12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.

I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
____________________

8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.

I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.

DECEMBER 27-31
Matthew 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23

The Wise Men Come to Bethlehem with Gifts for Jesus

Matthew 2:1-2: "Now when Jesus was born in Beth-lehem of Judaea in the days of Herod the king, behold, there came wise men [probably more than three--see Note 1 below] from the east [most likely Persia, or modern-day Iran] to Jerusalem, Saying, Where is he that is born King of the Jews [i.e., Jesus]? for we have seen his star in the east, and are come to worship him."

Matthew 2:3-4: "When Herod the king had heard these things, he was troubled [worried], and [so were] all [of the people of] Jerusalem with him. And when he had gathered all the chief priests and scribes [see Note 2 below] of the people together, he demanded of them [or 'asked them'] where [Jesus] Christ should be born."

Matthew 2:5-6: "And they [the chief priests and scribes] said unto him [King Herod], [The Christ child will be born] In Beth-lehem of Judaea: for thus [or 'so'] it is written by the prophet [Micah, in Micah 5:2, speaking for God], And thou [you] Beth-lehem, in the land of Juda [Judah], art [are] not the least among the princes of Juda: for out of thee [you] shall come a Governor, that shall rule my people Israel."

Matthew 2:7,8: "Then Herod, when he had privily [privately] called the wise men, enquired [inquired, asked] of them diligently what time the star appeared. And he sent them to Beth-lehem, and said, Go and search diligently [carefully, persistently] for the young child; and when ye [you] have found him, bring me word again, [so] that I may come and worship him also [which wasn't true--Herod was lying]."

Matthew 2:9-10: "When they [the wise men] had heard the king [say that], they departed [went away from] [Jerusalem]; and, lo [look! see!], the star [of Bethlehem--see Note 3 below], which they saw in the east, went before them, till [until] it came and stood over where the young child [Jesus] was. When they saw the star, they rejoiced with exceeding great joy."

Matthew 2:11: "And when they were come into the house [not 'stable'], they saw the young child [Jesus] with Mary his mother, and fell down [on the ground], and worshipped him: and when they had opened their treasures, they presented unto him [Jesus] gifts; [i.e.,] gold, and frankincense, and myrrh [see Note 4 below]."

Matthew 2:12: "And being warned of [by] God in a dream that they should not return to [King] Herod, they [the wise men] departed into [or 'returned to'] their own country another way."

Matthew 2:13: "And when they were [or 'had'] departed [or 'after they left'], behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth [appeared] to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise [get up], and take the young child [Jesus] and his mother [Mary], and flee [run away] into Egypt, and be thou [or 'you be,' or 'stay'] there until I bring thee [you] word: for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

Matthew 2:14-15: "When he [Joseph] arose, he took the young child [Jesus] and his mother [Mary] by night, and departed into Egypt: And [he--Joseph (and his family)] was there until the death of Herod: [so] that it might be fulfilled [that] [message] which was spoken of [or 'from'] the Lord [God] by the prophet [Hosea], saying [in Hosea 11:1], Out of Egypt have I [God] called my son."

Matthew 2:16: "Then [King] Herod, when he saw that he was [or 'had been'] mocked of [or 'ridiculed, or made fun of, by'] the wise men, was exceeding wroth [meaning he was very angry], and sent forth [soldiers], and slew [killed] all [of] the children that were in Beth-lehem, and in all [of] the coasts thereof, from two years old and under [or 'younger'], according to the time which he [Herod] had diligently enquired [inquired] of the wise men [because that's how old Jesus was at the time this occurred]."

Matthew 2:17-18: "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy [Jeremiah] the prophet [in Jeremiah 31:15--see Note 5 below], saying, In Rama [Ramah, a town near Bethlehem] was there a voice heard, lamentation [cries of grief], and weeping, and great mourning [sadness, sorrow], Rachel [in this case, representing many Jewish mothers] weeping for her children, and would not be comforted, because they [the children] are not [alive]."

Matthew 2:19-20: "But when [King] Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeareth [appeared] in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, Saying, Arise [get up], and take the young child [Jesus] and his mother [Mary], and go into the land of Israel: for they are dead which sought the young child's life [referring to King Herod and his men]."

Matthew 2:21,22: "And he [Joseph] arose, and took the young child [Jesus] and his mother [Mary], and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus did reign [rule] in Judaea in the room of his father Herod [or 'as his father's successor'], he was afraid to go thither [there]: notwithstanding, being warned of [by] God in a dream, he turned aside into the parts of Galilee:"

Matthew 2:23: "And he [Joseph--and his family] came and dwelt [lived] in a city called Nazareth: [so] that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, He [Jesus] shall be called a Nazarene [see Note 6 below]."
NOTE 1:

Scribes are defined in the following article: "Who were the scribes that often argued with Jesus?" To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/scribes-Jesus.html.

NOTE 2:

The fact that no one knows for sure how many wise men there actually were is explained in the following article: "What does the Bible say about the three wise men (Magi)?"  If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/three-wise-men.html.

NOTE 3:

GotQuestions.org has an interesting article that answers the question "What was the star of Bethlehem?" Here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/star-of-Bethlehem.html.

