Topical Encyclopedia
In the context of biblical teachings, the concept of "extending" can be understood in various dimensions, including extending mercy, grace, love, and the kingdom of God. The act of extending is often associated with reaching out beyond oneself to offer something of value to others, reflecting the character and commands of God.
Extending Mercy and GraceThe Bible frequently emphasizes the importance of extending mercy and grace to others, as God has extended these to humanity. In the Old Testament, the prophet Micah highlights this in
Micah 6:8 : "He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" This verse underscores the call to extend mercy as a fundamental aspect of righteous living.
In the New Testament, Jesus exemplifies the extension of grace and mercy through His teachings and actions. In the Parable of the Unforgiving Servant (
Matthew 18:21-35), Jesus teaches the necessity of extending forgiveness to others as a reflection of the forgiveness we have received from God. The Apostle Paul also encourages believers to extend grace, as seen in
Ephesians 4:32 : "Be kind and tenderhearted to one another, forgiving each other just as in Christ God forgave you."
Extending LoveThe extension of love is a central theme in Scripture, encapsulated in the Great Commandment. Jesus states in
Matthew 22:37-39 : "‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" Extending love to others is a reflection of our love for God and is a tangible expression of our faith.
The Apostle John further elaborates on this in 1
John 4:19-21 : "We love because He first loved us. If anyone says, 'I love God,' but hates his brother, he is a liar. For anyone who does not love his brother, whom he has seen, cannot love God, whom he has not seen. And we have this commandment from Him: Whoever loves God must love his brother as well." This passage emphasizes that extending love to others is an essential aspect of our relationship with God.
Extending the Kingdom of GodThe mission of extending the kingdom of God is a significant theme in the New Testament. Jesus commissions His disciples to spread the gospel and make disciples of all nations, as recorded in
Matthew 28:19-20 : "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
The early church took this commission seriously, as seen in the Acts of the Apostles, where the gospel message is extended beyond the Jewish community to the Gentiles. The Apostle Paul, in particular, dedicated his life to extending the reach of the gospel, as he states in
Romans 15:20 : "It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone else’s foundation."
Extending GenerosityGenerosity is another aspect of extending that is encouraged in Scripture. Believers are called to extend their resources to those in need, reflecting God's provision and care. In
2 Corinthians 9:6-7 , Paul writes: "Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each one should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."
The act of extending generosity is not only a blessing to the recipient but also brings spiritual enrichment to the giver, as it aligns with God's heart for the poor and needy.
In summary, the biblical concept of extending encompasses a wide range of actions and attitudes that reflect God's character and commands. Whether it is extending mercy, love, the kingdom of God, or generosity, believers are called to reach beyond themselves to impact the world for God's glory.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary
(
p. pr. & vb. n.) of Extend.
Greek
5046. teleios -- having reached its end, ie complete, by ext....... See 5056 (). [This root () means "reaching the ()." It is well-illustrated with
the old pirate's telescope, unfolding (
extending out) one stage at a time to
...1537. ek -- from, from out of
... being confined to the meaning "by." 1537 () has a two-layered meaning (" and ")
which makes it oriented (out of the depths of the source andextending to its...
5483. charizomai -- to show favor, give freely
... Cognate: 5483 (from 5485 , "grace,extending ") -- properly, to (""), to grant ().
5483 ("favor that cancels") is used of God giving His to....
4687. speiro -- to sow (seed)
... sow, scatter. Probably strengthened from spao (through the idea ofextending); to
scatter, ie Sow (literally or figuratively) -- sow(- er), receive seed....
4347. proskollao -- to glue to, fig. to cleave to
... 4347 (from 4314 , "towards" and 2853 , "to glue") -- properly, "to glue in" (from
extending towards), ie to cleave (join with) someone in a personal...
5056. telos -- an end, a toll
... [This root () means "reaching the ()." It is well-illustrated with the old pirate's
telescope, unfolding (extending out) one stage at a time to function at full...
1437. ean -- if
... 1437 (a conjunction, derived from 1487 , "if" and 302 , a particle showing a statement
is ) -- , referring to aextending to its "spin-off" -- ie that happen...
2309. thelo -- to will, wish
... 2309 ("to desire, wish") is commonly used of the Lordextending His "best-offer"
to the believer -- wanting (desiring) to birth His persuasion (faith) in them...
1557. ekdikesis -- vengeance, vindication
... from 1537 , " and " and 1349 , "justice, judge") -- properly, judgment which fully
executes the core-values (standards) of the judge, ieextending the inner...
