Recent Commentaries

The Judaizers thought they had Paul backed into a cor?ner. If salvation does not involve the law, then why was the law given in the first place. Our faith is a logical faith and can be defended on rational grounds. Paul uses a logical argument that the law cannot change the p …

No God-directed ministry is small or unimportant. We do not measure the fulfillment of a ministry only on the basis of statistics, or on what people see. To be “watchful and endure afflictions” (v. 5) means to keep cool when the circumstances of life are pressing in o …

Eliphaz brings up as a reminder of the fate of the wicked (vv. 17-20). He points out how suffering is in store each day for those who sin. Eliphaz portrays the idea that Job was a tyrant who struck fear into other people. It seems that this friend hoped to force Job to repent, as he …

Jeremiah admonishes the people to remember the old traditions of faith and obedience. By returning to those ancient paths and walking in them they could find rest. They defiantly refuse (v. 16)! They actually showed a stubbornness and rejection of the law (vv. 16-19), as they gave …

God regards all the skills of His people, not just those with theological or ministerial abilities. Our tendency is to regard only those who are upfront and in leadership roles. God gave Bezalel and Oholiab Spirit-filled abilities in artistic craftsmanship (vv. 1-5). In other wor …

In the previous plagues, of turning water to blood and the frogs, the Egyptian magicians were able to imitate Moses. Today’s plague, however, of turning the dust into lice could not be imitated (vv.16-18). In fact, the magicians even told the king that God had done this but …

There were over 60 million slaves in the Roman empire at the time Peter was writing this letter. A slave could purchase his freedom if he had the money and if his master was willing to set him free. Also, someone else could pay the price, thus redeeming them, so he could go free. Redemption …

This chapter portrays the results of the atoning work of the Servant of the Lord and adds a further description of the previous chapter. The gentile nations are depicted as a barren and desolate woman who breaks forth into songs of praise because of her recent (assumed) marriage and …

God’s concern for women and their special needs can be seen in both the preceding and this incident. In contrast to the poor widow in the previous story, we find Elisha and the Shunammite woman (Near Jezrel and about 15 miles from Mount Carmel). It appears that she had gr …

This chapter dealing with David’s ambition to build a worship center for the Lord and the Lord’s response and promise concerning it is almost identical to 2 Samuel 7:1- 29. Expressing a desire to provide the Lord with a temple was right, but his timing was wrong. David went into the tent he …