NOTE 4:

The meaning of each of the wise men's gifts is detailed in the following article: "Why did the Magi bring gold, frankincense, and  myrrh to Jesus?" You can find it here: https://www.gotquestions.org/gold-frankincense-myrrh.html.

NOTE 5:

Jeremiah's prophecy as applied to the murder of little boys under the age of two in Bethlehem is explained in the article entitled: "How does Jesus fulfill the prophecy that begins 'a voice was heard in Ramah' (Matthew 2:18)?" Here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/voice-heard-in-Ramah.html.

NOTE 6:

"What prophecy is Matthew 2:23 referring to regarding Jesus being a Nazarene?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Matthew-2-23-Jesus-Nazarene.html.

Here are  even more articles relating to today's verses:

-- "Who was Herod the Great?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Herod-the-Great.html)

-- "What does it mean that the magi saw His star in the east (Matthew 2:2)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Magi-saw-His-star-in-the-east.html)

-- "Is Micah 5:2 a Messianic prophecy?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Micah-5-2-Messianic.html)

-- "What did Joseph and Mary do with the gifts the magi brought to Jesus?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Joseph-Mary-gifts-magi.html)

-  "How does Jesus fulfill the prophecy that says, 'Out of Egypt I called my son' (Matthew 2:15)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/out-of-Egypt-I-called-my-son.html)

-- "What is the Massacre of the Innocents?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Massacre-of-the-Innocents.html)

-- "How does Jesus fulfill the prophecy that begins 'a voice was heard in Ramah' (Matthew 2:18)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/voice-heard-in-Ramah.html)

-- "What prophecy is Matthew 2:23 referring to regarding Jesus being a Nazarene?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Matthew-2-23-Jesus-Nazarene.html)

-- "Why is Jesus often referred to as Jesus of Nazareth?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-of-Nazareth.html)

-- "What happened to Mary?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/what-happened-to-Mary.html)

-- "Who was Joseph, the father of Jesus?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Joseph-the-father-of-Jesus.html)

DECEMBER 25-26
Luke 2:6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

Jesus' Birth Was Accompanied by Fear, Joy, and Praise to God

Luke 2:6-7: "And so it was, that, while they [Mary and Joseph] were there [in Bethlehem], the days were accomplished that she [the virgin Mary] should be delivered [of her child, meaning it was time for her pregnancy to end]. And she brought forth [gave birth to] her firstborn son [Jesus], and wrapped him in swaddling clothes [see note below*], and laid him in a manger [a feeding trough for animals]; because there was no room for them in the inn [see note below**]."

Luke 2:8: "And there were in the same country [i.e., Judea, the area around Bethlehem, where Mary and Joseph had gone to be 'taxed'--or, in this case, counted in the census,] shepherds abiding [dwelling, living, residing] in the field, [taking turns] keeping watch over their flock by night [to prevent the sheep from straying (wandering) and to protect them from wild animals and thieves]."

Luke 2:9: "And, lo [see], the angel of the Lord [perhaps Gabriel] came upon [or 'stood over' or 'appeared to'] them [the shepherds], and the glory of the Lord [i.e., an extremely bright light] shone round about [around] them: and they were sore afraid [meaning they were frightened, terrified, filled with fear]."

Luke 2:10-11,12: "And the angel said unto them [the shepherds], Fear not [don't be afraid]: for, behold, I bring you good tidings [news] of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David [i.e., in Bethlehem] a [referring to the promised and long-awaited] Saviour [Savior], which is [Jesus] Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you [shepherds]; Ye [you ] shall find the babe [baby, infant, newborn child] wrapped in swaddling clothes, [and] lying in a manger."

Luke 2:13-14: "And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude [large number] of the heavenly host [referring to a group of angels] praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest [heavens], and on earth peace [because Jesus' future death on the cross to pay for 'the sin of the world' (as stated by John the Baptist in John 1:29, meaning all of the sins of everyone in the world--past, present, and future) would make it possible for us to have peace with God and with one another], [and also, on earth,] good will toward men [or 'mankind' or 'all human beings']."
*According to online dictionaries, swaddling clothes are narrow bands of cloth formerly wrapped around a newborn child to restrain [limit] its movements and quiet it.
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The reason Mary wrapped her son in swaddling clothes is explained in the article entitled "What does it mean that baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/swaddling-clothes.html.

**The following articles discuss why there was no room at the inn and why baby Jesus was placed in a manger:

-- "Where was Jesus born?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/where-was-Jesus-born.html)

-- "Why was Jesus born in a manger?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-manger.html)

Although the Bible mentions what happened on the day that Jesus was born, it does not state the date of his birth. GotQuestions.org has written an article in response to the questions "Was Jesus born on December 25? Is December 25 Jesus' birthday?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/December-25.html.
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Another article about the date of Jesus' birth is entitled "Was Jesus actually born in September?" Here's that link: https://www.gotquestions.org/was-Jesus-born-in-September.html.

