Bible Commentaries

Ezra 9:1-2 — correct the situation did not take place until the twentieth day of the ninth month (Ezra 10:9), the critical scholars at once account for this "gap," as they call it, by supposing that, "The story of the reading of the law and its aftermath (Nehemiah 7:73 b-9:37) should be inserted into the Book of Ezra, between Ezra 8 and Ezra 9."Ibid. As noted above, we believe in the integrity and authenticity of both Ezra and Nehemiah; and we do not accept the assumed authority of 20th century scholars to revise

Psalms 27 overview — versions, the title is simply, `To or For David.' The Syriac has, `For David on Account of an Infirmity that Befell him'; the Vulgate, the LXX, the Arabic and Ethiopic entitle it, `A Psalm of David Before He was Anointed.'"Adam Clarke, Vol. III, p. 307. The contrast between the first six verses and the last six is so pronounced that some writers have supposed that they were, perhaps, originally two separate psalms, later combined into one. Ash's analysis of the problem is as follows: "Those who argue

Psalms 55:16-19 — rampant rebellion. "Jehovah will save me" Why was David so confident? The answer is simple enough: God specifically said to David, "Thy house and thy kingdom shall be made sure forever before thee; thy throne shall be established forever" (2 Samuel 7:16). These words of God to David through the prophet Nathan were known throughout Israel, to Ahithophel and to Absalom particularly; and their conspiracy to dethrone David was an action directed squarely against the will of God. No wonder David expressed

Psalms 97 overview — a restless mob on Wall Street, New York City. He concluded his remarks by saying, "God reigns, and the government in Washington still stands." "God as Creator and the source of all righteousness and truth is again emphasized and amplified in Psalms 97. Here God is described: (1) as the Supreme One before whom creation itself is ever on the verge of dissolution; and (2) then as the Faithful One whose goodness and holiness are always being disclosed to all peoples through Zion."The New Bible Commentary,

Isaiah 48:16 — Trinity."The New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 616. As Cheyne expressed it, "I cannot but think that we have both here and in Genesis 1:2 an early trace of what is known as the Christian doctrine of the Holy Spirit."T. K. Cheyne's Commentary, Vol. II, p. 7. The speaker here is therefore, the pre-incarnate Christ who identifies himself as the one sent… to convey God's message of salvation to mankind. Here is almost the equivalent of another Old Testament quotation, Psalms 40; Psalms 6-8, where again

Isaiah 52:7-10 — his holy arm in the eyes of all the nations; and all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God." The apostle Paul applied this passage to the preaching of the Gospel (Romans 10:15); and the truth that Israel's God reigneth (Isaiah 52:7) is a reference to the same reality proclaimed "By John the Baptist, and by the Lord Jesus Christ himself, that, `The Kingdom of Heaven is at Hand!'"Adam Clarke's Commentary , Vol. IV, p. 202. As regards the exact time when that reign of God (through

Isaiah 57:5-8 — sensuous and degrading as any conduct ever known. "Ye that inflame yourselves" "This describes the excitement that attended the orgies which accompanied the celebration of heathen rites."J. R. Dummelow's Commentary, p. 448. "The `memorial' of Isaiah 57:8 was probably a phallic symbol."Peake's Commentary Series, p. 469. "Shall I be appeased for these things?" This is a positive statement made in the form of a question which is common in Hebrew; and it has the meaning of, "I will certainly not be appeased

Jeremiah 11:14-17 — really true appears in God's command to Moses (Exodus 32:10), also in God's forbidding Samuel to grieve any longer for Saul (1 Samuel 16:1). This is now the second time that God has forbidden Jeremiah to pray any more for the apostate nation (Jeremiah 7:16); and this admonition is still applicable to God's people as in 1 John 5:16. "A goodly olive-tree, fair and goodly fruit" This figure of Israel as the olive-tree was adopted by the apostle Paul in Romans 11:17-24. "What hath my beloved to do in my

Jeremiah 16 overview — Prophet Jeremiah (London: Hamilton, Adams, and Company, 1851), p. 99. (1) Jeremiah forbidden to marry and have a family (Jeremiah 16:1-2); (2) God's explanation for this prohibition (Jeremiah 16:2-4); (3) funeral celebrations also forbidden (Jeremiah 16:5-7); (4) festival celebrations likewise prohibited (Jeremiah 16:8-9); (5) God's further elaboration of the reasons for such penalties (Jeremiah 16:10-13); (6) a prophecy of Israel's restoration (Jeremiah 16:14-15); (7) the metaphor of the hunters and the

