Matthew 4:1–4:11 Following His public baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He fasted for
forty days. The wilderness of Judea is a hot, barren and desolate area that lays between the Dead
Sea and Jerusalem and is approximately thirty-five miles long and fifteen miles wide … Read more
Matthew 3:13–3:17 We find Jesus going south from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized (v.13). When John learns
that Jesus wants to be baptized he doesn’t want to do it because he feels unworthy (v. 14). Jesus
says it is necessary to fulfil what God wants us to do (v. 15).Why do you thi … Read more
Matthew 3:1–3:6 In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life here on earth he skips over the next 30 years or so and picks up
with an introduction of John the Baptist (vv. 1-6). We find John preaching in the Judean wilderness
which is along the western shore of the Dead Sea. He was a son of Zacharias and … Read more
Matthew 3:7–3:12 We find John rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were the most influential of the
Jewish sects of that day. They were usually orthodox in doctrine and followed good qualities: They
knew the Scriptures - Matthew 23:2They tithed - Luke 18:12They fasted - Matthew 9:1 … Read more
Matthew 2:13–2:23 A special divine revelation in the form of a warning was given both to the wise men and to
Joseph in
the form of a dream (vv. 13-15). He is warned to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt (v.
13). The
reason being that Herod would be searching for the child to kill him. The quest … Read more
Matthew 2:1–2:12 “Herod the king” mentioned here was known as Herod the Great (v. 1), whose family though
nominally Jewish, was in reality an Edomite who became king with Rome’s help. It is no
surprise
that he was disturbed when the wise men came to Jerusalem looking for the one who had … Read more
Matthew 1:18–1:25 Hebrew marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. The
marriage vows were said at the time of engagement and required a divorce to end them. The
individuals however did not begin to live together but instead the woman continued to live with … Read more
Matthew 1:1–1:17 By tracing Jesus’ ancestry back to King David, through the line of Davidic kings, Matthew
connects
Jesus with his royal heritage (vv. 1-17). The genealogy in this passage is traced through Joseph,
Jesus’ legal (not natural) father. This genealogy traces Jesus’ right to the throne … Read more
Proverbs 5:15–5:23 The Lord has made provision for man’s happiness, not through immoral entanglements but
through the blessings of married life. Marital love with one’s wife is pictured as enjoying one’s
cistern or fountain. As a person would not get water from his neighbor’s cistern bec … Read more
Proverbs 5:1–5:14 This chapter is filled with strong warning against sexual sin. If any fall prey to a strange woman and
her wicked seduction it is not because of lack of warning but because of willful neglect of
instruction. Temptation in these matters has always been in the forefront of ma … Read more
Proverbs 4:20–4:27 We are to pay attention to what the author says (v. 20). We are not to let his words depart from our
eyes but let them penetrate deep within our heart (v. 21). They will bring life to anyone who
discovers their meaning (v. 22). Our heart is to be kept with all diligence (v. 23). … Read more
Proverbs 4:10–4:19 Wisdom will keep us out of trouble. In (vv 10-13) we have the ways of wisdom, (vv 14-17) the ways of wickedness and a
summary in (vv 18-19) of both distinctions.We can’t help but notice that the beginning of this chapter said to listen to the
father, (v. 1) and again (v. 10 … Read more
Proverbs 4:1–4:9 In this passage the key thought is to get wisdom and to get understanding (vv. 5,7). It starts out by
saying listen to your father’s instruction (v. 1); that he is giving you good teaching (v. 2), just as his
father and mother had given him (vv. 3-4). If you prize wisdom it will … Read more
Proverbs 3:27–3:35 Attention is given in this passage to doing good for those whom you have the opportunity and
power to do so. The poor and the neighbor are to be the objects of this kind of good neighbor
policy. From these verses we can see three groups of relationships with others and how t … Read more
Recent commentaries
Three Major Tests
Matthew 4:1–4:11
Following His public baptism, Jesus was led by the Spirit into the wilderness where He fasted for forty days. The wilderness of Judea is a hot, barren and desolate area that lays between the Dead Sea and Jerusalem and is approximately thirty-five miles long and fifteen miles wide … Read more
