Bible Commentaries

Exodus 9 overview — This chapter continues the history of the Ten Plagues with Plague V (Exodus 9:1-7), Plague VI (Exodus 9:8-12), and Plague VII (Exodus 9:13-35). As the record unfolds, the student should note the gradation in the severity of the plagues, the decreasing ability of the magicians to stand before Moses, the gradual erosion of the adamant

Psalms 139 overview — glory and greatness of Psalms 139. "This poem is not only one of the chief glories of the Psalter, but in its religious insight and devotional warmth, it is conspicuous among the great passages of the Old Testament."The Interpreter's Bible, Vol. IV, p. 712. Regarding the authorship, it is ascribed to David in the superscription, and as Barnes bluntly stated it, "There is no reason to doubt it."Barnes' Notes on the Old Testament (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, a 1987 reprint of the 1878 edition), Vol.

Psalms 30 overview — generally received as accurate, is the basis of several opinions regarding its meaning. A summary of various views as to what is meant by the "Dedication of the House" is as follows: It refers to the Temple of Zerubbabel in 165 B.C.W. E. Addis, p. 377. Some say it refers to the Temple of Solomon. Some think it means the house of David's palace, Others assign it to the purgation and re-dedication of David's house (palace) after Absalom left. Calmet believed the psalm was written by David on the occasion

Leviticus 17 overview — lays down additional rules as to where the sacrifices must be offered. It therefore exhibits a most intimate connection with all the preceding chapters of Leviticus. Therefore, "It is altogether a mistake to make a Second Book begin with Leviticus 17, as is done by Lang and Keil."F. Meyrick, The Pulpit Commentary, Vol. 2, Leviticus (Grand Rapids: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 1950), p. 261. The designation of this and subsequent chapters as the Holiness Code, "destroys the close connection

John 12:3 — the ointment. Pure nard … Spikenard was a perfume highly prized by the ancients, and was produced from Nardostachys jatamansi, a small plant (which is) a native of the Himalaya Mountains.New Encyclopedia (New York: Funk and Wagnalls, Inc., 1972), Vol. 22, p. 154. The high cost derived partly from the transportation of it thousands of miles from India to Jerusalem. There were "cut" varieties of it, but this was expensive pure nard itself. Anointed the feet … See below. And

Acts 10:1-2 — and, while it is true of course that even the poor may be generous (and they often are), the mention of "much alms" points toward greater than ordinary ability. Coupled with the example of that centurion who built the Jews a synagogue (Luke 7:5), implying extensive wealth on his part, this tremendous financial ability of Roman centurions in the New Testament raises two questions: (1) Was the rank of centurion limited to the command of a hundred men as universally supposed? and (2) Why would

Acts 20:7 — (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan Publishing House), p. 368. Harrison complained that "We are not told when or how the practice of Sunday worship arose in the church"; Everett F. Harrison, Wycliffe Bible Commentary (Chicago: Moody Press, 1971), p. 459. but one does not need to seek any later than the day of the resurrection of our Lord for the beginning of it. On successive Sundays, Jesus appeared to the apostles on the day he arose from the grave (John 20:19), Thomas being absent; and

Acts 7:14-16 — fathers; and they were carried over unto Shechem, and laid in the tomb that Abraham bought for a price in silver of the sons of Hamor in Shechem. Threescore and fifteen souls … This number has been seized upon as a contradiction of Genesis 46:27 which gives the number as "threescore and ten." But as George DeHoff observed: Jacob's children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren amounted to sixty-six (Genesis 46:8-26). Adding Jacob himself and Joseph with his two sons, we have seventy.

Romans 16:11 — Salute Herodias my kinsman. Salute them that are of the household of Narcissus, that are in the Lord. See under Romans 16:7 for notes regarding Herodian. The household of Narcissus is here to be understood as only that portion of them who were Christians, that is, "in the Lord," with the necessary inference that "household" as used in these verses has

Romans 16:19 — obedience is come abroad unto all men. I rejoice therefore over you: but I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple to that which is evil. The threat of evil teachers and their seductive operations was pointed out by Christ himself (Matthew 7:15-23), and the Saviour's description of such persons is still the fountain source of the true knowledge concerning them. They are wolves in sheep's clothing, being recognizable principally by their fruits. The minister, or other teacher, who scatters