The following articles also relate to today's verses:

-- "What were the good tidings of great joy in Luke 2:10?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/good-tidings-of-great-joy.html)

-- "What is a Christmas nativity?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Christmas-nativity.html)

DECEMBER 23-24
Isaiah 9:6

Names of (or Descriptive Titles for) Jesus and Their Meanings

Following his vision of future events, the Old Testament prophet Isaiah wrote this about the birth of the Savior:

Isaiah 9:6: "For unto us [both the Jewish people and everyone else in the world,] [for our benefit,] a child [named Jesus] is born [of (to) the virgin Mary], [and] unto us a son [the Lord Jesus Christ--Son of God (or God the Son) and Messiah] is given [by God the Father, to become a sacrifice for the sins of the world (i.e., Jesus' reason for coming to earth was to die on the cross to pay for our sins, save us from hell, and purchase the gift of eternal life)]: and the government shall be upon his [Jesus'] shoulder [because he will eventually be crowned King--see note below*]:

and his [Jesus'] name shall be called

Wonderful [because he will inspire wonder, amazement, and adoration due to the circumstances surrounding his birth, death, resurrection, and everything that he'll do throughout his life],

Counsellor [because he will have great wisdom and consequently will be highly qualified to guide and direct the entire human race],

The mighty God [because he will be both human and divine (i.e., fully God and fully man); in other words, he'll be 'God in the flesh'--see note below**],

The everlasting Father [because he will rule over his people forever],

The Prince of Peace [because he will be the true source of peace, meaning peace with God, and peace with people]."
*"What does it mean that the government will be on His shoulders (Isaiah 9:6)?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/the-government-will-be-on-His-shoulders.html.

**For an explanation of why Isaiah said that Jesus would be called "The mighty God," read "Is Jesus God in the flesh?" You can find it here: https://www.gotquestions.org/God-in-the-flesh.html.

GotQuestions.org also has articles on all five names that are mentioned in today's verse. They are as follows:

-- "What does it mean that Jesus is our Wonderful Counselor (Isaiah 9:6)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Wonderful-Counselor.html)

-- "What does it mean that Jesus is 'Mighty God' (Isaiah 9:6)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Mighty-God.html)

-- "What is the meaning of 'Everlasting Father' in Isaiah 9:6?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Everlasting-Father.html)

-- "What does it mean that Jesus is the Prince of Peace (Isaiah 9:6)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Prince-of-Peace.html)

DECEMBER 21-22
Luke 2:1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Before Jesus is Born, Mary and Joseph Travel to Bethlehem to be Taxed

Luke 2:1-3: "And it came to pass in those days [when the virgin Mary was pregnant], that there went out a decree [an official order] from Caesar Augustus [the Roman emperor], that all the world [referring, at that time, to everyone in the land of Palestine--see note below*] should be taxed [see note below**]. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all [of the people] went to be taxed, every one into his own city."

Luke 2:4-5: "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David [i.e., where King David was born], which is called Beth-lehem; (because he [Joseph] was of the house and lineage of David [meaning he was a descendant of King David]:) [he (Joseph) went there] To be taxed with Mary his [fianceé, or] espoused [soon-to-be] wife, being great [or heavy or big] with child [meaning she was in the last stage of pregnancy]."
*According to Albert Barnes:

"That all the world - There has been much difficulty respecting this [Bible] passage, from the fact that no such taxing of 'all the world' is mentioned by ancient writers. It should have been rendered 'the whole land' - that is, the whole land of Palestine. The 'whole land' is mentioned to show that it was not 'Judea' only, but that it included also 'Galilee,' the place where Joseph and Mary dwelt [lived]. That the passage refers only to the land of Palestine, and not to the whole world, or to all the Roman empire, is clear from the following considerations:

"I. The fact that no such taxing is mentioned as pertaining to any other country.

"II. The account of Luke demands only that it should be understood of [or 'to mean'] Palestine, or the country where the Saviour [Savior--Jesus] was born.

'III. The words 'world' and 'whole world' are not unfrequently [or 'are frequently' or 'are often'] used in this limited sense as confined to a single country."
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**Also, according to Albert Barnes:

"Should be taxed - Our word 'tax' means to levy and raise money for the use of the government. This is not the meaning of the original word here. It means rather to 'enroll' or take a 'list' of the citizens, with their employments [jobs], the amount of their property, etc., equivalent to what was meant by census …"
____________________

(Source for both quotes: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/luke-2.html, "Verse 1")

DECEMBER 19-20
Luke 1:39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47

While Pregnant With Jesus, Mary Visits Her Cousin Elizabeth

This took place soon after the virgin Mary was informed by the angel Gabriel that she had been chosen to give birth to the Messiah (God's Son, Jesus). At the time, Elizabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist (see note below*).

Luke 1:39-40:  "And [the virgin] Mary arose [got up and started out on a journey] in those days [i.e., during her early pregnancy], and went into the hill country [of Judea, or Judah] with haste [quickly], into a city of Juda [probably, the city of Hebron]; And entered into the house of Zacharias [Elizabeth's husband], and saluted [greeted] [her cousin] Elisabeth."

Luke 1:41-42: "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation [greeting] of Mary, the babe [baby, referring to Elizabeth's unborn child, who would later be called John the Baptist] leaped in her [Elizabeth's] womb [uterus]; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost [or 'Holy Spirit']: And she spake out [spoke out, cried out, exclaimed] with a loud voice, and said [to Mary], Blessed art thou [blessed (and to be honored) are you] among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy [your] womb [referring to baby Jesus]."

