Welcome to Cam’s Reflective Bible Study Journal

Cam’s Reflective Bible Study Journal is a blog/podcast where Cam, one of Reflective Bible Study's founders, shares things he has discovered from his time studying the Bible (usually from one or more of the four gospels).

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Members of His Family: Matthew 12:46-50

Published November 28, 2025 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Matthew 12:46-50 (NIV)

46 While Jesus was still talking to the crowd, his mother and brothers stood outside, wanting to speak to him. 47 Someone told him, “Your mother and brothers are standing outside, wanting to speak to you.”

48 He replied to him, “Who is my mother, and who are my brothers?” 49 Pointing to his disciples, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. 50 For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.”

Read Matthew 12:46-50 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In a short event that three of the gospels include, we learn about a time when Jesus’ mother and siblings come to see Him. I’m not entirely sure why Matthew, Mark, and Luke all chose to include this event, but perhaps it is because there is something significant for us to learn in Jesus’ key point.

I was also surprised that when I compared the three gospels and how each recorded this event, there were very few differences. However, Matthew includes an interesting transition statement that helps draw us to a theme that this event helps to teach us: “Pointing to his disciples, he said, ‘Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of my Father in heaven is my brother and sister and mother.’” (v. 49-50)

Matthew draws our attention to Jesus pulling His disciples into this illustration. In some ways, this is surprising, because this group of guys seemed to always be one or two steps behind whatever Jesus was trying to teach them. Time and time again, Jesus would try to teach them some truth about God and a simple reading of the gospels points us to the realization that not much of it stuck.

But there was still something about these disciples that qualified them to be introduced as members in Jesus’ family (in the family of God) – these men and women were close to Jesus, and they followed Jesus, and they stayed beside Jesus even when the Pharisees wanted to attack Him. And even though everyone ran the night Jesus was arrested, they all came back (minus Judas Iscariot), and ultimately became the leaders that Jesus knew they would be.

This passage teaches us that we are all part of Jesus’ family when we obey God the Father. When we are doing God’s will, and when we are close to Jesus, following Jesus, and learning from Jesus, we are a valued member of God’s family!

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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The Two Sides of the Good News Coin: Isaiah 2:1-4

Published November 27, 2025 in Audio Journal Entries

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As we are nearing the end of our year focusing in on prophecies and connections between the Old Testament and Jesus’ life and ministry, I hope this year has been a blessing for you as it has for me. In our last episode, we looked at Jesus keeping His promise to send the Holy Spirit following His ascension to Heaven. For this episode, let’s look at one big thing the Holy Spirit will be working to accomplish through God’s people moving forward from the time of the disciples.

To set the stage for this discussion, let’s look at a prophecy found near the beginning of the Old Testament book of Isaiah, which appears to describe an idealized or future picture of God’s people.

In Isaiah, chapter 2, starting in verse 1, and reading from the New American Standard Bible translation, Isaiah writes:

1 The word which Isaiah the son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem.

2 Now it will come about that
In the last days
The mountain of the house of the Lord
Will be established as the chief of the mountains,
And will be raised above the hills;
And all the nations will stream to it.
3 And many peoples will come and say,
“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord,
To the house of the God of Jacob;
That He may teach us concerning His ways
And that we may walk in His paths.”
For the law will go forth from Zion
And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
4 And He will judge between the nations,
And will render decisions for many peoples;
And they will hammer their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.
Nation will not lift up sword against nation,
And never again will they learn war.

In these first few verses of Isaiah, chapter 2, we discover a picture that seems to blend what life would be like in heaven with that of earth. In heaven, at the point that is being described, there will be no wars, conflicts, or hostility, and where people of every background come together to the place where God lives to listen and learn from Him. However, the hints at life on earth are present because those who are present within this scene are taking their weapons and turning them into tools. My understanding of heaven, or even looking beyond that to the new earth is that there wouldn’t be any hint of the former sinful world, leading me to speculate there wouldn’t be any swords or spears to turn into tools.

I wonder if the context of this passage instead speaks to what God envisioned His people to be while they were a nation wholly dedicated to Him, while something different happened. Another way of saying this idea is that this was God’s picture of plan A, while what actually happened in history was plan B, C, D, or even E.

While I don’t know where this prophecy fits well into the grand picture of history, one set of phrases and ideas from it are significant for this point in history. In our Isaiah passage, in the last part of verse 3, Isaiah writes, “For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

This set of phrases is significant because of something we read near the end of Luke’s gospel. As Jesus is talking with some of His disciples following His resurrection, He makes a fascinating statement that points back to this idea from Isaiah’s writing. In Luke, chapter 24, starting with verse 44, which is a few verses before this statement to give it context, Luke writes:

44 Now He [referring to Jesus] said to them, “These are My words which I spoke to you while I was still with you, that all things which are written about Me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 45 Then He opened their minds to understand the Scriptures, 46 and He said to them, “Thus it is written, that the Christ would suffer and rise again from the dead the third day, 47 and that repentance for forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. 48 You are witnesses of these things. 49 And behold, I am sending forth the promise of My Father upon you; but you are to stay in the city until you are clothed with power from on high.”

