Bible Commentaries

Amos 5:25 — the forty years wanderings; for as Jamieson said, "This is not a denial, for they did offer in the wilderness sacrifices to Jehovah of the cattle which they brought out of Egypt. It is not a denial, but an affirmation."Robert Jamieson, op. cit., p. 796. No matter how this passage is interpreted, whether by assuming that the answer is affirmative, as did Jamieson, above, or whether by insisting that a negative answer is implied, as do Mays, Harper and many others, there can certainly not be any contradiction

Zechariah 4:6 — Unger observed: "Zechariah's vision was THE WORD OF THE LORD, vitally real and effective for the pressing problems of the hour in which it was initially revealed."Merrill F. Unger, Zechariah (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House, 1963), p. 74. Nor should the meaning of it be restricted to that immediate portion of the word of the Lord addressed to Zerubbabel. (See a full discussion of this candlestick as the word of God in my commentary on Hebrews, pp. 181-183.) Watts thought that this

Matthew 12:31 — difficult question, is hereby registered. His convincing sermons on this subject are reflected in the above comments. Seven different sins against the Holy Spirit may be noted in these references: (1) lusting against (Galatians 5:16);(2) resisting (Acts 7:51), (3) grieving (Ephesians 4:30); (4) lying to (Acts 5:3); (5) insulting (Hebrews 10:24); (6) blaspheming against (Mark 3:29); and (7) quenching (1 Thessalonians 5:19). It might be assumed that Ananias and Sapphira (Acts 5:3) committed an eternal

Matthew 12:40 — this verse is in error; the Greek word is "sea-monster," as a glance at the English Revised Version (1885) margin will show; not that there is any essential difference, for the Bible states that "God prepared" a great fish (Jonah 1:17). In the book of Jonah is related also how God "prepared" a gourd (Jonah 4:6), a worm (Jonah 4:7), and a sultry east wind (Jonah 4:8)! Why it should be considered for God a more difficult matter to prepare a great fish than any of those other

Luke 23:22-23 — 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 him (John 19:6), promising to "look the other way" if they did. 8.    He even appealed to Jesus to perform some wonder,

Luke 6:46 — for doing what Jesus commanded. A similar thought was included in the Sermon on the Mount, "Not everyone that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father who is in heaven" (Matthew 7:21). WHY DO YOUR CALL ME "LORD, LORD" BUT DO NOT OBEY ME? This question should burn in human hearts until the deeds of men more nearly resemble the faith professed; for this question is not merely an interrogation; it is an indictment, charging

John 2:6 — their capacity was strictly proper and correct. The parable theory regarding this sign is really hard-pressed for evidence to support it when its advocate will seize upon something like this. After the manner of the Jews' purifying … In Mark 7:3-4 is a reference to the extensive washings of hands, cups, pots, and brazen vessels; and the observance of such ceremonies by the Jews required a bountiful supply of water-pots. Two or three firkins apiece … A firkin was not an exact measurement,

John 3:4 — of a new birth that Nicodemus rejected, as it was the idea that such a thing was necessary. Nicodemus was a Pharisee, one of a class that had rejected out of hand the baptism of repentance for the remission of sins preached by John the Baptist (Luke 7:30). It should be remembered that John's baptism was from God, and that all who rejected it rejected God. This fact underlies the truth that the publicans and harlots entered God's kingdom before the Pharisees. They accepted John's baptism; the Pharisees

John 4:39 — believed on him because of the word of the woman, who testified, He told me all the things that I ever did. THE HARVEST IN SAMARIA The secret of all soul-winning is that of making oneself of "no reputation," even as did our Lord (Philippians 2:7 KJV); and one can only marvel at this woman's willingness to make the exposition of her shameful life the principal evidence that would lead a city to the Lord. It must not be thought for a moment that her mere statement, "He told me all the things

Acts 11:18 — struggle to drag circumcision and various other Jewish ceremonials into the church of Jesus Christ. "The Judaizers in opposing Paul were acting against the church from which they pretended to derive their authority." E. H. Plumptre, op. cit., p. 73. Those who maintained the necessity for observing the older Covenant did so through misguided zeal ¿or the Law; but some did so from national pride and bigotry (Galatians 6:13). Cambridge Bible, One Volume New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids,