Luke 1:43-44,45: "And whence [from where] is this to me [Elizabeth] [or 'why is it'], that the mother of my Lord [referring to Mary, who was the mother of the Lord Jesus Christ] should come to [visit] me? For, lo [take note:], as soon as the voice of thy salutation sounded in mine [my (Elizabeth's)] ears, the babe [or 'my baby' (John)] leaped in my womb for joy. [Note: This was not a normal 'kick' from an unborn child.] And blessed [happy] is she [referring to Mary] that believed [the angel Gabriel]: for there shall be a performance [fulfillment] of those things which were told [to] her [Mary] from the Lord [i.e., that she would conceive (become pregnant) and give birth to the Son of God]."

Luke 1:46-47: "And Mary said, My soul doth [does] [or 'I do'] magnify [praise] the Lord [God], And my spirit hath [has] rejoiced in God my Saviour [Savior, referring to Mary's soon-to-be firstborn child, Jesus, who was (and is and always will be) the Messiah and Savior of the world]."
Like Mary and her cousin Elisabeth, we all need a Savior to pay our sin debt. That's why Jesus was born.

In his commentary on Luke 1:45, Albert Barnes wrote:

"… From these expressions of Elizabeth [i.e., 'blessed is she that believed,' in Luke 1:45,] we may learn:

"I. That the spirit of prophecy had not entirely ceased [ended] among the Jews.

"II. That the Holy Spirit is the source of light, comfort, and joy.

"III. That everything about the birth of Jesus was remarkable, and that he must have been more than a mere [or 'normal'] man.

"IV. That the prospect of the coming of the Messiah [to earth] was one of great joy and rejoicing to ancient saints [older believers]; and,

"V. That it was a high honor to be 'the mother' of him that should redeem [die to save] mankind [human beings].

"It is from 'that honor' that the Roman Catholics have determined that it is right to worship the Virgin Mary and to offer prayers to her - an act of worship as idolatrous as any that could be offered to a creature [created being]. Because:

"I. It [worshiping Mary] is not anywhere commanded in the Bible.

"II. It is expressly forbidden to worship any [living] being but God, [as stated in] Exodus 34:14; Exodus 20:4-5; Deuteronomy 6:13-14; Isaiah 45:20.

"III. It is idolatry to worship or pray to a creature.

"IV. It is absurd [ridiculous] to suppose that the Virgin Mary can be in all places at the same time to hear the prayers of thousands [of people] at once, or to aid [assist, help] them [or 'those people']. There is no idolatry more gross [outrageous], and of course more wicked, than to worship the creature [created being] more than the Creator [God], Romans 1:25."

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/eng/bnb/luke-1.html,"Verse 45")

*For background information on Elizabeth, read the following articles:

-- "Who was Elizabeth in the Bible?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Elizabeth-in-the-Bible.html)

-- "What is the story of Zechariah and Elizabeth?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Zechariah-and-Elizabeth.html)

Here is another article that relates to today's verses:

-- "How old was Mary when Jesus was born?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/how-old-was-Mary.html)

DECEMBER 17-18
Matthew 1:18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25

Joseph Discovers That His Fiancée (the Virgin Mary) is Pregnant

Matthew 1:18: "Now the birth of Jesus Christ was on this wise [or 'in this manner']: When as his [Jesus'] mother [the virgin] Mary was espoused [engaged to be married] to Joseph, before they came together [sexually, as husband and wife], she [Mary] was found [to be] with child of the Holy Ghost [meaning she was found to be pregnant with baby Jesus, whom the Holy Spirit had created (formed) in her womb (uterus)]."

Matthew 1:19: "Then Joseph [who was] her [Mary's] [future] husband, being a just [or kind, tender, merciful] man, and [because he was] not willing to make her a publick [public] example [meaning he didn't want to embarrass Mary, humiliate her publicly, or cause her harm--see note below*], [he] was minded [had decided] to put her away [or 'separate himself from her'] privily [privately] [by breaking off their engagement]."

Matthew 1:20,21: "But while he [Joseph] thought on [or 'about'] these things, behold, the angel of the Lord [probably Gabriel] appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph, thou [you] son [or--in this case--descendant] of [King] David, fear not [or 'don't be afraid'] to take unto thee [yourself] Mary [as] thy [your] wife: for that [baby] which is conceived in her is of [or 'by'] the Holy Ghost. And she [Mary] shall bring forth [or 'give birth to'] a son, and thou shalt [you shall] call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people [referring, at that time, to the Israelites, or Jewish people] from their sins [which was Jesus' main reason for coming to earth]."

Matthew 1:22,23: "Now all [of] this was done, [so] that it might be fulfilled [brought about] [that] which was spoken of [by] the Lord [God] [and prophesied] by the prophet [Isaiah, in Isaiah 7:14], saying, Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us."

Matthew 1:24-25: "Then Joseph being raised from sleep [or 'having been awakened'] did as the angel of the Lord had bidden [instructed] him, and took unto him [Mary as] his wife: And knew her not [meaning he did not have sex with her] till [until after] she had brought forth [given birth to] her firstborn [child, a] son: and he [Joseph] called his [i.e., the baby's] name JESUS."
*Thankfully, we don't live in Bible times because, as Albert Barnes noted in his commentary on Matthew 1:19:

"… Adultery has always been considered a crime of a very heinous [evil or wicked] nature. In Egypt, it was punished by cutting off the nose of the adulteress [the woman who had committed adultery]; in Persia, the nose and ears [of the adulteress] were cut off; in Judea, the punishment was death by stoning … This punishment was also inflicted [used] where the person was not married, but betrothed [engaged] … In this case, therefore, the regular punishment would have been death [for Mary] in this painful and ignominious [disgraceful, shameful] manner [referring to stoning]. Yet Joseph was a religious man - mild and tender [gentle and kind]; and he was not willing to complain of [or 'about'] her [Mary] to the magistrate [the person who administered the law, like a judge], and expose her to death, but sought to avoid the shame, and to put her away privately."