In this brief summary statement of what Jesus shared with these disciples, He promises them that repentance for the forgiveness of sins would be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning in Jerusalem. This is powerful because it echoes what Isaiah wrote about prophetically. Isaiah wrote “For the law will go forth from Zion, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.”

While some might be quick to point out that Isaiah’s emphasis is on the Law of God while Jesus’ emphasis is on the forgiveness of sins, what we are looking at could be pictured as two sides of the same coin. Without the law, forgiveness becomes irrelevant and non-existent. This is because without a law being broken, there is nothing to be forgiven from. In contrast, the law without forgiveness is a death sentence, and nothing worth proclaiming or celebrating.

Instead, when we blend the law with forgiveness, we get an amazing picture of God’s love, His grace, and our need for a Savior who was provided through Jesus. Isaiah says that the law goes forth from Zion, which, if I’m not mistaken, is the name of the mountain and city of God. God proclaims His law for all to hear. However, Isaiah also says that the word of the Lord goes forth from Jerusalem, and part of me wonders if this “word” is the message of forgiveness that Jesus commissions His disciples to share.

With this framing of Isaiah’s prophecy and Jesus’ commission to His disciples, we step into a fascinating understanding of the mission of God’s people living in the period of time following the first century. With this framing, God’s people are called to emphasize God’s law, Jesus’ love, and the great news of forgiveness through what Jesus accomplished for us. Forgiveness never means that we are free to persist in sin. Instead, forgiveness is made available for those of us who turn away from our sins, which is what it means to repent, and for those who turn their lives, minds, hearts, and focus towards God.

However, the task Jesus gives His followers sounds impossible to do. On one hand, it sounds easy, since it is simply sharing the message of Jesus, but on the other hand, it is impossible, because, according to Jesus, only God can draw people towards Himself.

I suspect this is one reason why Jesus challenges His followers to stay in Jerusalem until they had received God’s power, also known as the Holy Spirit, which we focused on in our last episode. With the Holy Spirit’s power and guidance, Jesus’ followers would be fully equipped to share God’s message of forgiveness with the world.

As followers of Jesus, this is our call and our challenge for today. While some might look at history and how those in various Christian groups failed to reflect Jesus’ love, message, and forgiveness to others, we cannot change what happened. We cannot change how they failed. We also cannot even change how we failed.

Instead, we are challenged to lean on the Holy Spirit for strength and guidance and move forward sharing the great news of God’s law, Jesus’ love, and the forgiveness God wants to give everyone who accepts Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins. This is the great news of the gospel, and I suspect that this message is one big part of the “word of the Lord” that unites people from every background.

As we come to the end of another podcast episode, here are the challenges I will leave you with:

As I always open by challenging you, continue to seek God first in your life and accept Jesus’ sacrifice on your behalf. Don’t minimize the law in your life because that also subtly minimizes Jesus’ sacrifice. Instead, lift up the law and while lifting it up, continually thank Jesus in your heart, mind, and life as you move forward living in a way that says you are thankful for what He gave for us.

Also, intentionally pray and study the Bible for yourself to grow closer to Jesus. Through prayer and studying the Bible, invite the Holy Spirit into your heart and life and let Him reflect God’s love in the world around you.

And as I end every set of challenges by saying in one way or another, never stop short of, back away from, chicken out of, or deviate away from where God wants to lead you to in your life with Him!

Year of Prophecy – Episode 48: While looking at a prophecy in the Old Testament that has not appeared to have been fulfilled, discover how we are able to step into a small portion of it in preparation for its fulfillment at some point in the future.

Join the discussion. Share your thoughts on this passage.

Insights from a Pagan: Matthew 27:45-56

Published November 26, 2025 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Matthew 27:45-56 (GW)

45 At noon darkness came over the whole land until three in the afternoon. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out in a loud voice, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” which means, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” 47 When some of the people standing there heard him say that, they said, “He’s calling Elijah.” 48 One of the men ran at once, took a sponge, and soaked it in some vinegar. Then he put it on a stick and offered Jesus a drink. 49 The others said, “Leave him alone! Let’s see if Elijah comes to save him.”

50 Then Jesus loudly cried out once again and gave up his life.

51 Suddenly, the curtain in the temple was split in two from top to bottom. The earth shook, and the rocks were split open. 52 The tombs were opened, and the bodies of many holy people who had died came back to life. 53 They came out of the tombs after he had come back to life, and they went into the holy city where they appeared to many people.