Jeremiah 7:4-7 — hypocrites with the stinging words of Jehovah, commanding them either to repent or perish must have been resented like a plague of smallpox. "Is it any wonder that this `temple sermon' caused a terrific uproar and almost cost Jeremiah his life (Jeremiah 26:7 ff)?" Broadman Bible Commentary (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), p. 62. "Shed not innocent blood in this place" Cook and other scholars believe that the reference here is to, "The innocent blood shed there judicially. Of one such judicial murder,

Matthew 15:5-6 — experience of the human race is to the effect that the tradition wins acceptance and the word of God is violated. Mark's account of this place has the words, "Full well do you reject the commandment of God that you may keep your tradition" (Mark 7:8-9). In the case at hand, the scribes and Pharisees rejected Christ in order to keep their tradition. Behold the life cycle of tradition: (1)    First appears the innovation, something new, clothed with specious plausibility, riding

Deuteronomy 17:2-7 — testimony of any man who was not ready to execute judgment with his own hand."John Calvin, as quoted by C. F. Keil, Commentary on the Old Testament, Deuteronomy (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company), p. 381. "Unto thy gates" (Deuteronomy 17:5). "`Gates' here means the open spaces near the gates where the judicial proceedings took place (Nehemiah 8:1; Nehemiah 8:3; Job 29:7)."Ibid., p. 380. Thus, criminals were executed "outside the camp" in the period of the wanderings, and outside the

Mark 1:40 — down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. THE CLEANSING OF THE LEPER This wonder is recorded in all the synoptics; and, although Mark is credited with giving "more full details,"E. Bickersteth, op. cit., p. 7. it is not amiss to point out that of the eight or nine sections in this chapter which are reported by one or both of the other synoptics, this is the first instance of Mark's having, in any sense, a fuller account; and, even here, it was Matthew and

John 10:2 — was in perfect harmony with the Father's will, contrasting sharply with the evil devices employed by the usurpers for maintaining control over the people. It had all started back there when they rejected God and chose a king of their own (1 Samuel 8:7); and throughout the ages afterward, the combined forces of a reprobate priesthood and an evil monarchy overshadowed the true Israel, i.e., the spiritual seed. The collapse of the political government left a hardened and bitter priesthood in control

John 3:6 — participate in it. Thus, what Jesus was saying to Nicodemus was: "Do what my disciples have done; first submit to John's baptism, and then come join my company."A. M. Hunter, The Gospel according to John (Cambridge: University Press, 1965), p. 37. If he had done so, the second element of the new birth, the reception of the Spirit would have been completed after Pentecost. The fact that at that particular time, Nicodemus could not have received the Holy Spirit, since he was not given yet, proves

Acts 7:60 — And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. The similarity of the Greek New Testament in this verse and Acts 7:58 where it is related that the garments were placed in Saul's charge has led to the conclusion that Stephen had Saul in mind in this prayer. He kneeled down … This Stephen did that he might die in an attitude of prayer and as a servant of the

Joshua 3:7-10 — said, Hereby shall ye know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Hivite, and the Perizzite, and the Girgashite, and the Amorite, and the Jebusite." In Joshua 3:7, it is revealed that one of the purposes of the great miracle in this chapter was that of elevating Joshua in the minds of all Israel. This was by no means the most important purpose, but was surely one of the reasons for it. In the kind of war about

1 John 4:9 — therefore mean that God has no other sons; yet all Christians are "sons of God." "Only begotten" conveys that essential meaning of "uniqueness," exactly in the sense of the word ([@monogenes]) as translated in Hebrews 11:17 where Isaac is called Abraham's "only begotten son," there being a uniqueness in Isaac's sonship not found in Abraham's many other sons. It is therefore a most happy and appropriate translation which reads "only begotten Son." While

Revelation 13:1 — and seven heads, and on his horns ten diadems, and upon his heads names of blasphemy. A beast coming up out of the sea … We reject the futurist interpretation that, "We are now in the time of the end." George Eldon Ladd, op. cit., p. 176. In this vision the true meaning of the persecuting Roman power was revealed for the information and encouragement of the suffering saints of John's day, and not merely for their benefit, but for ours also, and for those of all times and places to

Revelation 19:7 — MARRIAGE METAPHOR The marriage of the Lamb is come … "The marriage feast is the day of the Lord's Second Advent." James Moffatt, Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 464. The figure of marriage to represent the relationship between the Lord and his people is often used in the New Testament, but in various analogies. In Matthew 22:1-4, the Christians are guests at the wedding. In Matthew 15:1 ff, they are certain