Recent Commentaries

For the first time the word “Oppressors” (v. 121) and “oppress” (v. 122) appear in this psalm. The word means taking advantage of the underprivileged. The Jews were commanded not to oppress one another (Lev. 25:14, 17). In most generations God’s people suffer oppression while the guilty …

This chapter gives a historical background of Jeremiah’s temple message given in chapters 7-10. In those chapters he focused on the content of the message while in this chapter he focuses on the response to the message. It describes how and why Jeremiah was on trial for his …

Moses was summoned by the Lord to come upon Mount Sinai where he was to receive the tablets of stone, with the law (v. 12). After the meal Moses and his assistant, Joshua got ready, then Moses leaves the others behind and proceeds up the mountain (v. 13). Apparently Joshua is all …

In this whole prayer (vv. 23-53) Solomon called on God, who had been faithful to His promises in the past, to continue to be faithful to his people in the future. Solomon prayed for needs with confidence that those who sinned, were defeated, and those who had need would bring the …

God’s kingdom will arise by a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse (v. 1; 2 Sam. 7:16; Rev. 22:16). He will come directly from the line of David and will fulfill God’s promises in the Davidic Covenant. Isaiah wrote, “The Spirit of the Lord will rest on him – the Spirit of wisdom and of …

In this chapter Moses states that during this seventh year the Israelites were not to be pressed to pay their debts. This does not mean that the debts would be eliminated completely but simply that the time of payment was extended for one year. The Israelites were allowed to press foreigners …

The text begins in this passage by focusing on the puffed-up minds of men (v. 25). It ends with Paul falling before God in praise, based upon the infinite and unfathomable wisdom of God (vv. 33-36). These words are a most appropriate conclusion. They conclude not only the argument of …

In this passage we see that many people in Ephesus believed that illness and disease, and especially mental illness, were due to evil spirits who settled in a person. Exorcism was a regular trade. Many treasured their books on magic and their curios covered with charms because th …

Jesus had great sorrow for the Pharisees because they were blinded to God’s truth and their sins. In this passage & the next, we see eight woes that we might contrast to the eight beatitudes in Matthew 5:1-12. The beatitudes described true righteousness and here Jesus describes false …

Levi was the ancestor of the tribe of Levites, the tribe set apart for service to God (Num. 1:47-54). These Levites became God’s priests, first in the tabernacle, then in the temple. The priests in Malachi’s day had stopped loving God and thus they did not know nor care what He wanted. They …