Read: Matthew 6

Matthew Six continues the Sermon on the Mount. In this chapter, the Lord Jesus addresses numerous items. First, he discusses the issue of giving to the needy. Of course, all Christians should be doing that, but notice that Jesus says it should be done without drawing attention to the action. Instead, serve and give to others without fanfare. Second, the Lord teaches his disciples to pray. Again, the emphasis on prayer in the life of Christ is significant. It should be for us as well. If Jesus prayed, how much more should we pray? Third, and closely related, is the subject of fasting. Fasting does not receive much attention in the church today.

bible readingWilliam HillFebruary 17, 2023Matthew 6

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.6

The Morning Devotional for February 17, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.6

VI. As for those wicked and ungodly men whom God, as a righteous judge, for former sins, doth blind and harden,a from them he not only withholdeth his grace, whereby they might have been enlightened in their understandings and wrought upon in their hearts,b but sometimes also withdraweth the gifts which they had,c and exposeth them to such objects as their corruption makes occasion of sin;d and withal, gives them over to their own lusts, the temptations of the world, and the power of Satan;e whereby it comes to pass that they harden themselves, even under those means which God useth for the softening of others.f

confessions, devotional, Westminster Confession, videoWilliam HillFebruary 17, 2023devotional, Providence, Rom. 1, Deut 29, Mark 4, Matt. 13, GEn. 4, Lk. 22, Ex. 8

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.5

The Morning Devotional for February 15, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.4

V. The most wise, righteous, and gracious God doth oftentimes leave for a season his own children to manifold temptations and the corruption of their own hearts, to chastise them for their former sins, or to discover unto them the hidden strength of corruption and deceitfulness of their hearts, that they be humbled;a and to raise them to a more close and constant dependence for their support unto himself, and to make them more watchful against all future occasions of sin, and for sundry other just and holy ends.b

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.4

The Morning Devotional for February 15, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.4

IV. The almighty power, unsearchable wisdom, and infinite goodness of God so far manifest themselves in his providence that it extendeth itself even to the first fall, and all other sins of angels and men,a and that not by a bare permission,b but such as hath joined with it a most wise and powerful bounding,c and otherwise ordering and governing of them, in a manifold dispensation, to his own holy ends;d yet so as the sinfulness thereof proceedeth only from the creature, and not from God; who, being most holy and righteous, neither is nor can be the author or approver of sin.e

Bible Knowledge Project: Genesis 6

Read: Genesis 6

Genesis Six sets the stage for the Flood narrative highlighted in chapters 7-9. It sets forth the issues that bring about the flood and the judgment of God on the earth. There are numerous items of academic consideration in this chapter. For instance, who are the Nephilim? What is their function in the narrative? Scholars have debated this question, and the short answer is that we do not know.

bible reading, GenesisWilliam HillFebruary 14, 2023Bible Knowledge, Genesis, Noah, Ark, Flood, Genesis 6

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.3

The Morning Devotional for February 14, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.3

III. God, in his ordinary providence, maketh use of means,a yet is free to work without,babove,c and against them,d at his pleasure.

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.2

The Morning Devotional for February 13, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.2

II. Although in relation to the foreknowledge and decree of God, the first cause, all things come to pass immutably and infallibly,a yet by the same providence he ordereth them to fall out, according to the nature of second causes, either necessarily, freely, or contingently.b

Bible Knowledge Project: Matthew 5

Read: Matthew 5

Matthew Five begins the first major discourse of the book. Running through chapter seven, that section is known as the Sermon on the Mount. The entire Sermon is meant to unpack the real intention of the Law as given to the people of old.

bible readingWilliam HillFebruary 10, 2023Matthew, Matthew 5

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.1 (Part Two)

The Morning Devotional for February 10, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.1 (Part Two)

I. God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold,a direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,b from the greatest even to the least,c by his most wise and holy providence,d according to his infallible fore-knowledgee and the free and immutable counsel of his own will,f to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.g

devotional, confessions, videoWilliam HillFebruary 10, 2023devotional, Westminster Confession of Faith, Providence

The Morning Devotional: WCF 5.1 (Part One)

The Morning Devotional for February 9, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 5.1

I. God, the great Creator of all things, doth uphold,a direct, dispose, and govern all creatures, actions, and things,b from the greatest even to the least,c by his most wise and holy providence,d according to his infallible fore-knowledgee and the free and immutable counsel of his own will,f to the praise of the glory of his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and mercy.g

Bible Knowledge Project: Genesis 5

Read: Genesis 5

Genesis Five is the first of the long genealogies found in the Bible. Many people skim through the genealogies of the Pentateuch because they do not understand their purpose and function in the narrative. The genealogy of this chapter serves a few functions.

bible readingWilliam HillFebruary 8, 2023Bible Knowledge, Genesis 5

The Morning Devotional: WCF 4.2

The Morning Devotional for February 8, 2023
The Westminster Confession of Faith 4.2

II. After God had made all other creatures, he created man, male and female,a with reasonable and immortal souls,b endued with knowledge, righteousness, and true holiness, after his own image,c having the law of God written in their hearts,d and power to fulfil it;e and yet under a possibility of transgressing, being left to the liberty of their own will, which was subject unto change.f Beside this law written in their hearts, they received a command not to eat of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil;g which while they kept they were happy in their communion with God, and had dominion over the creatures.h

The Pastor’s Corner

The blog of Pastor William F. Hill, Jr.