Thurzo Gizella Bible Study

Word for today: I have refined you, though not as silver; I have tested you in the furnace of affliction. Isaiah 48:10 NIV

A Christian’s goal should be to create the Kingdom of God here on earth, as it is in Heaven. Not only, to get to Heaven.

Watch this to start your day.

Reflection for Today.

To finish the Bible in one year, Read 2 Maccabees 1,2, & Matthew 24: 26-51

Old Testament Reading for today – Listen or read it for yourself:

Also read the verses, if you like.

Old Testament Reading for today.

2 Maccabees 1

1 The kindred, the Jews that are in Jerusalem and those who are in the country of Judea, send greeting to the kindred, the Jews that are throughout Egypt, and wish them good peace:

2 and may God do good to you, and remember his covenant with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob, his faithful servants;

3 and give you all a heart to worship him and do his pleasure with a great heart and a willing soul;

4 and open your heart in his law and in his statutes, and make peace,

5 and listen to your requests, and be reconciled with you, and not forsake you in an evil time.

6 And now we here are praying for you.

7 In the reign of Demetrius, in the hundred threescore and ninth year, we the Jews have already written to you in the suffering and in the extremity that has come upon us in these years, from the time that Jason and his company revolted from the holy land and the kingdom,

8 and set the gate on fire, and shed innocent blood: and we implored the Lord, and were heard; and we offered sacrifice and meal offering, and we lighted the lamps, and we set forth the show bread.

9 And now see that you° keep the days of the feast of tabernacles of the month Chislev.

10 Written in the hundred fourscore and eighth year. THEY that are in Jerusalem and those who are in Judea and the senate and Judas, to Aristobulus, king Ptolemy’s teacher, who is also of the stock of the anointed priests, and to the Jews that are in Egypt, send greeting and health.

11 Having been saved by God out of great perils, as men arrayed against a king, we thank him greatly.

12 For himself cast forth into Persia those who arrayed themselves against us in the holy city.

13 For when the prince was come there, and the army with him that seemed irresistible, they were cut to pieces in the temple of Nanaea by the treachery of Nanaea’s priests.

14 For Antiochus, on the pretence that he would marry her, came into the place, he and his Friends that were with him, that they might take a great part of the treasures in name of a dowry.

15 And when the priests of Nanaea’s temple had set the treasures forth, and he was come there with a small company within the wall of the precincts, they shut to the temple when Antiochus was come in:

16 and opening the secret door of the panelled ceiling, they threw stones and struck down the prince, and they hewed him and his company in pieces, and struck off their heads, and cast them to those that were without.

17 Blessed be our God in all things, who gave for a prey those who had committed impiety.

18 Whereas we are now about to keep the purification of the temple in the month Chislev, on the five and twentieth day, we thought it necessary to certify you thereof, that you° also may keep a feast of tabernacles, and a memorial of the fire which was given when Nehemiah offered sacrifices, after he had built both the temple and the altar.

19 For indeed when our fathers were about to be led into the land of Persia, the godly priests of that time took of the fire of the altar, and hid it privily in the hollow of a well that was without water, wherein they made it sure, so that the place was unknown to all men.

20 Now after many years, when it pleased God, Nehemiah, having received a charge from the king of Persia, sent in quest of the fire the descendants of the priests that hid it. When they declared to us that they had found no fire, but thick water,

21 he commanded them to draw out thereof and bring to him: and when the sacrifices had been offered on the altar, Nehemiah commanded the priests to sprinkle with the water both the wood and the things laid thereupon.

22 And when it was done, and some time had passed, and the sun shone out, which before was hid with clouds, there was kindled a great blaze, so that all men marvelled.

23 And the priests made a prayer while the sacrifice was consuming, both the priests and all others, Jonathan leading and the rest answering, as Nehemiah did.