4375. prosphiles -- pleasing, agreeable
... 4375 (an adjective, derived from 4314 , "extending toward" and 5368 , "affectionate
caring") -- properly, worthy of personal affection; hence, dearly prized...
Strong's Hebrew
4294. matteh -- a staff, rod, shaft, branch, a tribe... Or (feminine) mattah {mat-taw'}; from natah; a branch (as
extending); figuratively,
a tribe; also a rod, whether for chastising (figuratively, correction
...6524. parach -- to bud, sprout, shoot
... A primitive root; to break forth as a bud, ie Bloom; generally, to spread; specifically,
to fly (asextending the wings); figuratively, to flourish -- X abroad...
Library
Whether the Worship of the Gods Has Been of Service to the Romans...
... Book IV. Chapter 28."Whether the Worship of the Gods Has Been of Service
to the Romans in Obtaining andExtending the Empire....
A Description of Some Parts of Ancient Jerusalem.
... On this side was a house belonging to Lazarus, with beautiful gardens,extending
towards that part where the outer western wall of Jerusalem turned to the south...
Genuineness of the Gospel Narratives.
... There was a period,extending, perhaps, through some years from the day of Pentecost,
when there were no written gospels, their place being supplied by the...
1 John v. 9
... of God? So is this continuous divine witness,extending through all times,
something more reliable than human testimony. This factual...
Of the First Sentiments of Love which Divine Inspirations Cause in...
... feathers, as the parts most light and most susceptible of its agitation, by which
it gives the beginning of motion to their wings,extending and displaying...
System of the Astrologers; Sidereal Influence;
... They assume, therefore, the figure of a triangle, and look upon one another, which
have an intervening distance [147]extending for three zodiacal signs; and...
The Parts of the World in which the Apostles Preached
... [564] Parthia, in the time of the apostles, was an independent kingdom,extending
from the Indus to the Tigris, and from the Caspian Sea to the Persian Gulf....
Appendix xvii. The Ordinances and Law of the Sabbath as Laid Down...
... there was another Erubh,' when narrow streets or blind alleys were connected into
a private dwelling' by laying a beam over the entrance, orextending a wire...
The Notion of Inability.
... It has been common to regard the law and the gospel of God, as directlyextending
their claims to the involuntary powers and states of mind; and, as was shown...
The Seventh Year of Our Conflict was Completed; and the Hostile...
... and attending to their customary duties in fasting and prayer and other exercises,
God himself saw fit to give them a salutary issue byextending his right...
Thesaurus
Extending (15 Occurrences)... Noah Webster's Dictionary (p. pr. & vb. n.) of Extend. Multi-Version
Concordance
Extending (15 Occurrences). 2 Peter 3:5 For they
...Reach (63 Occurrences)
... (vi) To sail on the wind, as from one point of tacking to another, or with the wind
nearly abeam. 17. (n.) The act of stretching orextending; extension; power...
Phoenicians
... The width of the land also was indefinite, notextending inland beyond the crest
of the two ranges of mountains, the Bargylus (Nusairi Mountains) and the...
Phoenicia (6 Occurrences)
... The width of the land also was indefinite, notextending inland beyond the crest
of the two ranges of mountains, the Bargylus (Nusairi Mountains) and the...
Sanctuary (250 Occurrences)
... Or was it, as Keil thinks, a much larger enclosure, surrounding the whole temple
area,extending perhaps 150 cubits eastward in front of the priests' court...
Arabah (32 Occurrences)
... But the Ghor is sometimes spoken of asextending 10 miles south of the Dead Sea,
and thence to the Gulf of Akabah on the Red Sea is called the Wady el-Arabah....
Court (172 Occurrences)
... Or was it, as Keil thinks, a much larger enclosure, surrounding the whole temple
area,extending perhaps 150 cubits eastward in front of the priests' court...
Zobah (15 Occurrences)
... Easton's Bible Dictionary =Aram-Zobah, (Psalm 60, title), a Syrian province or kingdom
to the south of Coele-Syria, andextending from the eastern slopes of...
Illyricum (1 Occurrence)
... that he has preached throughout Macedonia as far as the Illyrian frontier, or his
words may involve a journey within Illyricum itself,extending perhaps to...
Through (6695 Occurrences)
... 9. (adv.) To the end; to a conclusion; to the ultimate purpose; as, to carry a project
through. 10. (a.) Going orextending through; going,extending, or...
Resources
What is the right hand of fellowship (Galatians 2:9)? | GotQuestions.orgWhat is the menorah? | GotQuestions.orgShould a Christian be opposed to globalization? | GotQuestions.orgExtending: Dictionary and Thesaurus | Clyx.comBible Concordance •
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