Acts 11:27-28 — prophesying the famine in the reign of Claudius is helpful in fixing the chronology of the events here narrated. "Claudius reigned from A.D. 41-54." Jack P. Lewis, Historical Backgrounds of Bible History (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Baker Book House, 1971), p. 144. He is the only emperor to have been named twice in the New Testament, here and in Acts 18:2; the latter instance referring to his expulsion of the Jews from Rome. Lewis is of the opinion that he is also alluded to in Acts 17:7. Ibid. A man

Acts 24:11 — follows: 1. Reception by James and the elders; first day of purification. 2-4. Second, third, and fourth days of purification. 5. Fifth day of purification; riot; Paul's speech on the steps of Antonio. 6. Meeting of the council (Paul's dream that night). 7. Plot to slay Paul is arranged. 8. He starts to Caesarea before midnight, reaches Antipatris before dawn: Ananias learns of Paul's departure: first of the five days (Acts 24:1). 9. Paul is handed over to Procurator Felix in Caesarea: second day. 10-11.

Acts 9:6 — make baptism into Christ either optional or unessential for them who would be saved! Must … This is a big word in the New Testament; and, for an examination of its application in a number of areas, see my Commentary on Matthew, under Matthew 18:7. In the passage before us it reveals baptism as one of the "musts" regarding salvation, The familiar heresies setting aside this divine "must" should be rejected.

1 Corinthians 7:12 — to Jesus words which were, in fact, their own deductions and not the words of the Lord. Paul's distinguishing such things in this verse is an overwhelmingly powerful testimony to the truth of the entire New Testament. This verse through 1 Corinthians 7:16 deals with the problem of divorce in mixed marriages, that is, marriages between Christians and pagans, a situation which arose, not from Christians marrying pagans, but from the conversion of one out of a pagan couple. Paul's command here is that

2 Corinthians 3:17 — "Christ and the Spirit are separate personalities; but, because of the closeness of their work, there is a practical identity; and to turn to either is to turn to the other" Raymond C. Kelcy, Second Corinthians (Austin, Texas: R. B. Sweet Company, 1967), p. 24. The thou shalt and thou shalt not of the Old Testament disappear in the presence of the Spirit of adoption (Galatians 4:7) through which we become imitators of God as beloved children (Ephesians 5:1), walking in love. John William Russell,

Ephesians 3:5 — limitations imposed by this clause. What Paul said here is not that the present revelation of the mystery is final and complete, but that the previous generations did not possess a revelation of it "as it hath now been revealed." Revelation 10:7 states that the mystery of God will be finished, or "is finished" in the days of the voice of the seventh angel, when he is about to sound; and it will hardly be denied by any that this means it is not finished now! Marvelous as the Christian

Ephesians 5:17-18 — does not forbid the use of wine (see below), the person who becomes intoxicated (even once) has violated the admonition here. The overseer (elder) therefore must be above reproach … not one (who lingers) beside (his) wine (1 Timothy 3:2; Titus 1:7). Deacons similarly (must be) dignified, not … addicted to much wine (1 Timothy 3:8); and urge aged women similarly (to be) reverent in demeanor … not enslaved to much wine (Titus 2:3). Wherein is riot … Alcohol is the greatest

Colossians 2:5-6 — military words. Barclay, for example, said, "These two words present a vivid picture, for they are both military words." William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1975), p. 131. If such is the truth, then it is easy to suppose that Paul's close association with the military in Rome during his imprisonment might have led to his use of these terms here. "Order …" means soldier discipline; and a church

1 Thessalonians 2:6 — and there are other examples of it (see Galatians 1:8). It is remarkable how scholars can, by such implications, find apostles all over the New Testament! Ward commented that "Andronicus and Junius were conspicuous among the apostles (Romans 16:7)." Ronald A. Ward, op. cit., p. 61. That passage, however, means that Andronicus and Junius were well-known by the Twelve in Jerusalem, there never having been an apostle in Rome before Paul arrived! Hodge commented, in this context, that "The

Revelation 13 overview — suppose that Satan, in any sense, either created or produced these monsters, called by Moffatt, "polycephalous brutes." James Moffatt, Expositor's Greek New Testament, Vol. V (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1967), p. 429. He simply encouraged and organized the emerging tendency of a human creation in rebellion against God. The beast out of the sea symbolically represents the great earthly governments which repeatedly in human history have exalted themselves