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/matthew-1.html, "Verse 19")

Here are some GotQuestions.org articles about Mary, Joseph, and the virgin birth:

-- "What does it mean that Mary had been betrothed to Joseph (Matthew 1:18)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Mary-betrothed-to-Joseph.html)

-- "What does it mean that Joseph was a just man (Matthew 1:19)?"
    ((https://www.gotquestions.org/Joseph-was-a-just-man.html)

-- "Who was Joseph, the father of Jesus?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Joseph-the-father-of-Jesus.html)

-- "When were Joseph and Mary considered married?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Joseph-and-Mary.html)

-- "Why is the virgin birth so important?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/virgin-birth.html)

-- "Is Jesus God in the flesh?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/God-in-the-flesh.html)

-- "What does Jesus' name have to do with the fact that He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/He-will-save-His-people-from-their-sins.html)

-- "Did Mary have other children?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/did-Mary-have-other-children.html)

DECEMBER 14-16
Luke 1:30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35

Exciting News for the Virgin Mary: She Was Chosen to Give Birth to God's Son

When Elisabeth was six months pregnant with John the Baptist, an angel was sent to the city of Nazareth to deliver an important message to Elisabeth's cousin Mary, a virgin who was betrothed to, or engaged to marry. a man named Joseph.

Luke 1:30-31: "And the angel [Gabriel] said unto her [the virgin Mary], Fear not [don't be afraid], Mary: for thou hast [you have] found favour [favor] with God. And, behold, thou shalt [you shall] conceive [a child] in thy [your] womb [uterus] [which meant that she would become pregnant], and bring forth [give birth to] a son [who is the promised Messiah of Israel and the Savior of the world], and [you] shalt [shall] call his name JESUS [meaning 'Jehovah (the Lord) is Salvation'--see Note 1 below]."

Luke 1:32,33: "He [Jesus] shall be great [in word and deed (referring to the things that he says and does), and in power, wisdom, influence, etc.], and shall be called the Son of the Highest [or 'the Son of God']: and the Lord God shall give unto him [Jesus] the throne [kingdom] of his [Jesus'] [earthly] father [referring to Jesus' ancestor, King] David [note: Mary and Joseph (Jesus' earthly mother and father) were both related to King David, which meant that Jesus would also be a descendant of King David and consequently could inherit his throne--see Note 2 below]: And he [Jesus] shall reign [rule] over the house [family] of Jacob [referring to all of the descendants of Jacob, who were also known as the children of Israel,] for ever; and of his [Jesus'] kingdom [both on earth and in heaven, whose inhabitants include all born-again Christians] there shall be no end."

Luke 1:34: "Then said Mary unto the angel, How shall this be [meaning 'how can I become pregnant and bear a child'], seeing [that] I know not [or 'have not known,' or--especially, in this case--'have not had sexual relations with'] a man?"

Luke 1:35: "And the angel answered and said unto her [Mary], The Holy Ghost [the Holy Spirit] shall come upon thee [you], and the power of the Highest [or 'the most high God'] shall overshadow thee [which meant that Jesus' earthly body would be created supernaturally, by the power of God--see Note 3 below]: therefore also that holy thing [or 'that holy child'] which shall be born of thee [referring to baby Jesus] shall be called the Son of God [in regard to his human nature]."
NOTE 1:

"What is the meaning of the name Jesus?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. If you want to read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/meaning-name-Jesus.html.

NOTE 2:

The article entitled "What does it mean that Jesus is the Son of David?" explains Jesus' relationship to King David. If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-son-of-David.html.
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A related article is entitled "What is the throne of David that Jesus is supposed to sit on?" Here's that link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-throne-of-David.html.

NOTE 3:

Definition of overshadow, according to Strong's Concordance:

"… Used of the Holy Spirit exerting creative energy upon the womb of the virgin Mary and impregnating it (a use of the word which seems to have been drawn from the familiar OT [Old Testament] idea of a cloud as symbolising [symbolizing, representing] the immediate presence and power of God)"

(Source: https://www.godrules.net/library/kjvstrongs/kjvstrongsluk1.htm, "1:35," "overtshadow--1982")

Regarding the virgin birth, Donald C. Fleming, a Bible commentator, wrote:

"… Mary's pregnancy would come about not through any sexual relations with Joseph, but through the direct creative power of the Spirit of God [i.e., the Holy Spirit]. The son born to her [Mary] would be of Adam's race [i.e., the human race] but free of [or 'without'] any trace of Adam's sin. He [Jesus] would not be one whom God merely adopted as his son, but one who was actually God's Son …"

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/luke/1-30.html, "Bridgeway Bible Commentary")

Here are some more articles about the virgin birth:

-- "Why did God choose Mary?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/why-did-God-choose-Mary.html)

