Bible Commentaries

1 Kings 16:1-4 — Jeroboam the son of Nebat. Him that dieth of Baasha in the city shall the dogs eat; and him that dieth of his in the field shall the birds of the heavens eat." "Jehu the son of Hanani" Jehu, a prophet, was also the son of a prophet; and he is mentioned in 2 Chronicles 20:34 as being the author of a history which was "inserted into the book of the kings of Israel." The importance of this fact should be stressed. The sacred author of Kings, living long after some of the events recorded, had no need whatever

2 Chronicles 25 overview — THE TRAGIC RECORD OF AMAZIAH'S REIGN IN JUDAH VIII. AMAZIAH (800-783 B.C.) We have already written about a dozen pages in 2 Kings 14 regarding the reign of Amaziah, taking due note of the additional information provided in this chapter. We shall do little here except print the chapter.

Psalms 32 overview — the time of his great sin; and his forgiveness is here unrelated in any sense whatever to the salvation of alien sinners. Any New Testament application must find its parallel in the "Second Law of Pardon," as expounded by the apostle Peter in Acts 8:22, where that law is announced, `Repentance and Prayer,' being revealed as the basic elements of it. Paul's quotation of this psalm was for the purpose of stressing the "happiness" of persons whose sins God has remitted, or forgiven. Another purpose

Psalms 71:1-4 — unrighteous and cruel man." "Verses 1-3 here are quoted from Psalms 31."W. E. Addis, p. 385. Most of the terminology here actually has the significance of a Davidic signature. "Thou art my rock and my fortress" This is a quotation from David's Psalms 18:2. "Deliver me out of the hand of the wicked… out of the hand… of the cruel man" Here is another undeniable earmark of David's writing. "It is characteristic of David to single out from his adversaries an individual enemy from whom he prays

Psalms 97:3-6 — This passage is a prophecy of the Second Advent of Christ in the Judgment of the whole earth. An apostle has warned us that, "The heavens and the earth which now are, are stored up for fire against the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men (2 Peter 3:7). "The earth saw and trembled" The Final Judgment is an appointment that shall be universally attended, with no absentees whatever. This thought is reiterated in Psalms 97:6, where "all the peoples" are depicted as seeing God's glory. The

Proverbs 19:7 — "All the brethren of the poor do hate him: How much more do his friends go far from him." Once more, as frequently in Proverbs, we have a factual statement of the way it is, and not the way it ought to be. See James 2:14-16.

Ezekiel 36 overview — ISRAEL'S RETURN TO PALESTINE; AND THE NEW COVENANT This chapter falls into two major divisions: (1) the external restoration of Israel to their homeland (Ezekiel 36:1-15), and (2) the spiritual restoration of Israel (Ezekiel 36:16-38). The smaller subdivisions will be noted below in our commentary.

Habakkuk 3:3 — was in this area that Israel experienced the redemptive grace of God, entered into covenant relationship with him; and it was also in these districts that some of the unbelieving generation perished."Albert Barnes, Notes on the Minor Prophets, Vol. 2 (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1954), p. 20. "His glory covered the heavens" "Deuteronomy 33:2 recounts the splendour of the divine appearance spread over Teman and the mountains of Paran." C. F. Keil, op. cit., p. 98. "Selah" "This forms no part

Matthew 28:19-20 — divinity of Christ. If these words were spoken by a mere man, they are nonsense; and therefore in this statement Christ lays claim to status as a member of the Godhead. Ten times in the Greek New Testament, Christ is actually called God (see John 1:1; John 20:28; Acts 20:28; Romans 9:5; Philippians 2:6; Hebrews 1:8; Titus 2:13; 2 Peter 1:1; 1 John 5:20; Revelation 1:8; also Colossians 2:9 and John 14:9). This says nothing of the countless passages in which he laid claim to attributes of deity, as for example

Mark 12:17 — him. Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's … is the basis of the Christian's concept of the state and his obligations to the secular government. The principle uttered here by the Lord was elaborated by the apostles in Romans 13:1-7; 1 Timothy 2:1-6; and 1 Peter 2:13-17. For an essay on "The Christian's Relation to the State," see my Commentary on Romans, Romans 13. And unto God the things that are God's … This is a higher theater of obligation; and the Christian may not violate

