Bible Commentaries

Psalms 140:1-3 — collective" indicating many enemies, "More probably the singular form has a collective force."Leslie C. Allen, Vol. II, p. 264. Miller agreed with this. "`Evil men' and `violent men' (RSV) are singular forms in the Hebrew, but the plural verbs in Psalms 140:2-3 indicate that these singular forms are used in a collective sense."C. M. Miller, co-author with Anthony L. Ash, p. 431. "Who devise mischiefs in their heart" "`Mischiefs' is a very suggestive and comprehensive term. It always means scheming, underhanded

Psalms 29:6-8 — intended to convey the same kind of warning. "Maketh them to skip like a calf" (Psalms 29:6). This may refer to the cedars mentioned in the preceding verse; but Delitzsch and others apply this clause to Lebanon and Sirion. "According to Deuteronomy 3:9, Sirion is the Sidonian name for Mount Hermon. Side by side with Lebanon, it represents Anti-Lebanon. It is the lightning that makes the mountains bound like young antelopes!"F. Delitzsch, Vol. V, p. 370. We appreciate the discernment of Ash who twice

Lamentations 3:22-27 — Jehovah. It is good for the man that he bear the yoke in his youth." "Because his compassions fail not" "Indeed, if any man escapes hell, it is because God's compassions fail not."Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible (London: T. Mason and G. Lane, 1837), Vol. IV, p. 409. This section through Lamentations 3:39 (or Lamentations 3:42) carries an expression of full assurance in God's unfailing mercies; and that such is found in Lamentations is indeed remarkable and carries its own rich consolations."The

Ezekiel 12:21-25 — "In the last days, mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation" (2 Peter 3:3-4).

Ezekiel 6:1-3 — hills, to the watercourses and to the valleys: Behold, I, even I, will bring a sword upon you, and I will destroy your high places." "The mountains were mentioned here because they were especially the places where Israel practiced idolatry (Leviticus 26:30-33; Isaiah 65:7; and Jeremiah 3:6)."Charles Lee Feinberg in Ezekiel (Moody Press), p. 40. The same is true of the watercourses and valleys. "The ravines and valleys were the scenes of Baal-worship (Jeremiah 2:23) and of child-sacrifice (Isaiah 57:5)."J.

Daniel 6:19-23 — salvation" (Hebrews 1:14). Serving the interests of God's people is thus one of seven different functions set forth in the Bible as performed by angels. All seven are: (1) in the general sense, as here; (2) to watch over little children (Matthew 18:10); (3) to bear away the souls of the righteous in death (Luke 16:22); (4) to execute the punitive judgments of God upon the incorrigibly wicked (Acts 12:23); (5) to aid providentially in bringing sinners to hear the gospel of Christ (Acts 8:3); (6) to excercise

Matthew 16:2-3 — of heaven. What are "the signs of the times"? (1) The prophetic weeks of Daniel were about to expire. (2) The great herald of the new age, John the Baptist, had appeared according to prophecy, "in the spirit and power of Elijah." (3) The scepter had departed from Judah and the lawgiver from beneath his feet (Genesis 49:10). (4) Even a "sign from heaven" had already been given at the baptism of Christ when God spoke out of heaven, saying, "This is my beloved Son,

Matthew 21:31 — Pharisees were not, as shown by Luke's account of the Pharisee and the publican (Luke 18:9 ff), indicating that no sin is greater than being conscious of none. (2) The publicans and sinners heard him (Luke 15:1), but the Pharisaical class refused to hear. (3) They believed him (Matthew 21:32). (4) They repented. (5) They were baptized (Luke 3:12; Luke 7:29-30). If the Pharisees had been willing to do this, they too might have entered into the kingdom. In the very next words, Christ shows how they failed.

