Daily Bible Verse - 1/29/2008 - John 8:24

"I told you that you would die in your sins; if you do not believe that I am the one I claim to be, you will indeed die in your sins."

I said therefore unto you, that ye shall die in your sins: for if ye believe not that I am he, ye shall die in your sins.

"Therefore I said to you that you will die in your sins; for unless you believe that I am He, you will die in your sins."

John 8:24

Commentary
Jesus often used repetition for emphasis. Here He solemnly warned them again that they would die in their sins. If they steadfastly refused to believe on Him, there was no alternative. Apart from the Lord Jesus, there is no way to obtain forgiveness of sins, and those who die with sins unforgiven cannot possibly enter heaven at last.
The word He is not found in this verse in the original, though it may be implied. It reads literally: "If you do not believe that I am, you will die in your sins." We see in the words I am another claim to deity by the Lord Jesus.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Jn 8:24). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

"I AM"
"I am" was God's designation of Himself (Ex. 3:14). Jesus was claiming to be God. This assertion was not understood by the religious leaders at this time. Later, Jesus' claim to be the "I AM" (v. 58) prompted the Jewish leaders to seek His life (v. 59).

Radmacher, E. D., Allen, R. B., & House, H. W. (1999). Nelson's new illustrated Bible commentary (Jn 8:24-25). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Daily Bible Verse - 1/28/2008 - Luke 16:10

"Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much."

He that is faithful in that which is least is faithful also in much: and he that is unjust in the least is unjust also in much.

"He who is faithful in a very little thing is faithful also in much; and he who is unrighteous in a very little thing is unrighteous also in much."

Luke 16:10

Commentary
If we are faithful in our stewardship of what is least (money), then we will be faithful in handling what is much (spiritual treasures). On the other hand, a man who is unrighteous in using the money which God has entrusted to him is unrighteous when bigger considerations are at stake. The relative unimportance of money is empha sized by the expression what is least.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Lk 16:10). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.

Did you know?
Jesus and His disciples had a common treasury; the responsibility for handling it was given to one of the group, Judas Iscariot. The unfaithfulness of Judas in this task (which they dubbed the "least") revealed his unworthiness to be entrusted with true riches (Luke 16:10-11; John 12:6).

Packer, J., Tenney, M. C., & White, W. (1997, c1995). Nelson's illustrated manners and customs of the Bible (333). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.