Bible Commentaries

Exodus 20:13 — order. The violation of it by self-styled liberal societies has already drowned the world in blood and may yet deliver the whole earth into the hands of ruthless murderers. The first poem ever written was by Lamech bragging about his murders (Genesis 4:23-24), thus murder is as old as history and as new as today's newspaper. Satan was credited by the Lord Jesus Christ with having invented the lie, and since that evil being was a liar and a murderer from the beginning, it is perhaps safe to conclude

Psalms 42 overview — BOOK II: Psalms 42-72 Psalms 42, 43 A PSALM OF THE BABYLONIAN EXILE With these psalms we have the beginning of Book II of the Psalter. "This book includes Psalms 42-72, a total of 31, only eighteen of which are attributed to David. Book I which we have just concluded

Lamentations 2:11-17 — for bread, fainting from hunger in the streets, dying at their mother's breasts from starvation! This is evidently the account of an eyewitness who had watched these things occur during that horrible siege that ended in the destruction of Jerusalem (2 Kings 25). "The breach is great like the sea; who can heal thee?" "This simply means `there is no end to it'"The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p . 661. The thoughtless may ask, "Why does God allow terrible things like this to happen"? But God has given

Ezekiel 12:8-13 — Babylon. It just happens that Ezekiel dates his prophecy (Ezekiel 8:1), about five years prior to its fulfillment. Canon Cook reminds us that, "The genuineness of Ezekiel and the position of this passage within it are beyond dispute. Jeremiah 39:4 and 2 Kings 25:4 provide a Scriptural record of the historical fulfillment; and the only legitimate inference is that Ezekiel received his information from above."Albert Barnes' Commentary, p. 330. Note that Cook stated that the facts here are "beyond dispute."

Daniel 2:2-9 — inclusion of Daniel in the number here indicates as much. (See the introduction for more on this.) It will be noted that the Chaldeans also included a special group who bore that name; but they seem to have been spokesmen for the entire group. In Daniel 2:4 b, the Syrian language is introduced, not by the author of Daniel, but by the Chaldeans; and Daniel, the faithful author was able to report the proceedings in the language by which the communications were carried on. It is a virtual certainty that

Daniel 6 overview — led to all kinds of irresponsible and inaccurate allegations by Biblical critics. The two great errors current in such criticisms are (1) that this Darius was Darius Hystaspes, a supposition which would make the account in Daniel a gross error, and (2) the notion that the writer of Daniel here thought that a Median empire preceded the Persian empire. Neither allegation is true. Based on the sacred record, "This Median Darius was a son of Ahasuerus (Daniel 9:1), of the seed of the Medes; and according

Numbers 8:5-13 — shalt set the Levites before Aaron, and before his sons, and offer them for a wave-offering unto Jehovah." Unger listed the specifics required for the cleansing of the Levites thus: (1)    by sprinkling with water (Numbers 8:7 a) (2)    by shaving all their flesh (Numbers 8:7 b) (3)    by washing their garments (Numbers 8:7 c) (4)    by atonement being made for them (Numbers 8:8-12) (5)    by identifying

Jonah 3:6 — cannot imagine the people of Nineveh (including the king himself) having been motivated to fasting and cessation of violence and wickedness on the mere cry of impending ruin by a stranger of whom they were totally ignorant."Paul T. Butler, op. cit., p. 248. The Saviour's words that Jonah was a "sign" unto the Ninevites (Luke 11:30) has often been cited by Bible scholars as the basis for understanding that, "Jonah's experience in the great fish was made known to the Ninevites."Michael C. Griffiths, op.

Matthew 13:31-32 — birds of heaven come and lodge in the branches thereof. III. The Parable of the Mustard Seed This and the parable of the leaven which immediately followed it constitute a pair with these similarities: (1) both stress the small beginning of the kingdom; (2) its gradual increase, and (3) the extensiveness later attained. Comparison of a great kingdom to a tree was not new. Daniel 4:10-12 and Ezekiel 31:3-9 reveal similar analogies. The mustard seed may be viewed as the word of God, or Christ himself, who

Matthew 27:57 — Jesus "secretly for fear of the Jews," and that Nicodemus was a member of the burial party. Mark added that he was a "councilor of honorable estate" (Mark 15:43). Luke mentioned that he "was a good man and a righteous man (Luke 23:50-51). Along with Barnabas, Joseph of Arimathea ranks with a very select few who, in the Scriptures, are called good men. All four gospels record this event, thus emphasizing its importance. In times of distress and danger; God has frequently raised