-- "What does the Bible say about the virgin Mary?
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/virgin-Mary.html)

DECEMBER 13
John 1:14

The apostle John wrote:

John 1:14: "And the Word [of God; i.e., the living Word--Jesus Christ, Son of God (or God the Son), and second person of the Trinity--see Note 1 below] was made flesh [meaning he became a human being], and dwelt [lived on earth] among us [the Jewish people], (and we [referring to Peter, James, and John when they witnessed the transfiguration of Jesus--see Note 2 below] beheld [observed, saw] his [Jesus'] [heavenly] glory [i.e., the magnificence of his divine nature, or the way that he appears in heaven], the glory as of the only [person on earth who was ever] begotten of [brought forth directly from God] the Father,) [see Note 3 below] [and who (referring to Jesus) is] full of grace and truth."
NOTE 1:

"What does the Bible teach about the Trinity?" is answered in the GotQuestions.org article by the same name. If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Trinity-Bible.html.

NOTE 2:

For information about the transfiguration, read "What was the meaning and importance of the transfiguration?" Here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/transfiguration.html.

NOTE 3:

During the incarnation, baby Jesus was conceived (placed in the virgin Mary's uterus, or womb) by the Holy Ghost, which meant that God was his father, Consequently, Jesus retained (kept) his divine (godly) nature. And because Mary was his mother, Jesus inherited a human nature from her. That is why we are told that Jesus is both God and man [i.e., a human being].

This is explained more fully in the following article: "What does incarnate mean? How was Jesus God incarnate?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/God-incarnate.html.

The following articles also relate to today's verse:

-- "What does it mean that the Word became flesh (John 1:14)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Word-became-flesh.html)

-- "What does it mean that we beheld His glory (John 1:14)?
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/we-beheld-His-glory.html)

-- "What do John 1:1, 14 mean when they declare that Jesus is the Word of God?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Jesus-Word-God.html)

-- "What does it mean that the Word dwelt among us (John 1:14)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Word-dwelt-among-us.html)

DECEMBER 12
James 2:19

In his letter to Jewish Christians, the apostle James wrote:

James 2:19: "Thou believest [you believe] that there is one God; thou doest [you do] well: the devils [evil spirits, demons] also believe [that there is one true God], and [they] tremble [shake involuntarily, in fear of his (God's) wrath (extreme anger) and of being tormented forever in the lake of fire]."
The apostle James said that devils believe in God, but we know that they're not saved, so simply believing in God is not enough to get us to heaven. According to what Jesus told Nicodemus (a Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin, which was the ruling body of the Jews--see note below*) in John 3:3, we must be born again.
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Perhaps you're wondering: How does a person become born again?

Basically, if you believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and Messiah, that he died on the cross to pay for your sins, and that he was buried and rose again, all you need to do is sincerely ask him (through prayer, either silently or out loud) to come into your heart and save you so you can go to heaven when you die. Why not do it now?

Note: Detailed instructions on the plan of salvation can be found in the "Printable Gospel Tracts" section of my website. Here's a direct link to that page: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.

The GotQuestions.org article that relates to today's verse is entitled "What does it mean that even the demons believe (James 2:19)?" and can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/even-the-demons-believe.html.

DECEMBER 7-11
Mark 1:14-15

The Meaning of Repentance, Gospel, Kingdom of God, and Lordship Salvation

At the start of his public ministry, Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (Mark 1:9) and then spent forty days and nights in the wilderness, fasting and being tempted by Satan (Matthew 4:1-2).

The story continues:

Mark 1:14-15: "Now after [the day] that John [the Baptist] was put in prison [by King Herod], Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel [good news] of the kingdom of God [referring to the Messiah's upcoming reign on earth], And saying [to the Jewish people], The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand [drawing near, approaching]: repent ye [in this case, meaning change your life, or behavior], and believe the gospel [of the kingdom, the meaning of which was understood by the Jews but not explained by Jesus--see note below*]."
*Like many people, you may have thought that Mark 1:15 is saying that we all need to repent in order to be saved. However, according to Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church:

"This was NOT a message of individual salvation, but of national repentance."

Pastor Delany explains what he meant by that statement in his excellent article entitled "The Gospel of the Kingdom: What is the Gospel of the Kingdom?" (https://www.salembible.org/the-gospel-of-the-kingdom/). Here are some excerpts from that article:

"4.) While Peter & the other disciples preached a 'gospel', it is clear that the content of that message was NOT: that Jesus died for your sins and rose again. Nor was it even that Jesus was GOING to die for your sins!

"* At that point they did not expect Jesus to die. They expected that He would establish the Kingdom [on earth] and reign forever!"
____________________

"3.) This gospel was never explained to the disciples. They were simply told to go out and preach it. (Matt.10:1-7) The disciples announced this good news to the people without explanation."
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"B.) This Message Needed No Explanation

"1.) How did the Jews know what this 'good news' of the Kingdom meant? How were they to understand the CONTENT of the good news if it was not explained to them??? They didn't NEED any explanation. They had been waiting for this message to come for over 400 years!

"2.) Mal.4:5-6 - The last message of the Old Testament told the Jews to be expecting: an Elijah-like prophet to come to Israel and TURN hearts in a right direction!

