Bible Commentaries

Genesis 3 overview — Paradise Lost This chapter details the temptation and fall of humanity and their consequent expulsion from Eden. The tempter is introduced (Genesis 3:1); the temptation is presented (Genesis 3:2-5); the fall of Eve, then Adam, (Genesis 3:6); the consequent shame, loneliness and fear (Genesis 3:7-8); their confrontation with God and their futile excuses (Genesis 3:9-13); the curse of the serpent and the word of hope for mankind (Genesis 3:14-15); the outline of the penalties upon Eve and

Genesis 35:21 — introduced here in anticipation of Reuben's loss of birthright (Genesis 49:4). It is amazing that none of the details about Jacob's reaction to this crime, nor any other consequence of it, is cited here. His morality is mentioned again in Deuteronomy 33:6, and the fact of its costing him his birthright appears in 1 Chronicles 5:1.

Genesis 49:27 — shall divide the spoil." "A wolf that raveneth" Literally, this means, "A wolf, he shall tear in pieces."Thomas Whitelaw, op. cit., p. 529. The ferocious nature of this tribe is exemplified in such men as Ehud (Judges 3:15) and King Saul (1 Samuel 11:6-11 ff). Whatever the failures of this tribe might have been during the history of the old Israel, the glory of it was enhanced forever by one of their sons, Saul of Tarsus, who became the most gifted apostle of the Christian religion.

Exodus 19 overview — chapter may be called, "Getting Ready for the Covenant," for that is the theme of it throughout. The children of Israel come to Sinai, and Moses ascends the mountain (Exodus 19:1-3); Israel called to be a holy nation of royal priests unto God (Exodus 19:4-6); Israel makes a solemn promise of faithfulness to God (Exodus 19:7-10); the three-day period of sanctification (Exodus 19:11-15); great wonders that occurred at Sinai (Exodus 19:16-20); the people again warned, only Moses and Aaron called to go up

1 Kings 10 overview — "One finds it easy to understand the judgment of Jesus Christ,"The Layman's Bible Commentary, Vol. 7, p. 42 who singled out the humble flowers of the meadow and declared that, "Even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these" (Matthew 6:28-29).

Psalms 79:7 — "For they have devoured Jacob, And laid waste his habitation." This and Psalms 79:6 occur almost word for word in Jeremiah 10:25. Many scholars vex themselves almost endlessly trying to figure out who quoted whom; but it is our opinion that in most cases, there is hardly any way to determine such questions. Is it impossible that God,

Psalms 96:10-13 — therein; Then shall all the trees of the wood sing for joy Before Jehovah; for he cometh, For he cometh to judge the earth: He will judge the world with righteousness, And the peoples with his truth." "This passage expresses the Messianic hope (Psalms 96:13)… but here, as in Malachi 4:6, there is no thought of any personal Messiah. Yahweh himself is the deliverer."W. E. Addis, p. 389. Once more, we have an example of scholarly blindness apparently due to lack of a knowledge of the New Testament.

Proverbs 22:29 — unless it was accompanied by unusual skill, dexterity, ingenuity and creativeness."The Pulpit Commentary, op. cit., p. 427. In ancient times persons with such abilities were called "tektons." The word was applied to Christ himself (as a carpenter) (Mark 6:3). Such skilled workers are the benefactors of all mankind. We dedicated our Book of Acts (In the New Testament Series) to a "[@tekton]." Bezalel (Exodus 35:30-35) was just such a person.

Leviticus 1:1-2 — of God Himself! What a misunderstanding it is, therefore, that some have presumptuously sought to downgrade the whole institution of sacrifice. Certain sayings of the prophets in Amos 5:22 ff; Jeremiah 7:22; 1 Samuel 15:22-23; Isaiah 1:11-13; Hosea 6:6; Micah 6:6-8, etc., have been grossly misinterpreted, resulting in the false conclusion that, "The pre-exilic prophets rejected all formal worship and called for a religion of ethical conduct only."As evaluated by Bernard J. Bamberger, op. cit., p.

Matthew 15:15 — blind, the success of blind leaders in every generation depending entirely upon the degree of blindness in their followers. Only the blind will follow the blind; every soul must bear its own responsibility to know the truth. The same proverb is in Luke 6:30.

