If you enjoy viewing paintings that depict various bible scenes with the related scripture, then our Famous Artwork of Jesus app is for you. We have paintings from the Renaissance to more modern times, by master painters found in galleries and museums all over the world.
a) Gustave Dore Adam and Eve expelled Gen 3:22-24
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God expelled Adam and Eve from the Garden of Eden because they had disobeyed His command not to eat from the Tree of the Knowledge of good and evil. By eating from the tree, they had gained all knowledge, but they had also become sinful and could no longer live in the Garden of Eden. To prevent them from eating from the Tree of life and living forever in their sinful state, God placed a cherubim and a flaming sword to guard the way back to the Tree of life.
The story of Adam and Eve has been argued to be a rhetorical one. Indeed something happened, but we are just not very sure what. The knowledge of the tree of good and evil is a merism, meaning that by eating of the fruit, we obtained the capacity to understand and do all things. This might not be wrong in and of itself, however, with great knowledge comes great responsibility.
In today's world, for example, the invention of the internet, allows me to communicate through this blog; something that could only be done by snail mail before. In the same vein a human being will use the same internet to create pornography and corrupt young minds globally. Great knowledge is only as good as the holder's ability to wield it.
Man with his newfound knowledge is capable of great evil while at the same time great good.
b) Tissot The Pharisees question Jesus Matt 22:41-46
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In this passage, Jesus is challenging the Pharisees' understanding of the Messiah as merely a descendant of David. He points out that David himself referred to the Messiah as "Lord," which would imply a higher status than that of a descendant. By doing so, Jesus is suggesting that the Messiah is not merely a human king, but rather a divine figure.
The Pharisees are unable to respond to Jesus' question and are left without an answer. This silence may reflect their discomfort with the implications of Jesus' argument or their unwillingness to acknowledge the possibility that he might be the Messiah.
c) Tissot The ointment of the Magdalene John 12:1-8
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In the passage, Mary of Bethany (also known as Mary Magdalene) anointed Jesus' feet with an expensive ointment made from pure nard, an expensive fragrant oil. The act of anointing was a sign of honour and devotion, and Mary's use of the nard was a symbol of the depth of her devotion to Jesus.
The story is a very important one in demonstrating the mercy that Jesus so very often spoke about and demanded of us. Mary was a sinful woman (being a known prostitute). All the same, Jesus allowed her to anoint him and thereafter when sending her away, he declared her sins forgiven and urged her to sin no more. This was a subject of controversy with the Pharisees, who questioned His authority to forgive sins.
Mary Magdalene got a new lease of life and did not squander it. She was at the foot of the cross, with our Lord's Mother; she was first at the tomb and was first to encounter the risen Lord. All this arose from the Lord's mercy. Let us learn from the Lord, that there is no one that cannot be redeemed.
d) The marriage at Cana John 2:1-12
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The first sign that Jesus performed was the turning of water to wine at this wedding in Cana. The implication again is the Lord's mercy. Culturally the couple would have been very embarrassed if wine ran out in the middle of the celebrations. Jesus in his mercy performed this first sign at the behest of his mother; who can refuse a request from one's mother, even if you yourself are a deity?
e) Tissot Moses blesses Joshua before the high priest Deut 31:1-9
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This passage (Deut 31:1-9) is significant because it represents a moment of transition and continuity in the history of Israel. Moses, who had led the people out of Egypt through the wilderness for forty years, was about to die, and Joshua was appointed as his successor. Moses' blessing and God's commissioning of Joshua were meant to ensure a smooth transition of leadership and to reassure the people that God would continue to be with them as they entered the Promised Land.
f) Tissot Joseph interprets Pharaoh's dreams Gen 41:1-36
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You should be able to read the passages directly; I will not regurgitate. Joseph found himself in Egypt on account of his brothers who sold him to slave traders while still in Canaan. The state of Israel, as first ruled by Saul had yet to be formed, and would only happen after the Israelites left Egypt trooping to the promised land.
Joseph was highly blessed by God and because of his skills, was second to none but Pharaoh. Using his influence, he managed to get his family to settle towards the north of Egypt, a place called Goshen. Initially, they were just under 100 people. These would grow to thousands who would found Israel; they would remain in Egypt for 400 years.
g) Jethro and Moses Exodus 18:1-18
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Jethro was Moses; father in law. He visits him in the wilderness of Sinai, where they had camped. He observes Moses sitting all day long, judging the disputes that arose among the Israelites. He advises Moses that this is not a sustainable way for him to govern the people and suggests that he appoint judges to help him. Moses listened to Jethro's wise counsel and implemented it, which improved the governance of the Israelites and allowed Moses to focus on his role as their spiritual leader.
h) Flight of the prisoners to Assyria 2 Kings 25:1-21
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The flight of Judeans from the ancient Kingdom of Judah refers to their forced exile from their homeland by the Neo-Babylonian Empire. In 586 BCE, the Babylonian king Nebuchadnezzar II conquered the Kingdom of Judah and destroyed its capital, Jerusalem. Many Judeans were taken captive and transported to Babylon, where they would remain in exile for several decades.
The Babylonian captivity, also known as the Babylonian exile, was a traumatic event in the history of the Jewish people. It marked the end of the independent Kingdom of Judah and the destruction of the First Temple, which had been the centre of Jewish religious life. The exiles were forced to live in a foreign land, separated from their families, their culture, and their religious traditions.
i) Rubev The three destroying angels at Mamre Gen 18:1-2
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"The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground."
According to the text, the angels appeared to Abraham to deliver a message from God. They told Abraham that his wife Sarah, who was barren and had long given up hope of having children, would bear a son. The angels also informed Abraham of God's plans to destroy the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah for their wickedness.
The story is seen as a demonstration of Abraham's hospitality and his willingness to submit to God's will.
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