"3.) They were expecting someone to come an tell them to: 'turn around'… change your mind… repent! That is exactly what John [the Baptist] & Jesus did.

"4.) Mal.3:1 -- They were expecting a: 'messenger' to come with a message! This messenger would tell the people to TURN to God… repent… and he would prepare the way for the Messiah/King. This is exactly what John [the Baptist] did."
____________________

"i. The very last word of God in the Old Testament was a reminder to wait and watch and be ready for this Elijah-like prophet [John the Baptist] to come on the scene and TURN the people back to God… a message of national repentance to prepare the people for the coming King [Jesus Christ, the Messiah] & the theocratic Kingdom -- [i.e.,] God ruling on earth -- the Kingdom of heaven on earth -- thy kingdom come! (Mal.4:5-6)"
____________________

"C.) John 1:19-23 -- The King's Forerunner: John [the Baptist] said that he was the voice of one crying in the wilderness, announcing the coming of the Messiah-King [Jesus Christ], and was calling on the nation [of Israel] to prepare for the coming of the King and His Kingdom. The Jews understood that. This is what their most noteworthy prophet had told them to expect! (Cf. [compare] Isa.40:3)

"1. In his day, the Jews understood what he [John the Baptist] meant. In our day, the problem is one of reading NT [New Testament] truth back into the OT [Old Testament]. That is always dangerous.

"a. When John [the Baptist] & Jesus spoke of their message as a 'gospel', it did not have Christian meaning, but a Jewish meaning!

"b. It had nothing to do with the death, burial, & resurrection of [Jesus] Christ!

"c. The Christian church, the NT [New Testament] revelation was still a mystery. There was no possible way the people to whom they [John the Baptist and Jesus] preached would have understood the term 'gospel' as we do, after the cross [referring to the death, burial, and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ].

"d. They [the Jewish people] understood what God had revealed up to that point. The Christian church and Christian doctrine [teaching] [of salvation] were not yet revealed."
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"6. This message, calling the nation of Israel exclusively to repent and obey His [God's] commands is clearly NOT the same message as the gospel of God's grace, calling on individuals to believe that Jesus died and rose again and if they believe they will receive eternal life!"
____________________

"IV. Relationship To Lordship salvation

"A. Lordship salvation views the teachings of Jesus to Israel as equal to God's plan of salvation for the world today.

"B. They [the people who believe in Lordship salvation] view the ministry of [Jesus] Christ (& even the OT [Old Testament] prophets!) as a gospel ministry virtually the same as a Christian missionary.

"1. Yes, Jesus did tell individual men how to be saved.

"2. BUT, His main ministry was to Israel to confirm the covenants [agreements] made with their fathers [ancestors]. (Rom.15:8)

"3. The Sermon on the Mount is NOT the plan of salvation! …

"4 When Jesus said, 'Follow me and I will make you fishers of men', that is not the plan of salvation! Men are not saved by 'following' but by 'believing.'
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"C. As a result of that kind of thinking: They [the people who believe in Lordship salvation] emphasize 'repentance' and a 'turning from sin' as a pre-requisite [requirement] for salvation

"Lordship [salvation] people call upon men to 'stop sinning' before they can receive Christ [as Savior]. That is backwards. A man [or woman or child] must BELIEVE and be saved before he [or she] is ever ABLE to stop sinning!

"Interesting note: the purpose of the gospel of John is to teach men [or 'people'] what we must do in order to obtain eternal life. While the words 'faith' and 'believe' occur throughout that gospel, yet the term 'repent' does not appear even once!"

After reading the above excerpts from Pastor Delany's article about "The Gospel of the Kingdom," if you're still confused about Lordship salvation or want to know more about it, you may also want to read the excellent article entitled "Introduction to Lordship Salvation: Is It Another Gospel?" Here's that link: https://www.salembible.org/lordship-salvation/.

DECEMBER 5-6
Matthew 6:5, 6:6

Some Prayer Do's and Don'ts, According to Jesus

During the Sermon on the Mount [see note below*], Jesus said to his disciples (followers):

Matthew 6:5: "And when thou prayest [when you pray] [to God], thou shalt [you shall] not be as the hypocrites [for example, the scribes and Pharisees] are: for they love to pray [while] standing in the synagogues [in this case, referring to public places, such as marketplaces and courtyards, where people in Bible times tended to gather, meet, or assemble,] and in the corners of the streets [or 'on street corners'], [so] that they may be seen of men [and women and children]. Verily [truly] I say unto you, They [the hypocrites] have their reward [in this life, in the form of praise from other people]."

Matthew 6:6: "But thou [you], when thou prayest [when you pray], enter into thy [your] closet [secret room, or prayer closet, meaning you should go to a place where you can pray privately], and when thou hast [when you have] shut thy [your] [closet] door [i.e., when you are alone, to minimize distractions], pray to thy Father [in heaven, meaning God] which is in secret [meaning he is hidden, invisible, unseen]; and thy Father [in heaven] which seeth [or 'who sees what you are doing'] in secret shall reward thee [meaning he shall answer your prayer and/or bless you in other ways] openly [publicly, in view of others, both on earth and in heaven]."
In other words, our reason for praying should be to communicate with God, not to impress other people.

