Thurzo Gizella Bible Study

Word for today: Honour thy father and thy mother:that thy days may be long upon the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee. Exodus 20:12 KIV

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 9,10,11, & Matthew 26: 1-19

Readings for today – Listen or read it for yourself:

Also read the verses, if you like.

2 Maccabees 9

1 Now about that time it befell that Antiochus had returned in disorder from the region of Persia.

2 For he had entered into the city called Persepolis, and he assayed to rob a temple and to hold down the city. Whereupon there was an onset of the multitudes, and Antiochus and his men turned to make defence with arms; and it came to pass that Antiochus was put to flight by the people of the country and broke up his camp with disgrace.

3 And while he was at Ecbatana, news was brought him what had happened to Nicanor and the forces of Timotheus.

4 And being lifted up by his passion he thought to make the Jews suffer even for the evil-doing of those that had put him to rout. Wherefore, the judgement from heaven even now accompanying him, he gave order to his charioteer to drive without ceasing and despatch the journey; for thus he arrogantly spoke: I will make Jerusalem a common graveyard of Jews, when I come there.

5 But the All-seeing Lord, the God of Israel, struck him with a fatal and invisible stroke; and as soon as he had ceased speaking this word, an incurable pain of the bowels seized him, and bitter torments of the inner parts;

6 and that most justly, for he had tormented other men’s bowels with many and strange sufferings.

7 But he in no wise ceased from his rude insolence; no, still more was he filled with arrogance, breathing fire in his passion against the Jews, and commanding to haste the journey. But it came to pass moreover that he fell from his chariot as it rushed along, and having a grievous fall was racked in all the members of his body.

8 And he that but now supposed himself to have the waves of the sea at his bidding, so vainglorious was he beyond the condition of a man, and that thought to weigh the heights of the mountains in a balance, was now brought to the ground and carried in a litter, showing to all that the power was manifestly God’s;

9 so that out of the body of the impious man worms swarmed, and while he was still living in anguish and pains, his flesh fell off, and by reason of the stench all the army turned with loathing from his corruption.

10 And the man that a little before supposed himself to touch the stars of heaven, no one could endure to carry for his intolerable stench.

11 Therefore he began in great part to cease from his arrogance, being broken in spirit, and to come to knowledge under the scourge of God, his pains increasing every moment.

12 And when he himself could not stand his own smell, he said these words: It is right to be subject to God, and that one who is mortal should not be minded arrogantly.

13 And the vile man vowed to the sovereign Lord, who now no more would have pity upon him, saying on this wise:

14 that the holy city, to the which he was going in haste, to lay it even with the ground and to make it a common graveyard, he would declare free;

15 and as touching the Jews, whom he had decided not even to count worthy of burial, but to cast them out to the beasts with their infants, for the birds to devour, he would make them all equal to citizens of Athens;

16 and the holy sanctuary, which before he had plundered, he would adorn with goodliest offerings, and would restore all the sacred vessels many times multiplied, and out of his own revenues would defray the charges that were required for the sacrifices;

17 and, beside all this, that he would become a Jew, and would visit every inhabited place, publishing abroad the might of God.

18 But when his sufferings did in no wise cease, for the judgement of God had come upon him in righteousness, having given up all hope of himself, he wrote to the Jews the letter written below, having the nature of a supplication, to this effect:

19 To the worthy Jews, his fellow-citizens, Antiochus, king and general, wishes much joy and health and prosperity.

20 May you° and your children fare well; and your affairs shall be to your mind. Having my hope in heaven,

21 I remembered with affection your honour and good will towards me. Returning out of the region of Persia, and being taken with a noisome sickness, I deemed it necessary to take thought for the common safety of all,

22 not despairing of myself, but having great hope to escape from the sickness.

23 But considering that my father also, at what time he led an army into the upper country, appointed his successor,

24 to the end that, if anything fell out contrary to expectation, or if any unwelcome tidings were brought, they that remained in the country, knowing to whom the state had been left, might not be troubled;

25 and, beside all this, observing how that the princes that are borderers and neighbours to my kingdom watch opportunities, and look for the future event, I have appointed my son Antiochus to be king, whom I often committed and commended to most of you, when I was hastening to the upper provinces; and I have written to him what is written below.

