Bible Commentaries

Psalms 51:1-9 — There are three elements here which deserve attention. I. David Accepted Personal Responsibility for what he He Had Done He speaks of "my" transgression (Psalms 51:1), "my" sin and "my" iniquity (Psalms 51:2), "my" transgression and "my" sin (Psalms 51:3), declares that, "I sinned" (Psalms 51:4), again mentions "my" sin in Psalms 51:9. Seven times he takes all the blame and guilt upon himself. David did not attempt to shift the blame as did Adam; he offered no excuse, he pleaded no extenuating circumstances,

Hosea 9 overview — come when idols will be abandoned and devotion to God will have full sway. Restored to her own land, Israel will once more enjoy material prosperity and divine blessings."Samuel J. Schultz, The Old Testament Speaks (New York: Harper and Row, 1960), p. 391. Take a look at what this prophecy says in this chapter: Let Israel's joy cease...Hosea 9:1. Your (Israel's) food supply shall fail...Hosea 9:2. Your vulgar licentiousness has disgusted me...Hosea 9:1. You are a nation of harlots...Hosea 9:1. You

Matthew 1:4 — and Ram begat Amminadab; and Amminadab begat Nahshon; and Nahshon begat Salmon; and Salmon begat Boaz of Rahab; and Boaz begat Obed of Ruth; and Obed begat Jesse; Ram. This is the same as "Arni" (Luke 3:33). Also, it should be noted that several names are possibly omitted from this list of generations from Abraham to David. McGarvey pointed out that from the appearance of Rahab in the line, "There are 366 years for the time between this event

Matthew 10:22 — because the adversary is more provoked. … For this cause, he ought the more to stand on the side of the Lord's gospel.Cyprian, Treatise in Ibid., Vol. V, p. 428. Other Scriptures enjoining endurance and continuity to the end are: Matthew 24:13; Mark 13:13; 1 Corinthians 13:7; Revelation 3:11, etc.

Matthew 3:3 — For this is he that was spoken of through Isaiah the prophet, saying, The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Make ye ready the way of the Lord, Make his paths straight. The passage here quoted is Isaiah 40:3, but Isaiah is not the only prophet who prophesied of the mission of the great herald of the gospel age. Another equally significant prophecy is Malachi 4:5-6 in which the office and work of the herald are explicitly foretold. It is from Christ himself

Matthew 3:8-9 — They supposed themselves safe because they were the seed of Abraham to whom the promises of old had been truly certified. However, in this place John blasts their complacency and opens the door for the "spiritual sons" of Abraham (Galatians 3:26-29). Here in the preaching of John the Baptist was the beginning of that truth so fully expounded by Paul in which it appears that "He is not a Jew who is one outwardly …." (Romans 2:28-29).

Matthew 4:24-25 — section (Matthew 4:12-25) furnish another argument in favor of the claims of Jesus (as the Messiah): (1) They show that his dwelling place was where the prophet Isaiah had predicted the appearance of a great light; (2) and that Christ was such a light. (3) That he was so great a light that some people left all things to follow him; and (4) that multitudes came from all surrounding regions to receive his blessing and enjoy his instruction. No clearer proof could be given that he was the Great Light whose

Matthew 9:24 — days (John 11:11). The actuality of death is not the point in either case, but the nature of death. IT IS A SLEEP. In death, as in sleep: (1) there is a loss of consciousness; (2) both are terminated, sleep by awakening, and death in the resurrection; (3) there is a rejuvenation or rebuilding of powers during the period of waiting; or, more properly, both are followed by an IMPROVED state of the person; (4) there is no total destruction and loss of the person in either case; (5) and there is no loss

Mark 4:2 — Rapids: William B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1962), Vol. 16, p. 156. The reason for Jesus' resort to the method of teaching by parables is complex: (1) He did so in order to fulfill prophecy. (2) He did so to confound the spies of the Pharisees. (3) He thus challenged his disciples to greater spiritual discernment. (4) The Hebrew people were familiar with that method. (5) It made his teachings easier to remember. (6) The parables were interesting in the highest degree. (7) They contained the dynamic

Luke 1:72-73 — our father. These words show the connection between the old and the new covenants. The covenant with Abraham had envisioned the blessing of "all the families of the earth" through the glorious Seed (singular) which is Christ (Genesis 12:1-3). Moreover, God had confirmed the covenant promise to Abraham with an oath (Genesis 22:16; Hebrews 6:13-15). Just as God's promise to Abraham of a son was delayed of fulfillment until it seemed no longer possible, so also the establishment of Messiah's

Luke 2:10 — but to Jewish shepherds. On the other hand, Matthew the Jew, and scholarly expert in the Old Testament Scriptures, introduced the Gentile wisemen as first learning of the Saviour's birth through the message conveyed by the star (Matthew 2:1; Matthew 2:3). Wonderful are the ways of the Lord.

