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Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law, Tours Galilee, Heals a Leper
Harmony of the Gospels, Part 24
This sermon in the continuing study on the Gospels examines cultural, historical, textual and archaeological insights into Jesus Christ's healing of Peter's mother-in-law, His traveling and teaching throughout synagogues in Galilee, and His healing of a man with leprosy. We also examine what the life of a leper was like in first-century Galilee and Judea and biblical laws and cultural practices relating to leprosy, deeper understandings of Jesus' Hebrew name Yeshua, and lessons we can learn from these events.
Scott Ashley was managing editor of Beyond Today magazine, United Church of God booklets and its printed Bible Study Course until his retirement in 2023. He also pastored three congregations in Colorado for 10 years from 2011-2021. He and his wife, Connie, live near Denver, Colorado.
Mr. Ashley attended Ambassador College in Big Sandy, Texas, graduating in 1976 with a theology major and minors in journalism and speech. It was there that he first became interested in publishing, an industry in which he worked for 50 years.
During his career, he has worked for several publishing companies in various capacities. He was employed by the United Church of God from 1995-2023, overseeing the planning, writing, editing, reviewing and production of Beyond Today magazine, several dozen booklets/study guides and a Bible study course covering major biblical teachings. His special interests are the Bible, archaeology, biblical culture, history and the Middle East.
Series
Harmony of the Gospels
In this series
Sermon
The Political and Religious Background to the Gospels Harmony of the Gospels, Part 1
In this sermon we examine several key aspects of the political and religious background of the Gospels: How conditions in the Roman Empire established a climate in which the Messiah could come to start and build His Church and spread…
Sermon
Background of the Gospels Harmony of the Gospels, Part 2
In this Bible class we examine the author, intended audience, purpose, structure and key elements of the four Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.
Sermon
Background of the Gospels Harmony of the Gospels, Part 3
In today's study, we cover a number of key questions about the backgrounds to the Gospels, including: What exactly are "the Gospels" Why didn't Jesus Christ write His own Gospel? When were the Gospels written, and why is this important…
Sermon
Genealogies of Jesus Christ Harmony of the Gospels, Part 4
In today's study, we cover Luke's introductory comments as to how he researched and wrote his Gospel, then cover the differences in the genealogies given by Luke and Matthew, pointing out how Matthew emphasizes the individuals foretold in Bible prophecy…
Sermon
Zechariah, Elizabeth, and the Announcement of John the Baptist Harmony of the Gospels, Part 5
Have you ever been misunderstood and had people talk about you behind your back? Have you ever waited for years to have your prayers answered? If so, welcome to the world of the faithful priest Zechariah and his wife Elizabeth…
Sermon
The Circumstances Leading Up to Jesus Christ's Birth Harmony of the Gospels, Part 6
The birth of Jesus Christ didn't happen at a random time in human history. Certain conditions had to be in place to allow this part of God's plan to be carried out. And when those conditions were met, God sent…
Sermon
The Birth and Childhood of John the Baptist and the Angel's Message to Joseph Harmony of the Gospels, Part 7
We continue into our study of the circumstances of the birth of John the Baptist and Jesus Christ, discussing Zechariah's praise and prophecy when John is named and Joseph's reaction on learning that his bride-to-be is expecting a child, and…
Sermon
The Birth of Jesus Christ Harmony of the Gospels, Part 8
There's much more to the account in Luke 2:1-20 than meets the eye. What's the background behind the Roman census that brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem? Why were they living in Nazareth, far from their ancestral hometown? What are…
Sermon
Jesus Christ's Early Childhood Harmony of the Gospels, Part 9
Today's class covers Luke 2:21-38—the circumcision of Jesus on the eighth day after birth and His presentation at the temple in Jerusalem when Simeon and Anna give some remarkable messages. There's much more to the stories when we dig into…
Sermon
Jesus Christ's Early Childhood Harmony of the Gospels, Part 10
In this class we cover Matthew 2:1-23, the story of the visit of the wise men, Herod's murder of the infant boys of Bethlehem, and Joseph and Mary's sojourn to Egypt and return to settle in Galilee. We'll address who…
Sermon
Jesus Christ's Later Childhood Harmony of the Gospels, Part 11
In this class on Luke 2:40-52, we cover Jesus' later childhood, including some of the myths of later spurious writings; the circumstances of Jesus' discussions with teachers at the temple at age 12; the educational system of Galilee and what…
Sermon
The Ministry of John the Baptizer Harmony of the Gospels, Part 12
In this class, we discuss one of the Bible's more intriguing personalities, John the Baptizer. Many have misconceptions about him, viewing him as some sort of wild man in the desert doing strange things, wearing strange clothing and eating strange…
Sermon
The Baptism of Jesus Christ Harmony of the Gospels, Part 13
The Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and Luke all describe John's prophecy that One would come who was much greater than he, following that with a description of the Messiah's coming judgment in a vivid picture of separating the wheat from…
Sermon
The Temptation and Testing in the Wilderness Harmony of the Gospels, Part 14
In this study, we take an in-depth look at Satan's temptation of Jesus Christ in the wilderness. We look at the setting, the stakes involved, Jesus' actions that point us to Moses, Elijah and the Israelites' 40 years in the…
Sermon
The Authorities Question John, He Declares Jesus to Be the Messiah Harmony of the Gospels, Part 15
In this message, we look at what's behind the priests and Levites being sent to question John the Baptizer, and what's behind his response. But overshadowing these events is the remarkable history of the location where these events occurred and…
