Recent Commentaries

Most Bible scholars believe that the events recorded in this passage took place on Thursday of Passion week. This was the first day of the seven-day Feast of the Unleavened bread and the day Passover lambs were sacrificed (Mark 14:12). It was necessary for Jesus and His disciples to find …

In our study today we will see how the people are led by the deceitfulness of the flesh into that place of utter and insolent rebellion against God which marked the very nature of their downfall. In this chapter we have the account of Jeremiah’s experience after the capture …

I contend that we are educated as Christians way beyond our level of obedience. John Maxwell said, “What would happen if, after I finished a Sunday morning sermon and gave an application, we didn’t have church again until people did something about it? (Some people I wou …

Failure to honor the dead was considered horrible in Israel, so loud wailing was common at funerals. Paid mourners, usually women, cried and mourned loudly. Amos said there would be so many funerals that there would be a shortage of professional mourners, so farmers would be ca …

We are introduced to Deborah, the prophetess, the fourth judge, and the only woman judge, who lived in central Palestine. For 20 years the Canaanites oppressed Israel and God raised up this prophetess to lead the way to victory (vv. 1-7). Associated with her was Barak, a military leader …

It is sometimes helpful to pick out certain verses of a biblical passage which summarize in concise terms what the passage is all about. The phrase that, perhaps, best summarizes this entire letter is “Wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience” (vv. 1 …

In the previous verses we have seen David trusting in God with great faith. Now we see him trembling in fear (vv. 8-9). As we see David  switch suddenly from faith to fear and trust to trembling we are reminded of how this can happen in our own lives today. Faith and fear of …

In his third speech, Elihu attempted to refute Job’s argument that righteousness avails nothing. Job had claimed to have done no wrong and that he was righteous before God, but that had made no difference (vv. 1-3). In other words, he would have been just as well off, had he …

The Lord told Moses to say to Israel (vv. 1-2): If you ever want to free someone, you may do so by paying different amounts (vv. 3-7). If you have promised to give someone to me and can’t afford to pay the full amount you will be taken to a priest who will decide how much you ca …

This passage is an extensive quotation of the first l5 verses of Psalm l05 (vv. 7-22). Four elements of thanksgiving are found in this song: …