Matthew 3:16 — leaves the water behind after the act! Who had the authority to change the action called baptism? It cannot be allowed that any man ever had such authority. The Holy Scriptures affirm that men are "buried" by baptism (Colossians 2:12; Romans 6:3-5). Spirit of God descending as a dove … This referred to the sign by which John was inspired to recognize the Messiah (John 1:32-34). Thus, it is clear the Holy Spirit adopted the shape of a dove on that occasion, otherwise John could not have

Matthew 7:24 — Christ. Jesus commanded the church to teach "whatsoever I have commanded you" (Matthew 28:20). He declared that the words he spoke would judge men at the last day (John 12:48). The true religion was "first spoken" by Christ (Hebrews 2:3). "Whosoever goeth onward and abideth not in the teaching of Christ, hath not God (2 John 1:9). Apostles warned that men ought to learn how "not to go beyond the things which are written" (1 Corinthians 4:6). "Let the word of Christ

Matthew 8:5 — command of one hundred men, hence his title. Other centurions besides the honorable example before us include: (1) the one who said, "Truly, this was the Son of God" (Matthew 27:54), (2) the centurions who rescued Paul from the mob (Acts 21:32), (3) the centurion who bore Paul's message to the chiliarch (Acts 22:25), (4) Cornelius, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10:1), (5) Julius, who courteously treated Paul and saved his life on the voyage to Rome (Acts 27:3; Acts 27:43), and (6) the

Luke 7:2 — Zondervan Publishing House), p. 205. The list of centurions listed in the New Testament is: 1.    The one whose servant was healed (in this passage). 2.    The one who confessed Christ at the cross (Matthew 27:54). 3.    The ones who rescued Paul from the mob (Acts 21:32). 4.    The one who bore Paul's message to the chiliarch (Acts 22:25). 5.    Cornelius, the first Gentile convert (Acts 10:1) 6.    Julius,

John 14:18 — means "orphans"; and from this premise, "I come unto you" is not speaking of the second advent but of an interim coming of the Lord in the person of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost and afterward. The second advent was in view in John 14:3, but here the coming of Christ's Spirit is meant. Hendriksen ably defended this interpretation thus, "The immediately preceding context refers to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit, and so does the following context." William Hendriksen, op.

John 7:15 — promptly replying to it. This man … has the meaning of "this fellow" and was intended to place Jesus on a lower level than the rabbis and priests. Nicodemus, having a higher opinion of Christ, referred to him as "Rabbi" (John 3:2).

1 Corinthians 16:24 — signature of the gospel Paul preached. The whole book of Ephesians, practically, is founded upon the conception inherent in this phrase which so abounds in his writings. If one is "in Christ" and if one is "found in him" (Philippians 3:9), salvation is assured and heaven is certain! It was that relationship to the Corinthians as his fellow-members of Christ's spiritual body to which Paul appealed in this final loving word. Amen.

2 Corinthians 11:22 — descent from Abraham, Paul had a much higher view of who were really Israelites and the true seed of Abraham. The Christians are the true Israelites, as well as the genuine seed of Abraham. Paul developed this extensively in Romans, and also in Galatians 3:29.

Philippians 4:9 — ye both learned and received and heard and saw in me, these things do: and the God of peace shall be with you. This is the equivalent of Paul's frequent admonitions to follow (or imitate) him as he followed (or imitated) Christ. See under Philippians 3:17. The God of peace … In Philippians 4:7, Paul had written "the peace of God"; and, as Barry said, "The inversion is striking." Ibid. The peace of God passes all understanding, but the God of peace is more, peace being that

Colossians 3:17 — name of the Lord … This means to respect the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ in everything. The sectors in which this applies are: (1) that of personal morality and conduct; (2) the province of things done in public assemblies of Christians; (3) in the whole area of thought and action (word or deed); and (4) even in the secret purposes of the soul. In short, "do all" in the name of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 3:11 — Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way unto you: These three verses (1 Thessalonians 3:11-13) are "a prayer to Christ as co-equal with the Father." J. R. Dummelow, op. cit., p. 988. The Christology of Paul is not something which "developed," but was implicit and explicit in all that he wrote, even in this letter, one

2 Thessalonians 3:15 — disorderly." Raymond C. Kelcy, The Letters of Paul to the Thessalonians (Austin, Texas: R. B. Sweet Company, Inc., 1968), p. 181. He further said that this word "admonish" is a brotherly word, used in the New Testament only by Paul in Acts 20:31, 1 Thessalonians 5:12-13, Romans 15:14, Colossians 3:16, and in this text.