The Baptism of Christ
Matthew 3:13–3:17
We find Jesus going south from Galilee to the Jordan River to be baptized (v.13). When John learns that Jesus wants to be baptized he doesn’t want to do it because he feels unworthy (v. 14). Jesus says it is necessary to fulfil what God wants us to do (v. 15).Why do you thi … Read more
The Preperation of the Messiah
Matthew 3:1–3:6
In Matthew’s account of Jesus’ life here on earth he skips over the next 30 years or so and picks up with an introduction of John the Baptist (vv. 1-6). We find John preaching in the Judean wilderness which is along the western shore of the Dead Sea. He was a son of Zacharias and … Read more
The Pharisees and Sadducees
Matthew 3:7–3:12
We find John rebuking the Pharisees and Sadducees. The Pharisees were the most influential of the Jewish sects of that day. They were usually orthodox in doctrine and followed good qualities: They knew the Scriptures - Matthew 23:2They tithed - Luke 18:12They fasted - Matthew 9:1 … Read more
Flight to Egypt
Matthew 2:13–2:23
A special divine revelation in the form of a warning was given both to the wise men and to Joseph in the form of a dream (vv. 13-15). He is warned to take Jesus and Mary and flee to Egypt (v. 13). The reason being that Herod would be searching for the child to kill him. The quest … Read more
The Anticipation of the Messiah
Matthew 2:1–2:12
“Herod the king” mentioned here was known as Herod the Great (v. 1), whose family though nominally Jewish, was in reality an Edomite who became king with Rome’s help. It is no surprise that he was disturbed when the wise men came to Jerusalem looking for the one who had … Read more
The Importance of The Virgin Birth
Matthew 1:18–1:25
Hebrew marriages were arranged for individuals by parents, and contracts were negotiated. The marriage vows were said at the time of engagement and required a divorce to end them. The individuals however did not begin to live together but instead the woman continued to live with … Read more
The Genealogy of The Messiah
Matthew 1:1–1:17
By tracing Jesus’ ancestry back to King David, through the line of Davidic kings, Matthew connects Jesus with his royal heritage (vv. 1-17). The genealogy in this passage is traced through Joseph, Jesus’ legal (not natural) father. This genealogy traces Jesus’ right to the throne … Read more
Encouragement to Moral Purity
Proverbs 5:15–5:23
The Lord has made provision for man’s happiness, not through immoral entanglements but through the blessings of married life. Marital love with one’s wife is pictured as enjoying one’s cistern or fountain. As a person would not get water from his neighbor’s cistern bec … Read more
Some of The Consequences of Adultery
Proverbs 5:1–5:14
This chapter is filled with strong warning against sexual sin. If any fall prey to a strange woman and her wicked seduction it is not because of lack of warning but because of willful neglect of instruction. Temptation in these matters has always been in the forefront of ma … Read more
The Value of Wisdom in Producing Health
Proverbs 4:20–4:27
We are to pay attention to what the author says (v. 20). We are not to let his words depart from our eyes but let them penetrate deep within our heart (v. 21). They will bring life to anyone who discovers their meaning (v. 22). Our heart is to be kept with all diligence (v. 23). … Read more
How Wisdom Will Keep You Out of Trouble
Proverbs 4:10–4:19
Wisdom will keep us out of trouble. In (vv 10-13) we have the ways of wisdom, (vv 14-17) the ways of wickedness and a summary in (vv 18-19) of both distinctions.We can’t help but notice that the beginning of this chapter said to listen to the father, (v. 1) and again (v. 10 … Read more
An Exhortation to Acquire Wisdom
Proverbs 4:1–4:9
In this passage the key thought is to get wisdom and to get understanding (vv. 5,7). It starts out by saying listen to your father’s instruction (v. 1); that he is giving you good teaching (v. 2), just as his father and mother had given him (vv. 3-4). If you prize wisdom it will … Read more
How to Treat Your Neighbors
Proverbs 3:27–3:35
Attention is given in this passage to doing good for those whom you have the opportunity and power to do so. The poor and the neighbor are to be the objects of this kind of good neighbor policy. From these verses we can see three groups of relationships with others and how t … Read more