54 An army officer and those watching Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, “Certainly, this was the Son of God!”

55 Many women were there watching from a distance. They had followed Jesus from Galilee and had always supported him. 56 Among them were Mary from Magdala, Mary (the mother of James and Joseph), and the mother of Zebedee’s sons.

Read Matthew 27:45-56 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

Of all the people in the gospel record, one non-Jewish person who witnesses Jesus’ death seems to stand out in the gospels. This individual is mentioned in three of the four gospels, and he is known specifically for his reaction to how Jesus died.

If we are reading through the gospels in the order they are found in most Bibles, we first read about this individual in Matthew: “An army officer and those watching Jesus with him saw the earthquake and the other things happening. They were terrified and said, ‘Certainly, this was the Son of God!’” (v. 54)

That is a pretty significant statement coming from a Roman soldier – someone who was very familiar with death and crucifixion.

Next we come to the gospel of Mark, and he quotes a slightly different statement here: “When the officer who stood facing Jesus saw how he gave up his spirit, he said, ‘Certainly, this man was the Son of God!’” (Mark 15:39)

Mark’s quote is similar to Matthew’s, but it emphasizes the human-nature of Jesus. Mark doesn’t tell us about the earthquake, but he does draw our attention to the army officer realizing that Jesus was different.

Lastly, we come to Luke’s gospel, and while he tells us a very different statement, it also points us to an important truth: “When an army officer saw what had happened, he praised God and said, ‘Certainly, this man was innocent!’” (Luke 23:47)

Luke’s quote doesn’t emphasize Jesus’ divinity or His humanity – it emphasizes His innocence. This is incredibly important because this is what our salvation hinges on. A “guilty” Jesus could not be a pure sacrifice for us, but an innocent Jesus, who died the death He didn’t deserve, could pay for our sins.

In these three unique statements from a Roman soldier, we see a picture of someone who had a very pagan worldview realizing Jesus was both God and human, and that He was innocent. This is probably one of the strongest testimonies we could find in the Bible about who Jesus was.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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Freed to Forgive: Matthew 6:14-18

Published November 25, 2025 in Written Journal Entries
Focus Passage: Matthew 6:14-18 (NIrV)

14 Forgive other people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive the sins of other people, your Father will not forgive your sins.

16 “When you go without eating, do not look gloomy like those who only pretend to be holy. They make their faces look very sad. They want to show people they are fasting. What I’m about to tell you is true. They have received their complete reward. 17 But when you go without eating, put olive oil on your head. Wash your face. 18 Then others will not know that you are fasting. Only your Father, who can’t be seen, will know it. Your Father will reward you, because he sees what you do secretly.

Read Matthew 6:14-18 in context and/or in other translations on BibleGateway.com!

In this passage is one of the most challenging sets of verses that I can think of in the whole Bible. The passage we will be focusing on opens with two verses that emphasize the importance of forgiveness and having a forgiving character:

“Forgive other people when they sin against you. If you do, your Father who is in heaven will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive the sins of other people, your Father will not forgive your sins.” (v. 14-15)

This is about as strong of a statement that Jesus can make to emphasize the importance of forgiving others. If we don’t, God won’t forgive us.

Is this a condition for getting into heaven?

Is God sitting in heaven with a list of people who you and I have neglected to forgive and if we end up dying before forgiving the people on the list, we won’t make it?

On the surface, this is what these verses appear to be saying, but I think this idea runs a little deeper than the literal surface. What if these verses aren’t describing God as the keeper of a list of people who we must forgive and instead it is emphasizing something that we must develop as a part of our character?

Part of God’s nature is that He is a forgiver of sins, and He has called us disciples, which is another way to say imitate, or copy, the Master. As disciples, we must try to be like God as much as possible, because we are His representatives here on earth. This means that if God has forgiveness as a key part of His character, we should also place forgiveness in a similar place.

Forgiveness simply means not holding someone’s past against them. If someone has hurt you, simply move on. Don’t dwell on what happened, don’t seek revenge, and don’t badmouth that individual to others. But also, don’t feel like you need to keep a relationship going with that person. Forgiveness does not mean reuniting with that individual or even compromising on what happened.

Forgiveness can also mean leaving yesterday in the past and starting fresh today. Jesus’ death on the cross gives God the freedom to forgive the past and begin each day as a fresh day with us. Without past baggage dragging you down, what could your walk with God be like?

In this passage, we learn that God forgives as we forgive – He wants us to be forgivers of others. This is because He wants us to experience freedom from our past – from both our mistakes and our hurt from others.

This thought was inspired by studying the Walking With Jesus “Reflective Bible Study” package. To discover insights like this in your own study time, click here and give Reflective Bible Study a try today!

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