Bible Commentaries

Exodus 13 overview — This chapter continues to relate the departure from Egypt, giving the Sanctification of the First-born as the third great memorial commemorating the Great Deliverance (Exodus 13:1-2), further instructions regarding the Feast of Unleavened Bread (Exodus 13:2-10), more specific rules for the Sanctification of the First-born, and some of the highlights regarding Israel's Road to Canaan (Exodus 13:17-22).

2 Kings 8:16-19 — would not destroy Judah, for David his servant's sake, as he promised to give unto him a lamp for his children alway." "It was the religious solidarity of the Judean kings with the apostasy of Northern Israel"Broadman Bible Commentary, op. cit., p. 247. that led to the inclusion of the record of their reigns just here. The lamp of truth burned very dimly in Israel at this time, in both kingdoms. Only by God's direct intervention was it kept burning. That intervention was planned in this chapter

1 Chronicles 18:14-17 — the son of Ahitub, and Abimelech the son of Abiathar were priests; and Shavsha was scribe; and Benaiah the son of Jehoiada was over the Cherethites and the Pelethites; and the sons of David were chief about the king." These verses are parallel with 2 Samuel 8:15-18; and we have written five pages of comments on these verses in that commentary, pp. 108-112. Special attention is there devoted to the apparent conflict of 1 Chronicles 18:17 here with 2 Samuel 8:18. It is resolved in the fact that there

Psalms 62:5-8 — my salvation: He is my high tower; I shall not be moved. With God is my salvation and my glory; The rock of my strength and my refuge, is in God. Trust in him at all times, ye people; Pour out your heart before him: God is a refuge for us." Psalms 62:5-6 here are almost a verbatim repeat of Psalms 62:1-2, with three variations. (1) Whereas, in Psalms 62:1 the psalmist's soul is said to rest in God; here it is commanded to do so. (2) The strong assurance of Psalms 62:2 seems to be slightly downgraded

Ezekiel 7:1 — MORE ON THE DOOM OF ISRAEL Some have called this chapter a dirge; but, "There are four oracles in it: (1) Ezekiel 7:2-4, (2) Ezekiel 7:5-9, (3) Ezekiel 7:10-11, and (4) Ezekiel 7:12-13, followed by an exposition of their common theme (Ezekiel 7:14-27)."G. R. Beasley-Murray in the New Bible Commentary, Revised, p. 669. The date of this section of the prophecy as given

Hosea 2:19-20 — thee unto me in faithfulness; and thou shalt know Jehovah." The triple betrothal here signals a marriage, not a remarriage to the apostate whore, but to a people of God who will exhibit the five Christian virtues of this passage: (1) righteousness; (2) justice; (3) loving-kindness; (4) mercies; and (5) faithfulness. As Hailey flatly declared: "The betrothal here indicates a new marriage based on the New Covenant."Ibid. Note the emphasis upon one of the great words of the passage in Jeremiah 31:31-35,

Jonah 2:1 — drowning; and that salvation led him to believe that God would preserve him alive throughout the entire experience. This situation explains the double application of some of the expressions in the prayer. Critics like to complain that the passage (Jonah 2) "is not a prayer but a thanksgiving for deliverance."Paul T. Butler, Minor Prophets, (Joplin, Missouri: College Press, 1968), p. 235. However, in the words of Young who refuted such statements, "Is not thanksgiving of the very essence of prayer?"Edward

Matthew 10:19-20 — statement "And ought not the same texts to be more faithfully accepted in explaining the inspiration of the Holy Scriptures? Language could hardly be stronger. `It is not ye that speak'."Cyprian, Elucidations, No. xxii in Ibid., Vol. V, p. 420. God's ministers NOW must study. Paul commanded even Timothy to study (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul himself studied diligently and placed a very high priority upon his books, "especially the parchments" (2 Timothy 4:13).

