The Giving Part 2: Judas the Betrayer, a Balanced View of the Sovereignty of God

[Music] the giving is a balanced view of the sovereignty of God God's sovereignty is vitally important for us to know God yet it's God's sovereignty taught as a system of theological thought which can lead to a person reading into the biblical text an outside concept that is foreign to the writers i...

Does Matthew conflict with Luke about Judas?

In my post about Judas and the last supper, Colin Maxwell, a Calvinist responded to my post, although not responding on this blog, but on his twitter account @weeCalvin.

Was Judas predestined to be lost?

Is Judas a problem for your theology? He can be a problem if some of your beliefs come from tradition and not from the Scriptures. In this article, I would like to discuss the full Scriptural view of Judas and ask you to test your own understanding against what the Scripture reveals.

Silence Of Adam Sin

In our continuing discussion about the fall of man, we have seen that there are no witnesses and no charge of sin against Eve for adding to God’s word. Therefore we must conclude without any charge of sin, that the woman did not add to God’s word

Pauls Ordination

This post is a separation of the post called Is ordination a requirement for a female pastor. since it was brought to my attention that the two streams of thought were too much for one post

Eve Deceived Adam Not

For a PDF copy of this article click here Eve was Deceived pdf file

Psalm 109:8

Sections: cross_references, exegesis, greek_analysis

Hosea 6:7

Sections: exegesis

John 6:64-65

Sections: debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

Acts 1:16-26

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis, greek_analysis

John 17:12

Sections: cross_references, debate_points, exegesis

Q&A: Matthew 26:23 vs. John 13:26 — apparent contradiction at the Last Supper

Viewer question about differences between Matthew 26:23 and John 13:26 in identifying the betrayer

Homosexuality as a canary in the coal mine for the broader attack on Christian truth

Q&A question about whether this issue signals a wider cultural assault on truth.

1 Corinthians 11:23-25 — Paul 'received from the Lord' the Last Supper tradition, predating the Gospels

Paul's detailed knowledge of the Last Supper is one of the strongest demonstrations that he knew specific events from Jesus's life.

Last Supper account in Paul matches the Synoptic order — too many coincidences to be unrelated

Mike compares Paul's sequence in 1 Corinthians 11 with the Synoptic Gospels to argue they are describing the same event.

Detailed Synoptic comparison of Last Supper: Paul, Mark, Matthew, and Luke all describe the same sequence

Mike does a detailed side-by-side comparison of the Last Supper accounts across Paul and the three Synoptic Gospels.

Jesus commanded disciples to carry swords before his betrayal, indicating readiness for self-defense is a godly posture

New Testament grounding for self-defense, contrasted with earlier sending-out instructions

Matthew 26:46 — Jesus voluntarily walks forward into betrayal and crucifixion

Question from Hunter Clyce about Matthew 26:46.

Kung Fu / judo illustration: God redirects Satan's own force rather than controlling him directly

Illustration drawn from the TV show Kung Fu to explain how God exercises sovereignty over Satan.

Mike argues that killing in self-defense is clearly permitted by Scripture, citing Old Testament law which imposed no penalty for legitimate self-defense, and Jesus’ instruction to the disciples to carry swords the night of his betrayal.

Response to viewer question about whether killing in self-defense is wrong in God’s eyes

Mike identifies the naked young man fleeing in Mark 14:51-52 as likely the author Mark himself, explaining this was a common ancient biographical convention of embedding the author’s presence discreetly in the narrative.

Response to viewer question about the identity of the young man in Mark 14:51-52

Intrusive/unwanted thoughts: possible demonic origin and the Philippians 4:8 remedy

Question from Turka Orenzova about horrifying thoughts that pop into her head unbidden.

Jesus calling Judas friend at the betrayal (Matthew 26:50) is likely both literal and ironic simultaneously.

Question 7 from A.D. Chan about the Greek word hetairos in Matthew 26:50.

The Christian response to persecution is NOT pointing fingers and crying "persecution!" — it's loving enemies, blessing those who persecute you, praying for those who spitefully use you. Persecution is a chance to shine Christ's love.

Biblical response to persecution from Mark 13:9-13

The Moments before the Betrayal and Crucifixion of Jesus

The Betrayal

Does Mark Intend Us To Think of Jesus as Expecting Betrayal

Commentary: "Desire" in Genesis 3:16 — She Will Want Him Despite His Betrayal

Ardavanis says that Eve's "desire" for her husband (**Ge 3:16**) is not romantic desire, and he prefers the parallel in **Ge 4:7** where sin "desires" to master Cain. But there are two problems with t