Search the Scriptures Live

Peter's acknowledgment of the true identity of Jesus, led to him receiving a new name and a blessing. The Catholic Church has used this verse to support its papal supremacy doctrine. Is Peter the Rock on which the Church is built, or is it something or someone else?

When the Pharisees asked Jesus for a sign from heaven, why did he reject their request? Is it unacceptable to ask God for a sign? Is a sign the same as a miracle? What role should miracles play in supporting our faith?

One of the most uncomfortable scenes in the gospels is when a Canaanite woman follows Jesus, begging for his help. First, he ignores her. Then he insults her. Why? The story is actually a wonderful one, with great spiritual lessons that are especially useful as we begin Lent.

The Pharisees challenged Jesus to explain why he ignored "the traditions of the elders." His disregard for their customs has fueled Protestant criticisms of Holy Tradition. Which traditions did the Lord reject and why?

We all know about the Lord walking on water. But only Matthew has the story of Peter joining him amid the waves and storm. The Fathers have much to say about this story and its lessons for us about the importance of faith and challenges to our faith.

This amazing story of the disciples' experience of the Lord is more than just a miracle, but a deep expression of theology. In Matthew's Gospel, Peter's attempt to join him on the water is added to this story. Both events provide many spiritual lessons from the Fathers.

This miracle is the most widely attested but also among the most commonly disputed. Why? The story seems simple, and we all know it well. But it has great theological depth and spiritual meaning, which we will discover with the help of the Fathers.

Information, and even intrigue, exists about the beheading of St. John, including the discovery of his head, which the Church also remembers. We'll take a historical and patristic look at the lives, motivation, and ultimate fates of those involved in this diabolical act.

More parables in Matthew 13 teach us about the nature of the Kingdom, its hidden and dynamic qualities, the power of the apostles despite overwhelming opposition by the world, and the tenacity required by the faithful and their ability to acquire the Kingdom.

This strange statement actually appears in all four gospels and Acts of the Apostles and is a prophecy about Christ. Why was this prophecy so crucial in the early Church, and why didn't Christ just explain or enlighten people so they could see and understand?

Christ told the disciples they would understand the mysteries and receive more. Others "seeing would not see and hearing would not understand" and would receive less. Why aren't the mysteries of heaven understandable to all? Does God choose some people over others?

The Lord's teachings were enigmatic at times, especially when He used parables. He said, "Seeing they may not see, and hearing they may not understand." This sounds strange and unfair. Did the Lord truly want people not to understand him?

One of Matthew's major themes is acquiring the Kingdom of Heaven. Chapter 13, the mid-point of the five main sections of Matthew's gospel, is entirely devoted to this single topic. Here Matthew gathers all of Jesus' parables on the Kingdom of Heaven for our instruction.

The gospel reading on the Sunday before Christmas concerns the genealogy of Jesus. The Scriptures refer to his brothers and sisters. Who were these people? What do we know about them? Why do Christians disagree about their identity and about the ever-virginity of Mary?

The image of Jonah was ubiquitous in the early Church and remains frequently referenced in Orthodoxy. The statement is deeper than we realize, and Christ's citation of Jonah also reveals His own specific technique of scripture interpretation that the Orthodox still follow.

The Lord warns us that on Judgment Day, we will account for every idle word we utter. Why are mere words so important? We will discuss this...and just a little more about the sin against the Holy Spirit.

The Lord said there is one sin that cannot be forgiven, neither in this life nor in the next: The sin against the Holy Spirit. Fr. Costa will join us this week as we continue our discussion of this verse.

The Lord's immense power caused confusion among Jewish leaders and his actions evoked consternation. They accused him of using the devil's power to heal. He responded by warning them, and us, about "the sin against the Holy Spirit." But what is that and how do we avoid it?

In Matthew chapter 12, the Pharisees increasingly challenge the Lord for what they perceive to be his violations of the Law of Moses. But the Lord defends his actions artfully, and in one healing story, Matthew shows how the Lord makes his rabbinic argument.

Christ thanked the Father for "hiding" his teaching from the "learned and wise" and revealing it to children. Why would God do that if God loves us all and Christ came to save us? Does God prevent some people from understanding?

"The kingdom of heaven suffers violence." For most modern commentators, this is a most enigmatic saying. But for Orthodox Christians this statement is well understood and has always been interpreted in the same way in the history of the Church. What does it mean? Tune in and find out!

“Are you the one who is to come or shall we look for another?” This seems to be an odd question from St. John the Forerunner, who had dedicated his life to preparing the way for Christ. Did John have doubts about Jesus? Learn Christ’s answer and what he thought of John.

In Church history, many people were forced to choose between Christ and their own family members, who sometimes even persecuted them. The Lord predicted this and invited us to pick up our cross. Does picking up your cross mean enduring life's troubles or something else?

In Matthew 10, the sermon known as The Missionary Discourse, the Lord tells his disciples to expect persecution. All true Christians should expect persecution and must endure until the end to be saved. But why are Christians persecuted? The Lord and the Fathers explain.

“Brother will deliver up brother to death.” The Lord foretold that we would face persecution for his sake, even from members of our family. The Fathers of the Church explain this and St. John Chrysostom considers how our lives compare to those of the apostles.