26 I exhort you therefore and beseech you, having in your remembrance the benefits done to you in common and severally, to preserve each of you your present good will towards me and my son.

27 For I am persuaded that he in gentleness and kindness will follow my purpose and treat you with indulgence.

28 So the murderer and blasphemer, having endured the most intense sufferings, even as he had dealt with other men, ended his life amongst the mountains by a most piteous fate in a strange land.

29 And Philip his foster brother conveyed the body home; and then, fearing the son of Antiochus, he betook himself to Ptolemy Philometor in Egypt.

2 Maccabees 10

1 And Maccabaeus and those who were with him, the Lord leading them on, recovered the temple and the city;

2 and they pulled down the altars that had been built in the marketplace by the aliens, and also the walls of sacred inclosures.

3 And having cleansed the sanctuary they made another altar of sacrifice; and striking stones and taking fire out of them, they offered sacrifices, after they had ceased for two years, and burnt incense, and lighted lamps, and set forth the show bread.

4 And when they had done these things, they fell prostrate and implored the Lord that they might fall no more into such evils; but that, if ever they should sin, they might be chastened by him with forbearance, and not be delivered to blaspheming and barbarous heathen.

5 Now on the same day that the sanctuary was profaned by aliens, upon that very day did it come to pass that the cleansing of the sanctuary was made, even on the five and twentieth day of the same month, which is Chislev.

6 And they kept eight days with gladness in the manner of the feast of tabernacles, remembering how that not long before, during the feast of tabernacles, they were wandering in the mountains and in the caves after the manner of wild beasts.

7 Wherefore bearing wands wreathed with leaves, and fair boughs, and palms also, they offered up hymns of thanksgiving to him that had prosperously brought to pass the cleansing of his own place.

8 They ordained also with a common statute and decree, for all the nation of the Jews, that they should keep these days every year.

9 And such was the end of Antiochus, who was called Epiphanes.

10 But now will we declare what came to pass under Antiochus named Eupator, who proved himself a true son of that ungodly man, and will gather up briefly the successive evils of the wars.

11 For this man, when he succeeded to the kingdom, appointed one Lysias to be chancellor, and supreme governor of Coelesyria and Phoenicia.

12 For Ptolemy that was called Macron, setting an example of observing justice towards the Jews because of the wrong that had been done to them, endeavored to conduct his dealings with them on peaceful terms.

13 Whereupon being accused by the king’s Friends before Eupator, and hearing himself called traitor at every turn, because he had abandoned Cyprus which Philometor had entrusted to him, and had withdrawn himself to Antiochus called Epiphanes, and failing to uphold the honour of his office, he took poison and made away with himself.

14 But Gorgias, when he was made governor of the district, maintained a force of mercenaries, and at every turn kept up war with the Jews.

15 And together with him the Idumaeans also, being masters of important strongholds, harassed the Jews; and receiving to them those that had taken refuge there from Jerusalem, they assayed to keep up war.

16 But Maccabaeus and his men, having made solemn supplication and implored God to fight on their side, rushed upon the strongholds of the Idumaeans;

17 and assaulting them vigorously they made themselves masters of the positions, and kept off all that fought upon the wall, and killed those that fell in their way, and killed no fewer than twenty thousand.

18 And because no less than nine thousand were fled into two towers exceedingly strong and having all things needed for a seige,

19 Maccabaeus, having left Simon and Joseph, and Zacchaeus besides and those who were with him, a force sufficient to besiege them, departed himself to places where he was most needed.

20 But Simon and those who were with him, yielding to covetousness, were bribed by certain of those that were in the towers, and receiving seventy thousand drachmas let some of them slip away.

21 But when word was brought to Maccabaeus of what was done, he gathered the leaders of the people together, and accused those men of having sold their kindred for money, by setting their enemies free to fight against them.

