On the way down from the mountaintop experience, Jesus commands these three disciples not to tell anyone what they had seen “till the Son of Man be risen from the dead†(v. 9). It would not really be understood until after the resurrection, which would be proof that J …
This chapter starts to reveal Saul’s true nature. After reigning two years his army consisted of 2,000 troops under his command at Michmash (to the north of Jerusalem (vv. 1-3) and an additional 1,000 troops with his …
Not wanting to cause further trouble for Jason and the other Christians, Paul and Silas left Thessalonica by night and traveled southwest to Berea (v. 10), about 45 miles away. One might have expected Paul to switch up his tactics in Berea, but as usual they went right to the synagogue …
The death of Zimri did not automatically place the throne of the Northern Kingdom in Omri’s hands. Half the population, including the army, followed Omri but the other half sided with Tibni (v. 21). For over three years civil war ravaged Israel and threatened to split it …
In today’s passage James teaches that Christians are to be patient and long-suffering in the hardships and injustices which they may experience. He simply suggests that suffering is to be expected by Christians in this hostile world. When it comes it should be borne val …
The description of Solomon’s palace in this portion of scripture raises a question as to whether one building or several were constructed as it refers to the forest of Lebanon (v. 2). Most scholars think this reference is to the extensive use of Lebanese cedar rather than …
I said to them, ‘You may think that I should have some money for my work. If you do think that, pay me my money. If you do not want to pay me, keep it.’ So they paid me 30 silver coins (v. 12). To pay this shepherd 30 pieces of silver was an insult. This was the price paid …
As he concluded his final defense, Job named specific sins and denied that he had committed them. Having compared the past with the present, he reasserts his claim of innocence and gives his final statement concerning his integrity. He had not only avoided committing the sin of …
Jesus illustrates the Kingdom of Heaven with a story of ten bridesmaids who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom (v. 1). Five were foolish and took no oil for their lamps (vv. 2-3). The other five were wise and took extra oil for their lamps (v. 4). As they waited, they all laid …
Moses continues to deal with various Israelite laws in this chapter. He deals with the need for maintaining purity in the religious assembly (vv. 1-8). He gives three types of people that were excluded from Israel’s “worship service.