According to Matthew Henry, a Bible commentator:

"… Public places are not proper for private solemn [serious] prayer. …"

(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/matthew/6.html, "Verses 5-8," paragraph 1(4.) )

Albert Barnes added:

"… without giving rules, where the Saviour [i.e., the Lord Jesus Christ] has given none, we may suggest the following as times when secret prayer is proper:

"1. In the morning. Nothing can be more appropriate when we have been preserved [or 'kept safe'] through the night, and when we are about to enter upon the duties and dangers of another day, than to render to our great Preserver [God] thanks, and to commit ourselves to His fatherly care.

"2. In the evening. When the day has closed [or 'ended'], what would be more natural than to offer thanksgiving for the mercies of the day, and to implore [beg, ask] forgiveness for what we have said or done amiss [or 'wrong']? And when about to lie down again to sleep, not knowing but it may be our last sleep and that we may [die overnight and] awake in eternity, what more proper than to commend ourselves to the care of Him 'who never slumbers nor sleeps?' [i.e., God]

"3. … in times of embarrassment and perplexity [confusion]. Such times occur in every man's [person's] life, and it is then a privilege and a duty to go to God and seek his direction …

"4. … when we are beset [plagued, attacked, threatened] with strong temptations …

"5. … when the [Holy] Spirit prompts us to pray …"

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/matthew-6.html, "Verse 6")

*"What is the Sermon on the Mount?" is answered in the article by the same name. To read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/sermon-on-the-mount.html.

Here are some articles about today's verses:

-- "What does it mean to not be like the hypocrites in prayer (Matthew 6:5)?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-be-like-the-hypocrites.html).

-- "What is a prayer closet?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/prayer-closet.html)

-- "Is public prayer biblical?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/public-prayer.html)

-- "Should Christians post prayers on social media?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.blog/social-media-prayers.html)

DECEMBER 4
Psalm 119:89

The writer of this psalm, probably King David, said to God:

Psalm 119:89: "For ever, O LORD, thy [your] word [as recorded in the Bible] is settled [fixed, established] in heaven."
In other words, the Bible (containing God's laws, counsel/advice, promises, etc.) is complete and will never change.

Commenting on the above verse, Albert Barnes said:

"… The meaning here is, that the word - the law - the promise - of God was made firm, established, stable [not easily moved, altered, or destroyed], in heaven; and would be so [or 'like that'] forever and ever. What God had ordained [decreed] as law would always remain law; what he had affirmed [stated as fact] would always remain true; what he had promised would be sure forever."

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-119.html, "Verse 89")

And also regarding Psalm 119:89, Pastor Chuck Smith, another Bible commentator, wrote:

"You have nothing more permanent than the Word of God …

"… God's commandments and laws don't change because the mores [morals--acceptable customs, norms, and behaviors] of our society are so changed. The truth of God is absolute [fixed]. The law of God is absolute. It is not relative to a situation. It is not relative to a society. It is not relative to the mores of a society. God has established the absolute law. His Word is forever settled in heaven. If you find yourself arguing with the Word [of God], you're wrong. God's Word is a settled issue."

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/psalms/119-89.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")

The GotQuestions.org article for today's verse is entitled "What does it mean that God's Word is settled in heaven (Psalm 119:89)?" If you want to read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/your-word-is-settled-in-heaven.html.

DECEMBER 2-3
Joshua 1:8

After Moses died, God said to Joshua (a great military leader and Moses' successor--see note below*), perhaps in a dream or vision:

Joshua 1:8: "This book of the law [of God, as recorded in the Bible--in this case, referring specifically to the part that had been written by Moses] shall not depart out of thy [your] mouth [this was to insure that all of Joshua's commands to the children of Israel (i.e., the Jewish people) would be based upon God's word]; but thou shalt [you shall] meditate therein [or 'think about what is written in it (the Bible)'] [during the] day and night, [so] that thou mayest [you may] observe to do according to all that is written therein [i.e., in the Bible] [this was another way of saying that God wanted his people to obey his commands]: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success."
Like Joshua, we should study, memorize, and obey God's word (the Bible) if we want to be successful in life.

*For background information on Joshua, read "Who was Joshua in the Bible?" Here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Joshua.html.

Articles that relate to today's verse include the following:

-- "How can I meditate on God's word?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/meditate-on-Gods-Word.html)

-- "What does the Bible say about meditation?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-meditation.html)

-- "Why is Bible memorization important?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-memorization.html)

-- "What are some good ways to memorize Bible verses?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/memorize-Bible-verses.html)

-- "What is the key to applying the Bible to my life?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/applying-the-Bible.html)

DECEMBER 1
Matthew 10:28

Before sending his apostles out to preach the gospel, heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, and cast out devils (Matthew 10:7-8), Jesus told them to expect opposition and said:

Matthew 10:28: "And fear not [don't be afraid of] them [those people] which kill the body [i.e., the mortal (physical) part, which has a limited life span], but are not able to kill the soul [i.e., the immortal part, which lives forever]: but rather fear him [God] which is able to destroy [torment and punish] both soul and body in hell."
Although the above verse applied specifically to the apostles in Bible times, its truth is also a comfort to born-again Christians and a warning to all unsaved people.

"Why are we told, 'Do not fear those who can kill the body' in Matthew 10:28?" is the title of an article that relates to today's verse. If you want to read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/do-not-fear-those-who-can-kill-the-body.html.