Sermon
Jesus Makes His First Disciples Harmony of the Gospels, Part 16
What was the relationship of rabbis and disciples like in the first century? What did those terms mean? If we are to be disciples of Jesus Christ, we need to understand these things—or else we fail to understand what He's…
Sermon
Jesus Turns Water to Wine, Cleanses the Temple Harmony of the Gospels, Part 17
Here we look at the cultural and archaeological background of Jesus' first miracle when He turned water into wine at a wedding. We next address four key questions to help us get the most out of our study of the…
Sermon
Nicodemus Comes to See Jesus, Jesus Tells Him He Must Be Born Again, Discussion of John 3:16 Harmony of the Gospels, Part 18
Early in Christ's ministry, He was visited by Nicodemus, a Pharisee and likely a member of the Sanhedrin who by reputation appears to have been a great teacher. He was puzzled when Jesus told him he must be "born again"—something…
Sermon
Jesus Leaves Judea, Encounter With the Samaritan Woman Harmony of the Gospels, Part 19
Why did Jesus, who has attracting a considerable following, leave Judea early in His ministry to go to Galilee? Clues from the four Gospels and the Jewish historian Josephus provide the answer. Traveling through Samaria, He met a woman at…
Sermon
Jesus Heals a Nobleman's Son, Is Rejected in Nazareth Harmony of the Gospels, Part 20
When Jesus returns to Galilee, two of the first incidents of His ministry are the healing of a nobleman's son and His rejection at the Nazareth synagogue. Understanding who this nobleman was and the locations involved adds an entirely different…
Sermon
Background to Jesus Christ's Galilean Ministry Harmony of the Gospels, Part 21
Most of Jesus Christ's ministry was centered around the Sea of Galilee. Galilee had a fascinating culture and history involving Jews, Israelites, pagans, religious zealots, fervent nationalists, pagans, Greeks, Romans and Herodians, and understanding that background adds whole new layers…
Sermon
Why Capernaum? Harmony of the Gospels, Part 22
In our continuing series of studies on the Gospels, we see that Bible prophecy foretold that the Messiah, Jesus Christ, would appear and conduct His ministry in Galilee. But after being rejected at Nazareth, why did Jesus choose to center…
Sermon
Jesus Chooses Four, Heals a Possessed Man, Teaches With Authority Harmony of the Gospels, Part 23
In this installment of our studies on the Gospels, we look at the miraculous catch of fish that led to Peter, Andrew, James, and John forsaking all to follow Jesus Christ—but what exactly was the miracle and why did it…
Sermon
Jesus Heals Peter's Mother-in-Law, Tours Galilee, Heals a Leper Harmony of the Gospels, Part 24
This sermon in the continuing study on the Gospels examines cultural, historical, textual and archaeological insights into Jesus Christ's healing of Peter's mother-in-law, His traveling and teaching throughout synagogues in Galilee, and His healing of a man with leprosy. We…
Sermon
Jesus Heals a Paralyzed Man Lowered Through the Roof Harmony of the Gospels, Part 25
In this in-depth study of the Gospels, we first look at the theme Luke is building in chapters 4 and 5 of Jesus establishing and expanding His divine authority. We then look at the Gospel accounts of the paralyzed man…
Sermon
Undesigned Coincidences in the Gospels Harmony of the Gospels, Part 26
Are the Gospels authentic first-century eyewitness accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus? Bible critics don't think so, believing them to be fabrications written much later by unknown forgers. Is there a way for us to know which is…
Sermon
Are the Gospels Real History? Harmony of the Gospels, Part 27
Do the statements of Bible critics who dismiss the Gospels as real history hold up under scrutiny? In this follow-up to the previous sermon on undesigned coincidences, we take a quick walk through some of voluminous evidence from history and…
Sermon
The Background and Calling of Matthew Harmony of the Gospels, Part 28
In this ongoing study of the Gospels, we examine the background of the Gospel of Matthew, including who the author was, how he wrote to prove that Jesus was the prophesied Messiah, and how the internal evidence shows that his…
Sermon
To Fast or Not to Fast, Parables of the Garments and Wineskins, Jesus Heals a Man at the Pool of Bethesda Harmony of the Gospels, Part 29
In this ongoing studies of the Gospels, we examine the criticisms that Jesus’ disciples weren’t fasting as others thought they should, what the parables of the old and new garments and old and new wineskins tell us about what it…
Sermon
Jesus' Relationship With the Father Harmony of the Gospels, Part 30
In our continuing study of the Gospels, we examine John 5:16-23, which describes what happened after Jesus healed the lame man at the Bethesda Pool in Jerusalem. Some of the Jerusalem religious establishment, learning that Jesus has healed a man…
Sermon
Jesus and the Four Witnesses Harmony of the Gospels, Part 31
In our continuing series of studies on the Gospels, we now look at John 5:24-47, a continuation of Jesus Christ’s confrontation over the healing of a lame man on a Sabbath. In arguments loaded with deep theological meaning, Jesus defends…
Sermon
Jesus Is Confronted About the Sabbath, Chooses the Twelve Harmony of the Gospels, Part 32
In this ongoing series of studies on the Gospels, we examine the incident of Jesus and His disciples being accused of Sabbath-breaking for taking handfuls of grain as they walked through the fields on the Sabbath. What were the Pharisees'…
Sermon
The Sermon on the Mount, Background and Introduction Harmony of the Gospels, Part 33
In this sermon we cover a number of key questions about the sermon on the mount, including: • How many “disciples” did Jesus have? How should we understand that term when it’s used in the Gospels? • Who is the…
Sermon
The Sermon on the Mount, Introduction to the Beatitudes Harmony of the Gospels, Part 34
At the beginning of the Sermon on the Mount, Matthew includes two phrases to emphasize to his Jewish/Hebrew audience how important Jesus Christ’s message is that follows. His wording also tells us, as we discussed last time, that what follows…
Related Sermons
Harmony of the Gospels, Part 25
Harmony of the Gospels, Part 23
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