Perrydox.com is devoted to the pursuit of truth, whether plain or paradoxical, whether simple or sublime, or simply absurd yet absolute.
PHall | January 7, 2016
There are several lessons in asking God for daily bread (Mt.6:11): 1) Dependence on God not self; 2) Childlike Trust in God’s care; 3) Contentment in basic needs versus wants and desires; 4) Contentment in what the body needs and not excess amounts; 5) Gratitude of all these lessons remembering manna and how at times […]
PHall | January 7, 2016
The Ten Commandments warn, “Do not take the Lord’s name in vain” (Ex.20:7). Jesus reasoned in the model prayer, “Holy is your name” (Mt.6:9). Paul writes, “The name of God is blasphemed…because of you” (Rom.2:24). This goes far beyond but includes how we speak: 1) Do we promise something in God’s name and renege? 2) […]
PHall | December 2, 2012
“Man does not live by bread alone” does not deny that man lives by bread. When Jesus says, “but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (NASB), He is not asserting that man even lives by the words that come from the mouth of God alone. Man is flesh and spirit, just […]
PHall | November 16, 2012
D. A. Carson refers to the Beatitudes as “the norms of the kingdom” (Carson, p.16). If they are the “norms” then they should only be extraordinary to those not in the kingdom. If any Christian were asked, “Do you pray?” the answer would be, “Of course” and that should be expected. If asked, “Do you […]
PHall | November 14, 2012
Being rich Americans we are quick to point out that being “poor in spirit” does not mean financially poor. Maybe too quick. We forget that in the Jewish minds of the first century, material blessings equate spiritual blessings – God pays for our righteousness in coin. So when Jesus says “blessed are the poor in […]
PHall | October 9, 2012
Focusing on God’s attributes should not lead to a theoretical, impractical, ivory tower, sitting in the balcony Christianity. As seen in Paul (i.e., Romans, Colossians), theology precedes practical living as the foundation precedes the walls and roof. Today’s Christians want “how to” sermons and books with step by step instructions. “Give me books on finances, […]
PHall | October 8, 2012
Did you ever wonder why the Sermon on the Mount begins with these Beatitudes? Jesus could have said, “Blessed are those who are dead in sin, for they will be forgiven.” “Blessed are those who have no hope, for they will be given life.” “Blessed are those who have been defeated and beaten down, for […]
PHall | September 27, 2012
Jesus is beginning more than a religious movement; He is laying the foundation for a righteous movement. Reaching backwards to Judaism and forwards to Christianity His words still move more than any others, transforming the way people think and act. Religious movements trying to transform Christianity often focus as much on forms as do those […]
PHall | September 26, 2012
Religious people love impugning the Pharisees for three reasons. One, it is universally agreed that the Pharisees were wrong, which makes their denouncement both unanimous and safe. Two, the sins of the Pharisees are overtly obvious to us today, making them easy targets for denunciation. Three, never are we guilty of the same misguided attitudes, […]
PHall | September 25, 2012
In the Sermon, Jesus specifically mentions the Pharisees once (Mt 5.20). Yet they are the unnamed religious “elephant in the room” lurking behind the most damning descriptions. “You have heard” (5.21,27,31,33,38,43) is about the Pharisees as teachers. Their opinionated applications became God’s law. “Hypocrites” (6.2,5,16; 7.5), people wearing “false faces,” is how Jesus describes their […]