Luke 12:6 — Company, 1940), p. 248. If one purchased four, the fifth was thrown in. This affords an interesting sidelight on a commercial practice prevailing through the ages. For Benjamin Franklin's historic use of this thought, see my Commentary on Matthew, Matthew 6:30-31.

Luke 14 overview — This section of Luke (Luke 14:1—17:10) is made up practically altogether of "material which Luke alone reports."Norval Geldenhuys, Commentary on the Gospel of Luke (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1951), p. 386. This chapter recounts the healing of the man with dropsy at the Pharisee's feast (Luke 14:1-6), the teaching on humility which Jesus addressed to the guests (Luke 14:7-11), advice to the host regarding his list of guests (Luke 14:12-14), the parable

Luke 23:22-23 — 23:4). 3.    He sent him to Herod. (Luke 23:5-10). 4.    He announced Jesus' innocence had been confirmed by Herod also (Luke 23:13-15). 5.    He twice offered to substitute a lighter punishment (chastisement) (Luke 23:16; Luke 23:22). 6.    He offered a choice between Barabbas and Christ, hoping the people would choose Jesus to be released (Matthew 27:15 ff). 7.    He suggested that they take Jesus without legal process and crucify

John 6:20-21 — and straightway the boat was at the land whither they were going. John abbreviated this wonder by omitting Peter's walking on the water to go to Jesus (Matthew 14:28-31), and also Mark's record that the apostles' "heart was hardened" (Mark 6:52), a remark that proves the conflict between Christ and the apostles over the events on shore. Matthew gave the happy ending of the brief estrangement in his account of how the apostles confessed him and worshipped him after he came aboard (Matthew

John 6:30 — just as effective (or should have been) as feeding a million people for a whole generation. What then … for a sign … This demand of a sign was characteristic of that people. The Pharisees demanded a "sign from heaven" (Matthew 16:1; Matthew 12:38), no doubt meaning some spectacular wonder of their own choosing; but Jesus rejected such vain and carnal demands, resting the final proof of his Godhead upon "the sign of the prophet Jonah," that is, the death, burial and

Acts 16 overview — This chapter has the continuation of the second missionary tour, relating the revisiting of Lystra and Derbe (Acts 16:1-5), the Macedonian call (Acts 16:6-10), the conversion of Lydia and others in Philippi (Acts 16:11-15), the healing of the demoniac girl (Acts 16:16-18), beating and imprisonment of Paul and Silas (Acts 16:19-24), earthquake and conversion of the

Acts 19:11-12 — appropriate place to mention the number of striking parallels between the lives of Peter and Paul as outlined by Luke in Acts. (1) Both at an early point in their ministries heal lame men (Acts 3:2 ff; Acts 14:8 ff). (2) Both exorcise demons (Acts 5:16; Acts 16:18). (3) Both have triumphant encounters with sorcerers (Acts 8:18 ff; Acts 13:6 ff). (4) Both raise the dead (Acts 9:36 ff; Acts 20:9 ff). (5) Both miraculously escape from prison (Acts 12:7 ff; Acts 16:25 ff). (6) Both figure in miracles

2 Corinthians 3:17 — Christian is converted, receiving the Holy Spirit as an earnest of redemption, there is bestowed at the same time freedom: (1) from the law (Galatians 4:18); (2) from fear (Romans 8:13); (3) from the law of sin and death (Romans 8:2); (4) from sin (Romans 6:18); and (5) from corruption (Romans 8:21). Filson's understanding of what Paul meant here is: Christ and the Spirit are one in nature and share in the guidance of the church … Here, in saying that the Lord is the Spirit, he means especially

Galatians 5:16-17 — suggestions and allurements. This "lusting against the Spirit" by that force has its stronghold in the mind, in the imagination particularly. Even in the Old Testament, the climax and pinnacle of the so-called "seven deadly sins" (Proverbs 6:18) was revealed as "a heart that deviseth wicked imaginations." The total corruption of the antediluvian world had been achieved by the evil one when the "imagination of men's hearts" had become evil, and only evil, without intermission

Joshua 6:15-21 — went up into the city, every man straight before him, and they took the city. And they utterly destroyed all that was in the city, both man and woman, both young and old, and ox, and sheep, and ass, with the edge of the sword." Note the "we" in Joshua 6:17. Thus, there is another indication that we have here the account of an eye-witness and participant in this event. And who could that be if not Joshua himself? It is a reflection on many writers that they PRETEND not even to see this pronoun. Adam