Mark 16:1 — their having been back-to-back sabbaths due to the 15th of Nisan falling on a Friday. Mark's mention of only one is characteristic, just as he mentioned the healing of only one blind man at Jericho (Mark 10:46), whereas there were actually two (Matthew 20:30); and just as he mentioned only the colt (Mark 11:2), whereas both the colt and its mother were brought (Matthew 21:2); and just as he mentioned only one angel (Mark 16:5), whereas there were two (Luke 24:4). Inherent in Mark's purpose of composing

John 3:14-15 — and these cite the necessity for his Passion, i.e., his being lifted up on the cross, and through that, lifted up on High. Moses lifted up the serpent … refers to the last of Moses' miracles, which took place on the borders of Canaan (Numbers 21:7 ff). Fiery serpents had been sent among the people producing suffering and death; Moses fashioned a serpent of brass and lifted it up on a pole in the center of the camp, and all who looked upon it were healed. Those who would make that brass snake

Romans 15:16 — p. 440. Paul's metaphorical reference to his work of preaching the gospel is no basis at all for supposing a separate order of priests in God's church. True, the apostle Peter wrote, "Ye are a holy priesthood, a royal priesthood" (1 Peter 2:5; 1 Peter 2:9); but, in the words of Moule: Who are the "ye"? Not the consecrated pastorate, but the consecrated Christian company altogether. And what are the altar sacrifices of that company? "Sacrifices SPIRITUAL": "thepraises

2 Corinthians 12:2 — ground that it was written in the third person are refuted. The words "caught up" are the same that Luke used of Philip (Acts 8:39) and that Paul used of the resurrection (1 Thessalonians 4:17). Fourteen years ago … "This was in 41-42 A.D., some years after his escape from Damascus." Norman Hillyer, The New Bible Commentary, Revised (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1970), p. 1086. There is nothing known of any vision Paul had at that time, except

2 Corinthians 4:11 — For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh. "This verse repeats, and so emphasizes the thought of 2 Corinthians 4:10." Floyd V. Filson, op. cit., p. 321. See under preceding verse for comment.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 — and the apostles believe and teach that the Second Advent would occur in their generation, at a time immediately in the future? The answer to that question is negative. Jesus himself declared that he himself did not know the day nor the hour (Matthew 24:36); least of all could any apostle have pretended to know. Christ emphatically declared, "Wheresoever the gospel shall be preached throughout the whole world, that also which this woman hath done (Mary's anointing) shall be spoken of for a memorial

1 Timothy 6:12 — witnesses" of Timothy's good confession. Ibid., p. 146. Harvey also agreed that "this seems to point clearly to his baptism," adding that "The good confession in view here is that of Christ himself confessing himself the Son of God (Mark 14:62), which is analogous to the baptismal confession of Acts 8:37 (KJV and ASV margin)." A. C. Hervey, op. cit., p. 122. THE GOOD CONFESSION Why is this called the good confession twice in a single short paragraph? 1.    It is the

Hebrews 2:4 — impressive and convincing wonders ever to appear upon the earth. Their utility in achieving the desired result is apparent in the testimony of Nicodemus who admitted that "No one can do these signs that thou doest, except God be with him" (John 3:2). Christ established the principle that the ability to perform a miracle resides in any person who can forgive sins, saying, "Which is easier, to say to the sick of the palsy, Thy sins are forgiven; or to say, Arise, take up thy bed and walk?"

Hebrews 3:2 — Who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also was Moses in all his house. In Hebrews 2:17, Jesus had already been mentioned as a merciful and faithful high priest, and it is his "faithfulness" that needed stress here. Note how delicately the inspired writer defers to the deserved honor of Moses, whom he did not belittle or diminish

1 Samuel 10:1-8 — and show you what you shall do." THE SIGNS GIVEN TO SAUL Some speak of these "three signs"; but there are more than that. (1)    He would meet two men near the tomb of Rachel who would give him word that the asses had been found. (2)    He would meet three men at the oak of Tabor going up to worship at Bethel; and they would give him two loaves of bread. (3)    He would meet a band of prophets, playing instruments of music and prophesying. (4)    The