Recent Commentaries

Pilate tried a new approach: sympathy. If Jesus was scourged (beaten with a whip, knotted and weighted with pieces of metal or bone) perhaps they would be satisfied. Certainly, the sight of Jesus, scourged and humiliated, would arouse some pity in their hearts. He ordered that Jesus be …

The Jewish religious leaders tried to set a trap for Jesus by bringing a woman to Him caught in adultery (v. 3). “What do you say?” they asked (vv. 4-6). Roman law forbid stoning, but the law of Moses required it in the case of adultery (Deut. 22:24). However, the dishonest intent of the …

A man became envious of his friends because they had larger and more luxurious homes. So he listed his house with a real estate firm, planning to sell it and to purchase a more impressive home. Shortly afterward, as he was reading the classified section of the newspaper, he saw a …

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 …

The Lord would cut down the forests and the mighty trees, but God’s kingdom will arise by a shoot coming up from the stump of Jesse, David’s father (Rev. 22:16). Isaiah undoubtedly was thinking of God’s promise to David (2 Sam. 7:16) that a Descendant of David will rule ove …

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 …