Luke 22:1-2 — unleavened bread" was used in several senses: The feast of unleavened bread was the day the Passover lamb was slain. According to Mosaic law, this was called the Passover and was followed by seven days of the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Leviticus 23:5-6). But at this time the whole period was known by this name. Josephus says: "We keep a feast for eight days, which is called the feast of unleavened bread."Charles L. Childers, Beacon Bible Commentary (Kansas City, Missouri: Beacon Hill

Luke 9:31 — margin) rather than "decease," leaving room for the discernment that Jesus, though suffering death, did not actually cease to be. For a full discussion of the seven centers of initiative in Jesus' death, see my Commentary on Romans, Romans 3:25-26, under the title of "Who Crucified Christ?" Our Lord was the architect of his own crucifixion; and, although evil men were allowed a part in it, it was only his holy will that permitted it. Moses and Elijah … were Old Testament

Acts 2:2-4 — but the sound of a mighty wind; and no fire, but tongues resembling fire, at Pentecost. Despite this, wind and fire are both typical and suggestive of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is typified by the wind in that: (1) it is gentle; (2) it is powerful; (3) it is invisible (John 3:8); (4) it is the "breath" of life itself. Fire typifies the Holy Spirit in that: (1) it gives light; (2) it provides warmth; (3) it purifies; and (4) it is an emblem of God himself (Hebrews 12:29), and in this latter

Romans 5:2 — God is through Christ; and here it was declared to be Christ "through whom" there is access by faith into this grace. The state of grace, or favor, into which Christians have access through faith, is that of the kingdom of God (Philippians 3:20). As Lard noted: That this state of favor is identical with the church or the kingdom of God, hardly admits of doubt. Moses E. Lard, Commentary on Paul's Letter to Romans (Des Moines, Iowa: Eugene S. Smith), p. 155. Through Christ … as used

2 Corinthians 9:10 — this error; but it may well be feared that even now there are many who pretend a liberality they do not have. NOT WITHOUT LOVE. The gift of all one's earthly goods "without love" profits the giver "nothing" at all (1 Corinthians 13:3). Nothing big, or good, or beautiful can come out of a loveless gift. True giving cannot be practiced without feeling, as for example, when a man might throw food to a stray dog. NOT WHILE ESTRANGED FROM A BROTHER. "First be reconciled to thy

1 Timothy 3:16 — if it is a hymn, the odds are overwhelmingly in favor of the proposition that Paul himself was the author of it. Great is the mystery of godliness … The New Testament refers to these mysteries: The mystery of Christ and his church (Ephesians 5:32). The mystery of lawlessness (2 Thessalonians 2:7). The mystery of the seven stars and the seven candlesticks (Revelation 1:20). The mystery of the resurrection (1 Corinthians 15:51). The mystery of the hardening of Israel (Romans 11:25). The mystery

Hebrews 8:5 — examples of conversion recorded in the book of Acts; and, from this, it appears that every person converted under the preaching of the apostles and inspired evangelists, without exception: (1) heard the word of God; (2) believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; (3) confessed the Saviour's name before people; (4) repented of their sins; (5) were baptized into Christ; (6) became members of the body of Christ; and (7) received the Holy Spirit, continuing stedfastly in the apostles' doctrine and in the breaking of

2 Peter 1:9 — Lot pitched his tent toward Sodom, solely because the immediate prospect seemed favorable. (2) The rich man neglected Lazarus begging at his gate, rather than accepting whatever inconvenience of the moment that might have been incurred in his relief. (3) Demas was dazzled by the near-at-hand attractiveness of the present age and forsook Paul (2 Timothy 4:10). (4) The parable of the prodigal son gives another example of one for whom the romantic allure of the "far country" with its short term

Revelation 2:7 — impressions, or inner strivings of the soul, but by listening to the words given by the Holy Spirit. "This shows that God's revelations are spoken to man, not put into his heart through some mysterious spiritual power." John T. Hinds, op. cit., p. 39. Also notable in this paragraph and in this verse is the fact that, "God dictated these seven letters to John in the literal sense of the word. Therefore, the ancient prophets received verbatim messages: Thus saith the Lord." R. C. H. Lenski,