22 So he killed these men for having turned traitors, and forthwith took possession of the two towers.

23 And prospering with his arms in all things he took in hand, he destroyed in the two strongholds more than twenty thousand.

24 Now Timotheus, who had been before defeated by the Jews, having gathered together foreign forces in great multitudes, and having collected the horsemen which belonged to Asia, not a few, came as though he would take Judea by force of arms.

25 But as he drew near, Maccabaeus and his men sprinkled earth upon their heads and girded their loins with sackcloth, in supplication to God,

26 and falling down upon the step in front of the altar, implored him to become gracious to them, and be an enemy to their enemies and an adversary to their adversaries, as the law declares.

27 And rising from their prayer they took up their arms, and advanced some distance from the city; and when they had come near to their enemies they halted.

28 And when the dawn was now spreading, the two armies joined battle; the one part having this, beside their virtue, for a pledge of success and victory, that they had fled to the Lord for refuge, the others making their passion their leader in the strife.

29 But when the battle waxed strong, there appeared out of heaven to their adversaries five men on horses with bridles of gold, in splendid array; and two of them, leading on the Jews,

30 and taking Maccabaeus in the midst of them, and covering him with their own armour, guarded him from wounds, while on the adversaries they shot forth arrows and thunderbolts; by reason whereof they were blinded and thrown into confusion, and were cut to pieces, filled with bewilderment.

31 And there were slain twenty thousand and five hundred, beside six hundred horsemen.

32 But Timotheus himself fled into a stronghold called Gazara, a fortress of exceedingly strength, Chaereas being in command there.

33 But Maccabaeus and his men were glad and laid siege to the fortress four and twenty days.

34 And those who were within, trusting to the strength of the place, blasphemed exceedingly, and hurled forth impious words.

35 But at dawn of the five and twentieth day certain young men of the company of Maccabaeus, inflamed with passion because of the blasphemies, assaulted the wall with masculine force and with furious passion, and cut down whoever came in their way.

36 And others climbing up in like manner, while the besieged were distracted with them that had made their way within, set fire to the towers, and kindling fires burnt the blasphemers alive; while others broke open the gates, and, having given entrance to the rest of the band, occupied the city.

37 And they killed Timotheus, who was hidden in a cistern, and his brother Chaereas, and Apollophanes.

38 And when they had accomplished these things, they blessed the Lord with hymns and thanksgiving, him who does great benefits to Israel, and gives them the victory.

2 Maccabees 11

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1 Now after a very little time Lysias, the king’s guardian and kinsman and chancellor, being sore displeased for the things that had come to pass,

2 collected about fourscore thousand footmen and all his horsemen and came against the Jews, thinking to make the city a place for Greeks to dwell in,

3 and to levy tribute on the temple, as on the other sacred places of the nations, and to put up the high priesthood to sale every year;

4 holding in no account the might of God, but puffed up with his ten thousands of footmen, and his thousands of horsemen, and his fourscore elephants.

5 And coming into Judea and drawing near to Bethsuron, which was a strong place and distant from Jerusalem about five leagues, he pressed it hard.

6 But when Maccabaeus and his men learnt that he was besieging the strongholds, they and all the people with lamentations and tears made supplication to the Lord to send a good angel to save Israel.

7 And Maccabaeus himself took up arms first, and exhorted the others to put themselves in jeopardy together with him and help their kindred; and they went out with him very willingly.

8 And as they were there, close to Jerusalem, there appeared at their head one on horseback in white apparel, brandishing weapons of gold.

9 And they all together praised the merciful God, and were yet more strengthened in heart: being ready to assail not men only but the wildest beasts, and walls of iron,

10 they advanced in array, having him that is in heaven to fight on their side, for the Lord had mercy on them.

11 And hurling themselves like lions upon the enemy, they killed of them eleven thousand footmen and sixteen hundred horsemen, and forced all the rest to flee.

12 But the more part of them escaped wounded and naked; and Lysias also himself escaped by shameful flight.

13 But as he was a man not void of understanding, weighing with himself the defeat which had befallen him, and considering that the Hebrews could not be overcome, because the Almighty God fought on their side, he sent again to them,

14 and persuaded them to come to terms on condition that all their rights were acknowledged, and promised that he would also persuade the king to become their friend.