24 And the prayer was after this manner: O Lord, Lord God, the Creator of all things, who are terrible and strong and righteous and merciful, who alone are King and gracious,

25 who alone supply every need, who alone are righteous and almighty and eternal, you that save Israel out of all evil, who made the fathers your chosen, and did sanctify them:

26 accept the sacrifice for all your people Israel, and guard your own portion, and consecrate it.

27 Gather together our Dispersion, set at liberty those who are in bondage amongst the heathen, look upon those who are despised and abhorred, and let the heathen know that you are our God.

28 Torment those who oppress us and in arrogance shamefully entreat us.

29 Plant your people in your holy place, even as Moses said.

30 And thereupon the priests sang the hymns.

31 And as soon as the sacrifice was consumed, then Nehemiah commanded to pour on great stones the water that was left.

32 And when this was done, a flame was kindled; but when the light from the altar shone near it, all was consumed.

33 And when the matter became known, and it was told the king of the Persians, that, in the place where the priests that were led away had hid the fire, there appeared the water, wherewith also Nehemiah and those who were with him purified the sacrifice,

34 then the king, inclosing the place, made it sacred, after he had proved the matter.

35 And when the king would show favour to any, he would take from them many presents and give them some of this water.

36 And Nehemiah and those who were with him called this thing Nephthar, which is by interpretation, Cleansing; but most men call it Nephthai.

2 Maccabees 2

1 It is also found in the records, that Jeremiah the prophet commanded those who were carried away to take of the fire, as has been signified above:

2 and how that the prophet charged those who were carried away, having given them the law, that they should not forget the statutes of the Lord, neither be led astray in their minds, when they saw images of gold and silver, and the adornment thereof.

3 And with other such words exhorted he them, that the law should not depart from their heart.

4 And it was contained in the writing, that the prophet, being warned of God, commanded that the tabernacle and the ark should follow with him, when he went forth into the mountain where Moses went up and saw the heritage of God.

5 And Jeremiah came and found a chamber in the rock, and there he brought in the tabernacle, and the ark, and the altar of incense; and he made fast the door.

6 And some of those that followed with him came there that they might mark the way, and could not find it.

7 But when Jeremiah perceived it, he blamed them, saying, Yes and the place shall be unknown until God gather the people again together, and mercy come:

8 and then shall the Lord disclose these things, and the glory of the Lord shall be seen, and the cloud. As also it was showed with Moses; as also Solomon implored that the place might be consecrated greatly,

9 and it was also declared that he, having wisdom, offered a sacrifice of dedication, and of the finishing of the temple; so we would have it now.

10 As Moses prayed to the Lord, and fire came down out of heaven and consumed the sacrifice, even so prayed Solomon also, and the fire came down and consumed the burnt offerings;

11 (and Moses said, Because the sin offering had not been eaten, it was consumed in like manner with the rest;)

12 and Solomon kept the eight days.

13 And the same things were related both in the public archives and in the records that concern Nehemiah; and how he, founding a library, gathered together the books about the kings and prophets, and the books of David, and letters of kings about sacred gifts.

14 And in like manner Judas also gathered together for us all those writings that had been scattered by reason of the war that befell, and they are still with us.

15 If therefore you° have need thereof, send some to fetch them to you.

16 Seeing then that we are about to keep the purification, we write to you; you° will therefore do well if you° keep the days.

17 Now God, who saved all his people, and restored the heritage to all, and the kingdom, and the priesthood, and the hallowing,

18 even as he promised through the law,— in God have we hope, that he will quickly have mercy upon us, and gather us together out of all the earth to the holy place: for he delivered us out of great evils, and purified the place. ____________________

19 Now the things concerning Judas Maccabaeus and his kindred, and the purification of the great temple, and the dedication of the altar,

20 and further the wars against Antiochus Epiphanes, and Eupator his son,

21 and the manifestations that came from heaven to those that vied with one another in manful deeds for the religion of the Jews; so that, being but a few, they rescued the whole country, and chased the barbarous multitudes,

22 and recovered again the temple renowned all the world over, and freed the city, and restored the laws which were like to be overthrown, seeing the Lord became gracious to them with all forbearance:

23 these things, I say, which have been declared by Jason of Cyrene in five books, we will assay to abridge in one work.