Luke 22:1-2 — nevertheless rather loosely used. As Boles said: The Passover, as used here, means either the meal, the feast day, or the whole period of time. "Eat the passover" refers to the meal, as here, or to the whole period of celebration in John 18:28.H. Leo Boles, Commentary on Luke (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1940), p. 411. Furthermore, "the feast of unleavened bread" was used in several senses: The feast of unleavened bread was the day the Passover lamb was slain. According

Luke 3:23 — years of age, being the son (as was supposed) of Joseph, the son of Heli, the son of Matthat … THE GENEALOGY OF JESUS THROUGH MARY Thirty years of age … On the bearing this has with reference to dating the birth of Jesus, see under Luke 3:2. We shall not undertake any exhaustive "harmonization" of the two separate genealogies of Jesus in Matthew and here. It is now and has been this student's conviction for many years that Luke's genealogy cannot possibly be for Joseph's line

Romans 10:10 — to receive." No Greek scholar on earth would deny this. Attention is here called to two other New Testament passages where the same [eis] is involved: This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many UNTO remission of sins (Matthew 26:28). Repent ye, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ UNTO the remission of your sins (Acts 2:38). Putting the sense of these Scriptures in view together, we have this: blood of the covenant (Christ's blood) ) ( remission of

Romans 11:17-18 — bundles and burn them." This is a metaphor of old fleshly Israel. And what of the branches not "broken off"? They are the true Israel, the spiritual seed, who accepted Christ, and formed the first community of believers in Christ (Acts 2:5-10; Acts 2:22). Thou, being a wild olive, wast grafted in among them … is impossible of misunderstanding, because the only thing in five thousand years of recorded history into which Gentiles could have been "grafted in among" Jews

1 Timothy 3:2 — seven are listed in this verse. Without reproach … This is the great and all-inclusive qualification. Wuest pointed out that the Greek word from which this comes means "one who cannot be laid hold upon," Kenneth S. Wuest, op. cit., p. 52. that is, a man without a handle, one who has given evil men no occasion whatever to blame or censure him. The late Grover Cleveland Brewer denominated this as really the only qualification for elder, the other qualifications mentioned here and in Titus

Hebrews 2:16 — they were pleased to take on them such and such a body, when they were born. It describes voluntary action. It was an act contemplated beforehand. It implies not only pre-existence, but power, dignity, and condescension. Joseph S. Exell, op. cit., p. 162. MYSTERY OF FORGIVENESS Also, here is a problem. Why did Christ elect to enter the arena of human life as a man and to suffer and die for human redemption, whereas it is revealed that he made no such decision or movement on behalf of fallen angels who

Hebrews 8:1-2 — already considered; it emphasizes as the crowning topic in connection with our Lord's priesthood, the fact that he has been made higher than the heavens. C. Jerden, The Pulpit Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. 21, Hebrews, p. 212. Two words in these verses challenge our attention because of the paradox, Hebrews 8:1 presenting our Lord as "seated," whereas Hebrews 8:2 hails him as a "minister of the sanctuary," that is, "a servant."

Revelation 3:7 — name Philadelphia arouses our interest, as one of the great modern cities of the United States bears the same title. "Here is the seventh and last occurrence of this word in the New Testament, the other passages where it is found being: Romans 12:10; 1 Thessalonians 4:9; Hebrews 13:1; 1 Peter 1:22; and 2 Peter 1:7 (twice). William R. Newell, The Book of Revelation (Chicago: Moody Press, 1935), p. 67. Philadelphia is supposed to have been founded between 189 B.C. and 138 B.C., either by Eumenes,

Revelation 6:1-2 — this"; J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1078. Roberson, Charles H. Roberson, Studies in Revelation (Tyler, Texas: P. D. Wilmeth, P.O. Box 3305, 1957), p. 38. Cox, Frank L. Cox, Revelation in 26 Lessons (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1956), p. 48. Wallace, Foy E. Wallace, Jr., The Book of Revelation (Nashville: The Foy E. Wallace, Jr., Publications, 1966), p. 143. and a very great many others might be cited; but perhaps it is more profitable

1 Samuel 13:8-14 — It is clear enough that Saul himself understood it as a commandment from God Himself that he should wait until Samuel came; otherwise he would not have made so many excuses for his disobeying the divine commandment."Matthew Henry's Commentary, Vol. 2, p. 347. "Bring the burnt offering here to me, and the peace offering" The text here definitely leaves the impression that Saul himself offered the sacrifices, but the great majority of scholars accept the view advocated by Keil that, "The cooperation