Matthew 5:8 — the pure in heart: for they shall see God. This refers not merely to those whose hearts are free from evil purpose and desire but particularly alludes to those whose hearts have been purified by faith (Acts 15:9) and obedience to the gospel (1 Peter 1:22). The "heart" in this passage is, of course, THE MIND. According to the Scriptures, it is "THE HEART" that imagines (Genesis 6:5), understands (Matthew 15:13), reasons (Mark 2:8), thinks (Luke 9:47), believes (Romans 10:9), and

Ephesians 2 overview — Paul's theme in this chapter continues to be the glorious blessings of the saved "in Christ," as contrasted with their former state of being without any hope whatever. Those who were once "dead in sins" are now alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:1-10); and those who were once "aliens and strangers separated from God" are now members of God's family (Ephesians 2:11-22).

Philippians 2:1 — Commentaries, Philippians (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1959), p. 91. Thus the admonition is that the Philippians should be "in the Spirit," not that the Spirit should be "in them"! See under Philippians 2:5. Hendriksen pointed out that Paul's stirring appeal here has a "fourfold incentive and a three-fold directive, the latter being: (i) oneness (Philippians 2:2); (ii) lowliness of mind or disposition (Philippians 2:3); and (iii) helpfulness (Philippians

Colossians 1:10 — of Christ, a truth which is clearly visible in this verse. Paul said: We must all be made manifest before the judgment seat of Christ; that each one may receive the things done in the body, according to what he hath done, whether it be good or bad (2 Corinthians 5:10). God will render to every man according to his works: to them that by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and incorruption, eternal life; but to them that are factious and obey not the truth, but obey unrighteousness, shall

Hebrews 8:5 — showed thee in the mount. ALL THINGS ACCORDING TO THE PATTERN All things according to the pattern must be hailed as one of the most significant statements in Hebrews. The instructions of God to Moses to which reference is here made are found in Exodus 25:40; and this reiteration of them in the New Testament is of the utmost consequence. If God required Moses to proceed exactly according to the pattern God showed him, it is also required of worshipers today that they do all things according to the pattern

James 4:16 — "in Christ" that is helpful and necessary in the Christian pilgrimage. Hebrews 3:6 has the instruction that Christians should "hold fast our boldness and the glorying of our hope firm unto the end." Paul gloried in the churches (2 Thessalonians 1:4), in Christ, and in Christians (2 Corinthians 7:4). He commanded that "He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord" (2 Corinthians 10:17). The type of glorying James had just outlined, in which men flaunted all kinds of ambitions

1 Peter 2 overview — In this great chapter, Peter stressed the duties of the church as the new Israel of God, who were bound by their privileges to exhibit lives worthy of their sacred calling (1 Peter 2:1-10); and then he gave the first of a number of admonitions directed to the Christians with regard to their obligations to the outward society (1 Peter 2:11-25).

1 Peter 5:14 — Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ. Kiss of love … Paul similarly commanded this greeting (Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:26). Comment on this was made under all those references. "The practice seems to have been universal in those times." B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 211. Peace be unto you all … "This is the

1 Peter 5:8 — to the word of God. The Saviour himself warned Peter of Satan's "sifting him"; and from this it is clear that Peter got the message. As a roaring lion … Satan is represented in Scripture under various figures: (1) the roaring lion; (2) the angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14); and (3) the serpent (2 Corinthians 11:3; Revelation 20:2). These representations also answer to the three avenues of temptation: (1) the lust of the flesh; (2) the lust of the eye; and (3) the pride of life,

2 Peter 3:17 — therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own steadfastness. Beware … lest ye fall … Paul also discoursed on this same subject (1 Corinthians 10:12). Being carried away … This is the "same word used by Paul in Galatians 2:13; and it was Peter and Barnabas, in that instance who were "carried away." B. C. Caffin, op. cit., p. 71. With the error of the wicked … Russell

2 Peter 3:3 — knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, Wheaton declared that it is "likely" David H. Wheaton, op. cit., p. 1257. that the mockers here are the same as the false teachers of the preceding chapter; and Dummelow considered it "probable";<12> but the view here is that they were almost certainly the same. This is indicated by two considerations:

Revelation 2:7 — 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, op. cit., p. 92. Our Lord himself often used this expression, as in Matthew 11:15; Matthew 13:9; Matthew 13:43, etc. What the Spirit saith to the churches … This is of great value in the interpretation of these passages, since it is clear here that the messages