is not doctrinal, not something that is directly applicable to our Christian walk. Of course, we can learn truths from narrative and the Spirit of God included narrative because we need to know the facts about the life of Christ. Matthew 26:30  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.  31  Then saith Jesus unto them, All ye shall be offended because of me this night: for it is written, I will smite the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock shall be scattered abroad.  32  But after I am risen again, I will go before you into Galilee.  We previously looked at how Jesus and His disciples sang Hallel Psalms as they left Jerusalem and headed toward the Mount of Olives. Jesus once again used an Old Testament prophecy and applied it to Himself. Zechariah 13:7  Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD...

Good day, to each of our Readers around the world@ Pastor Alvis asked me to teach the adult Sunday School class once again.  I want to continue thinking about the subject of revival. The last time that I taught Sunday School, we studied Ezra and Nehemiah  where revival occured. This first lesson focused on the reign of King Asa. We learned that the prospects for revival during his time was very dim due to the moral failures of previous kings. We learned that God is still at work even when it seems that nothing is happening. We saw that God revived Asa with astounding results for His glory and Judah's good. Major spiritual problems were corrected so that spiritual progress could be made and God's blessing flow to His people. We read how King Asa was strengthened by the Word of God because he believed. A sad note to the end of Asa's reign is that he did not finish as well as he could have. I hope that each of you who are able to view the livestream, will find blessing and enc...

Matthew 26:30  And when they had sung an hymn, they went out into the mount of Olives.  Jesus gave final instructions to His disciples before His impending betrayal, arrest, sufferings and death on the cross. He held the Passover with them and showed that He was the literal fulfillment of the Passover Lamb sacrifice and ceremonies. Having concluded observing the Passover together,  Jesus and His disciples sang a hymn together. This is a moment of tender reflection upon the goodness of God to provide a way for sinners to have sin covered and fellowship with God restored. The hymns that they sung were from the book of Psalms, also known as the Hebrew hymnal. It was a long established custom among faithful Jews after Passover, to sing Psalms 113 through 118, which are classified as the "Hallel" psalms. The word "Hallel" or "Hallelujah" means praise to Jehovah. Hallel # 1. Singing praises to Jehovah for His wonderful name and love for us. Psalm 113:1-9  Praise...

Matthew 26:26-29  And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and blessed it, and brake it, and gave it to the disciples, and said, Take, eat; this is my body.  27  And he took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, Drink ye all of it;  28  For this is my blood of the new testament, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.  29  But I say unto you, I will not drink henceforth of this fruit of the vine, until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father's kingdom.  Jesus looked forward to what His death on the cross would accomplish. The Jewish custom regarding Passover was that those who kept the passover ate the flesh of the passover lamb, even if it was only the size of an olive. At the same time they ate a like quantity of unleavened bread, so that the savour of the flesh of the passover, and the unleavened bread, are in his mouth. Thus, the one keeping Passover would retain the tastes of the bread and lamb for a wh...

Here is where to find indexes to all Bible lessons posted on this blog since its inception in 2019. Click on the drop down menu and look for the archives tab. Then find the date listed below to find the appropriate index. I hope this will help you find lessons on a particular book of topic that we have studied through. An index for all lessons posted from 2019 through 2021 , was published on September 7, 2022. An index for all lessons posted in 2022 , was published J anuary 24, 2023. An index for all lessons posted in 202 3 was published on February 28, 2024.  An index for all lessons posted in 2024 was published on January 21, 2025. An index for all lessons posted in 2025 was published on January 24, 2026. Now we come to Judas' plot to betray Jesua. Matthew 26:14-15  Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went unto the chief priests,  15  And said unto them, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you? And they covenanted with him for thirty p...