24 For having in view the confused mass of the numbers, and the difficulty which awaits those who would enter into the narratives of the history, by reason of the abundance of the matter,

25 we were careful that they who choose to read may be attracted, and that they who wish well to our cause may find it easy to recall what we have written, and that all readers may have profit.

26 And although to us, who have taken upon us the painful labour of the abridgement, the task is not easy, but a matter of sweat and watching

27 (even as it is no light thing to him that prepares a banquet, and seeks the benefit of others); yet for the sake of the gratitude of the many we will gladly endure the painful labour,

28 leaving to the historian the exact handling of every particular, and again having no strength to fill in the outlines of our abridgement.

29 For as the masterbuilder of a new house must care for the whole structure, and again he that undertakes to decorate and paint it must seek out the things fit for the adorning thereof; even so I think it is also with us.

30 To occupy the ground, and to indulge in long discussions, and to be curious in particulars, becomes the first author of the history:

31 but to strive after brevity of expression, and to avoid a laboured fullness in the treatment, is to be granted to him that would bring a writing into a new form.

32 Here then let’s begin the narration, only adding thus much to that which has been already said; for it is a foolish thing to make a long prologue to the history, and to abridge the history itself.

Chapters from the New Testament:

Matthew 24: 26-51

26 Wherefore, if they shall say to you, Behold, he is in the desert; go not forth: behold, he is in the secret chambers; believe it not.

27 For as the lightning cometh out of the east, and shineth even to the west; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

28 For wherever the carcass is, there will the eagles be collected.

29 Immediately after the tribulation of those days, shall the sun be darkened, and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of the heavens shall be shaken:

30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all the tribes of the earth mourn, and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.

31 And he will send his angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

32 Now learn a parable of the fig-tree; When its branch is yet tender and putteth forth leaves, ye know that summer is nigh:

33 So likewise ye, when ye shall see all these things, know that it is near, even at the doors.

34 Verily I say to you, This generation shall not pass, till all these things shall be fulfilled.

35 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.

36 But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so will also the coming of the Son of man be.

38 For as in the days that were before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,

39 And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away: so also will be the coming of the Son of man.

40 Then will two be in the field; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

41 Two women will be grinding at the mill; the one shall be taken, and the other left.

42 Watch therefore; for ye know not what hour your Lord cometh.

43 But know this, that if the master of the house knew in what watch the thief would come, he would watch, and would not suffer his house to be broken up.

44 Therefore be ye also ready: for in such an hour as ye think not, the Son of man cometh.

45 Who then is a faithful and wise servant, whom his Lord hath made ruler over his household, to give them food in due season?

46 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord, when he cometh, shall find so doing.

47 Verily I say to you, that he will make him ruler over all his goods.

48 But if that evil servant shall say in his heart, My Lord delayeth his coming;

49 And shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken;

50 The Lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and in an hour that he is not aware of,

51 And will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the hypocrites: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.

Sermons or explanations by different people of the above chapters.

The Message Bible – Eugene H. Peterson – In Contemporary Language Read today’s verses in this bible on line, if you like.

The Catholic Daily Mass Readings and reflections for today.

Catholic Daily Reflections

Reflection Prayer,

Father, Son and Holy Spirit, help me to know You and to love You. Help me to discover the love You share within Your own divine life. In that discovery, help me to also love others with Your heart. Father, Son and Holy Spirit, I trust in You.

Previous Daily Bible Study Blogs

Book of 2 Maccabees , Outline Summary, Outline Book of Matthew (we are studying these books presently)

Audio Drama: Old Testament New Testament Each book is read in its entirety. You can listen to the bible, one book at a time in contemporary English.

Dr. Myles Munroe

I am including a video by Dr. Myles Munroe, I’ve listened to him back in the nineties, and rediscovered him recently. Now his perspective seems to be a good way to also look at scripture. In Pursuit of Purpose – Book Highlights