Father of the Inklings

This is the second time we have used this passage from Matthew 25 to highlight one of the Commands. And for good reason. This must surely be one of the most powerful passages in all the Bible.     From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other b...

Probably few other commands of Jesus have been interpreted with such wide latitude as the command to "eat the bread" and "drink the cup" in remembrance of the last supper on the night before his crucifixion.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands...

Here we encounter another highly specific command. While said by Jesus only once, it is yet difficult to include in any other grouping or summary of Commands.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The examples Jesus uses to address how disputes should be settled are, in a sense, unfortunately narrow of focus.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

A few of the Commands are so all-encompassing that, if they were followed perfectly, none of the other Commands would be necessary. They draw all the Commands up into them.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Philli...

In how many ways we each break this command...often, even daily! When it comes to the "commands of personal conviction," this must certainly rank up near to the top of the list.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael P...

Most of the commands given by Jesus to his disciples when he sent them out two by two must be viewed as being too specific to be considered universally incumbent upon all his followers throughout all time.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands ...

How far into eternity will God's mercy extend? It is one of the great historic theological conundrums.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

This is surely one of the Bible's most well known verses. Its succinct proverb is a part of everyday conversational idiom everywhere. The command might therefore have been rendered in its more familiar form as simply: Turn the other cheek.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit ...

Curiously, Jesus did not address the mode and manner of how we are to conduct ourselves in the normal flow of daily conversation. His comments about speech are very specific.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phil...

We have spoken several times about Jesus' use of hyperbole, exaggeration, and metaphor. We do not actually "eat his flesh" when participating in a communion or Eucharist service. He does not really want his followers to "cut off" their hands or "pluck out" their eyes to rid their lives of sin. These are symbols and images which Jesus used skillfully to get his points across.   From The Commands by...

Again we encounter Jesus making a point with overstatement. No one seriously expects us to go through life saying nothing but yes and no. Jesus himself did not do so either. Once more we gain further insight into his words from the Lord's brother James, who gave this command in its more familiar form: Let your yes be yes, and your no be no. (James 5:12)   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Rea...

It is easy to hear words such as, "He who is ashamed of me and my words...of him will the Son of Man be ashamed." (Mark8:38, Luke 9:26),  and read ourselves right out of the text.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael...

It continues to be astonishing, once we see it, how much of Jesus' teaching concerned the simple things of life - such "unspiritual" things. Where is all the theology and doctrine? Of course we can turn to Romans or Ephesians if we want that sort of thing. But where is it in the Gospels? It's not there.  From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and s...

One of Jesus' most familiar "I am" declarations in John's gospel is, I am the truth. To love Jesus, therefore, one must love truth.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Many of the Commands of Jesus emerged out of free-flowing conversations with those around him. It can therefore be difficult to perceive his higher intent in the midst of a specific exchange.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other book...

Most Christians are well familiar with Jesus' injunction against condemnation: Judge not. We are less acquainted with the form of judgment he does tell us to make.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Literalists eager to discover loopholes in the Commands will easily be able to dismiss a blanket injunction against obscenity.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

The unfortunate image conjured up by this passage in the minds of many is of a poor suffering beast of burden, a hundred pound slab of oak laced to his back, a plow tied behind, laboring in the hot sun from sunup to sundown. Not a very appealing life!   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inkli...

There are two ways to read Jesus' invitation, Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Most commentators, theologians, pastors, and teachers, through the years have interpreted this passage through a salvationary lens. It may be, however, that a more subtle reading strikes closer to home, and perhaps probes more meaningfully to the heart of Jesus' intent.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at ...

The familiar passage from Matthew 7 is usually associated with prayer, and the promise of answered prayer: Ask, and it will be given you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands ...

No pithier visual imagery exists in Jesus' teaching than his clever use of the speck and log in the matter of fault-finding.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Many of the Commands are implied, but this is a direct, clear, forceful, and unyielding command--Judge not.   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the Inklings . Visit  Amazon  to purchase The Commands and other books by Michael Phillips.

Throughout the Commands, we have repeatedly emphasized that this or that word from Jesus is THE essential, THE first, THE foundational command. "Wait a minute," some may object, "If this is the most important command...how can that be the most important?"   From The Commands by Michael Phillips. Read by Michael Kimball. More information on this and similar writings may be found at  Father of the I...