1 Thessalonians 1:5 — please people, not God (1 Thessalonians 2:4). That he was preaching for what he could get out of it (1 Thessalonians 2:5; 1 Thessalonians 2:9). That he sought personal prestige (1 Thessalonians 2:6). He was something of a dictator (1 Thessalonians 2:7). William Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians and Thessalonians (Philadelphia: The Westminster Press, 1975), p. 188. A careful reading of the epistle fails to support the theoretical speculations of a savage campaign of slander as alleged

Hebrews 10:3-4 — same doctrine and even insinuated to them that the heathens, being sensible of the impossibility of making atonement for sins by shedding the blood of beasts, had recourse to human sacrifices, in the imagination that they were more meritorious (Micah 6:7). James Macknight, Apostolic Epistles (Nashville: Gospel Advocate Company, 1960), p. 554. Not the least of the reasons why animal sacrifices could be of no avail lies in the fact that animals never belonged to man in the first place. "For every

Hebrews 2:15 — of old: "And he will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations. He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord God will wipe away tears from all faces" (Isaiah 25:7-8). This victory over death prophesied by Isaiah pinpoints some significant facts with reference to it. Where shall such a victory be achieved? "In this mountain," meaning on Mount Zion, Jerusalem, one of the mountains of Moriah, where Abraham

Hebrews 4:1 — designed to woo his readers back from a reversion to Judaism; hence the statement that "there was a promise LEFT," in the sense of being "left open." How so? Five hundred years, almost, after Israel entered Canaan, David in Psalms 95:7-11 spoke of there being a rest for God's people, indicating that their final entry into Canaan was not the full attainment of that rest, and that something much more than that was involved. Again, the word "haply" injects the idea of inadvertence.

Hebrews 7:19 — priesthood"; but the moral code was just as helpless as the ritual to bring people near to God. Again reference is made to those magnificent portions of the Sermon on the Mount in which the Saviour dealt with this very thing (Matthew 5:21; Matthew 5:27; Matthew 5:33). DRAWING NEAR TO GOD Not only is it a fact that people may draw near to God, they are commanded to do so (James 4:8). (1) The initiative for such action rests with people; and the importance of this is seen in almost anything from a tennis

James 5:3 — fire. Punchard declared that "The wages of the traitor, the spoil of the thief, and the wealth of the oppressor burn the hands that clasp them. Memories of the wrongs shiver through each guilty soul like fire." E. G. Punchard, op. cit., p. 375. Dummelow referred this to "the siege of Jerusalem." J. R. Dummelow, Commentary on the Holy Bible (New York: The Macmillan Company, 1937), p. 1037. Likewise, Carson: The last days were already upon them. The Christian is always in the last

Revelation 1:6 — some so-called millennium; it is the status of things now in Christ's church. As Earle said, "This is not only a great privilege, but a great responsibility." Ralph Earle, Beacon Bible Commentary, Vol. 10 (Kansas City: Beacon Hill Press, 1967), p. 474. All the members of Christ's kingdom, which as far as we are concerned is synonymous with his church, should be constantly engaged in offering up the spiritual sacrifices appropriate for a kingdom of priests. For a list of the sacrifices, as

Revelation 2:29 — He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches. Again, reference is made to Revelation 2:7 where this is commented upon. Lenski pointed out that here and in the following three letters this admonition is placed at the end instead of at the beginning, thus dividing the seven into two groups of three and four; but, "We are unable to say

Revelation 5:5 — the elders saith unto me … We agree with Mounce that, "The fact of an elder's addressing John is of no particular significance." Robert H. Mounce, The Book of Revelation (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing company, 1977), p. 144. It appears to be an inert factor in the vision. The Lion that is of the tribe of Judah … This expression occurs nowhere else in the Bible." Leon Morris, op. cit., p. 95. Despite this, the conception is nevertheless found in the

Revelation 7:3 — concerning any definitive teaching regarding the work of angels. Some of their functions may be inferred from various Old Testament and New Testament texts; and, for a glance at these, see in my Commentary on Hebrews, p. 31, and under Revelation 10:7. Till we shall have sealed the servants of our God … The future perfect tense, as well as the "till," suggests that the restraining of the destructive forces shall be continued throughout the Christian dispensation until the Second