15 And Maccabaeus gave consent upon all the conditions which Lysias proposed to him, being careful of the common good; for whatever requests Maccabaeus delivered in writing to Lysias concerning the Jews the king allowed.

16 For the letters written to the Jews from Lysias were to this effect: Lysias to the people of the Jews, greeting.

17 John and Absalom, who were sent from you, having delivered the petition written below, made request concerning the things signified therein.

18 Whatever things therefore had need to be brought before the king I declared to him, and what things were possible he allowed.

19 If then you° will preserve your good will towards the state, henceforward I will also endeavour to contribute to your good.

20 And on this behalf I have given order in detail, both to these men and to those that are sent from me, to confer with you.

21 Fare you° well. Written in the hundred and forty and eighth year, on the four and twentieth day of the month Dioscorinthius.

22 And the king’s letter was in these words: King Antiochus to his brother Lysias, greeting.

23 Seeing that our father passed to the gods having the wish that the subjects of his kingdom should be undisturbed and give themselves to the care of their own affairs,

24 we, having heard that the Jews do not consent to our father’s purpose to turn them to the customs of the Greeks, but choose rather their own manner of living, and make request that the customs of their law be allowed to them,—

25 choosing therefore that this nation also should be free from disturbance, we determine that their temple be restored to them, and that they live according to the customs that were in the days of their ancestors.

26 You will therefore do well to send messengers to them and give them the right hand of friendship, that they, knowing our mind, may be of good heart, and gladly occupy themselves with the conduct of their own affairs.

27 And to the nation the king’s letter was after this manner: King Antiochus to the senate of the Jews and to the other Jews, greeting.

28 If you° fare well, we have our desire: we ourselves also are in good health.

29 Menelaus informed us that your desire was to return home and follow your own business.

30 They therefore that depart home up to the thirties day of Xanthicus shall have our friendship, with full permission

31 that the Jews use their own proper meats and observe their own laws, even as formerly; and none of them shall be in any way molested for the things that have been ignorantly done.

32 Moreover I have sent Menelaus also, that he may encourage you.

33 Fare you° well. Written in the hundred and forty and eighth year, on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.

34 And the Romans also sent to them a letter in these words: Quintus Memmius and Titus Manius, ambassadors of the Romans, to the people of the Jews, greeting.

35 In regard to the things which Lysias the king’s kinsman granted you, we also give consent.

36 But as for the things which he judged should be referred to the king, send one forthwith, after you° have advised thereof, that we may publish such decrees as befit your case; for we are on our way to Antioch.

37 Wherefore send some with speed, that we also may learn what is your mind.

38 Farewell. Written in the hundred and forty and eighth year, on the fifteenth day of Xanthicus.

New Testament Reading for today

Matthew 26 :1-19

1 And it came to pass, when Jesus had finished all these sayings, he said to his disciples,

2 Ye know that after two days is the passover, and the Son of man is betrayed to be crucified.

3 Then assembled the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, in the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him.

5 But they said, Not on the feast-day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

6 Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper,

7 There came to him a woman having an alabaster-box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head as he sat at table.

8 But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste?

9 For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor.

10 When Jesus understood it, he said to them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me.

11 For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always.

12 For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial.

13 Verily I say to you, Wherever this gospel shall be preached in the whole world, there shall also this, which this woman hath done, be told for a memorial of her.

14 Then one of the twelve, called Judas Iscariot, went to the chief priests,

15 And said, What will ye give me, and I will deliver him to you? And they covenanted with him for thirty pieces of silver.

16 And from that time he sought opportunity to betray him.

17 Now the first day of the feast of unleavened bread, the disciples came to Jesus, saying to him, Where wilt thou that we prepare for thee to eat the passover?

18 And he said, Go into the city to such a man, and say to him, The Master saith, My time is at hand; I will keep the passover at thy house with my disciples.

19 And the disciples did as Jesus had appointed them; and they made ready the passover.

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,

Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Jesus, 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