This week, we continue the patristic explanation of the Missionary Discourse of the Lord’s Instructions to the disciples before sending them out on their first mission of teaching and healing. What does it mean to be a sheep? A serpent? A dove?

This instruction by the Lord to the disciples led St. John Chrysostom to make a lengthy comment about his personal experience as a priest. He repeatedly blessed the congregation but his blessing of “peace” was not returned by them.

The Lord bluntly described the challenging circumstances the disciples faced when he sent them out to preach. They were to take no money and no extra clothing. "Freely you have received, freely give." How were they to live, and why did the Lord give these instructions?

As we conclude this remarkable set of ten miracle stories, we meet two blind men who persist in crying, "Son of David, have mercy on me!" and a deaf and mute man who cannot express himself at all. Who is truly blind and truly deaf? The Fathers offer their spiritual insights.

The call of St. Matthew seems odd to us. He was doing his job and suddenly left everything to follow Christ. Other disciples also responded suddenly and inexplicably. Did they have free will? What brought on such a reaction? What about the responsibilities they left behind?

Some people have asserted that Jesus himself never claimed to be God; rather, this notion was invented by his followers. In the healing of the paralytic, Jesus’ identity and claims of authority are challenged as he is accused of “blasphemy.” What is blasphemy anyhow?

This week we examine a familiar and puzzling story, especially in Matthew's gospel. Not one but two demoniacs live among tombs, severely possessed by perhaps thousands of demons. Among other things, we will discuss demonic possession and why the herd of swine was destroyed.

The string of miracles Matthew presents here continue, including the stilling of the storm and the healing of Peter's mother-in-law. These stories are so familiar that their lessons are easily overlooked – but not by the Fathers who draw out the deeper meaning for us.

A Roman centurion relates the authority of Jesus to his own military experience, recognizing not only the Lord's authority but even His divinity, despite being pagan. The Lord "marvels" at the faith and humility of this non-Israelite.

After the Sermon on the Mount, St. Matthew depicts Christ performing ten miracles in a row, but they aren't included simply to impress us with Christ's sheer power. Miracles serve a different purpose in this gospel. Join us as Christ proceeds from teaching to action.

As the Lord wraps up the Sermon on the Mount, He issues warnings to us about false prophets and about how we must bear fruit and build a solid foundation for our lives on the Rock. Join us as we breathe in the flowers of the patristic garden.

The "Golden Rule" is considered by many to be the greatest ethical instruction in the history of mankind. Did you know that there is also a "Silver Rule" that is found in other religious traditions? What make's Christ's instruction superior to all others?

The admonition to "judge not" may be the most misunderstood or misused verse in the Bible. Are we never to identify anything as sin? In addition to this verse, Dr. Jeannie will discuss Bible manuscript variations to clarify an earlier lesson and respond to queries.

After finishing his instructions on prayer the Lord continues with emphasizing forgiveness, the secret pursuit of virtue, seeking the Kingdom and the impossibility of loving both God and money. As usual, we will hear from the Fathers on all these matters!

Why does God allow temptations? Are some trials or tests different from others? Since God is only the source of good, but He allows temptation for our benefit, why does the Lord instruct us in the Lord's Prayer to ask, "lead us not into temptation"?

The Lord's Prayer ends with this rather strange statement. Are we asking the Lord Himself not to tempt us? Is He the source of the temptations that afflict us? How are we to understand this phrase?

This line from the Lord's Prayer seems straightforward, but why does Christ say "forgive our trespasses" instead of "forgive our sins"? This has great significance and may be the most important line of all. Our salvation depends upon how we respond to this instruction.

This line of the Lord's Prayer has many levels of meaning. The interpretation of one word in particular, rendered in the King James Bible as "daily," has sometimes been interpreted by the Fathers differently. Are we asking for ordinary food? Join the discussion!

Why ask for the "coming" of God's kingdom? Is that a wish for the Second Coming or a call for us to make the kingdom present? Can God's will not be done but opposed? Join our continued discussion of the Lord's Prayer.

As we continue our study of the Lord's Prayer, we ask why we have a petition that God's name be kept holy? What does that mean? Does God need us to bless him? Why does the Bible speak about the "name" of God?

After addressing God as "Father," why do we describe his "location"? What is the purpose of saying that God is in "heaven"? Can there be any real purpose in that? Join us as we join the Fathers and continue to study their spiritual explanations of the Lord's Prayer.

The most famous prayer, the only one recited by all Christians and used continually since the first century, is the Lord's Prayer as found in the Gospel of Matthew. For this episode, we will begin to explore the deeper meaning behind the phrases of this prayer.

As the Sermon on the Mount continues, Christ turns to prayer. What does he mean when he says not to make "vain repetitions" or to go into a "closet" to pray? Does this mean we need not go to Church? If the Father already knows what we need, why do we pray at all?

Join us tonight as we celebrate 15 years of Search the Scriptures Live and Dr. Jeannie. Special guests will be with us. Please call in @ 1-855-237-2346 to congratulate Dr. Jeannie.

The final words of the Lord in Matthew 5 are the command to "Be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect." How can we possibly be "perfect"? We have been challenged with many seemingly impossible ideals so far in the Sermon on the Mount. How do the Fathers explain this?