Recent Commentaries

When the Samaritans heard that the Jews were making good progress in building the temple they came to them with an offer of assistance. Outwardly they pretended to be friendly and cooperative while in reality they intended to hinder and stop the work. Zerubbabel, Joshua and the o …

Christ came as a priest of the New Covenant, called “the good things that have come” (v. 11). Under the Old Covenant, sins were covered by the blood of bulls and goats (vv. 12-13). If you are carrying a load of guilt because you are finding that you can’t be good enough …

This psalm contains both history and prophesy. Its human author is unknown. It is set in the period when the remnant returned from Babylon to the promised land. It is considered a messianic psalm in which certain verses are associated with the Lord Jesus Himself and with His earthly life and …

This chapter centers around a debate between Job and Zophar concerning prosperity. After appealing for their understanding and sympathy Job refutes Zophar’s idea that evil people never experience wealth and happiness (vv. 1- 6). But first, he says, “If you really want t …

The fig tree in this parable is thought by many to be a symbol of Israel. Jesus is teaching that we can tell what is coming by watching the signs. As the fig leaves sprout in the spring, we know that summer is near. As the budding of the fig tree indicates that summ …

The last two chapters of l Chronicles presents the transition from David to Solomon as King of Israel. Knowing that the end of his life was imminent, David assembled all the princes of Israel in Jerusalem and made a public presentation of Solomon as his successor. He reviewed the history …

The basis of salvation is the issue in this passage. Is salvation through Christ alone or does it come through Christ and adherence to the law. If observing the Jewish laws cannot justify us, why should we still obey the ten commandments and other Old Testament laws? Paul says we …

If we are ever tempted to give up or to run away from our problems, then this is the Psalm for us.  It seems that David wrote this Psalm when Absalom’s rebellion was coming to a head in Jerusalem.  He felt what so many of us have felt when things have piled up on …

Two more woes are pronounced on the Babylonians …

When Esau returned home and discovered his expected blessing had been given to Jacob, he was furious. Jacob had twice deceived Esau, by taking his birthright (Gen. 25:27-34) and now by taking his blessing. It meant that Esau’s descendants (the Edomites) would occupy a land less fertile than …