Bible Commentaries

Exodus 26:31-37 — perhaps a greater weight of symbolism incumbent upon this veil than may be found in nearly anything else in the O.T. WHAT THE VEIL TYPIFIED The colors: blue, purple, and scarlet appear three times in this chapter: (1) in the inner covering of linen; (2) in this veil; and (3) in the screen at the entrance. That they carry a weight of symbolism is certain. Unger pointed out that: "Blue signifies Christ's heavenly origin. Purple suggests his royal lineage as David's Son. Scarlet indicates his sacrificial

Exodus 26:31-37 — greater weight of symbolism incumbent upon this veil than may be found in nearly anything else in the O.T. WHAT THE VEIL TYPIFIED The colors: blue, purple, and scarlet appear three times in this chapter: (1) in the inner covering of linen; (2) in this veil; and (3) in the screen at the entrance. That they carry a weight of symbolism is certain. Unger pointed out that: "Blue signifies Christ's heavenly origin. Purple suggests his royal lineage as David's Son. Scarlet indicates his

Numbers 26:1 — first chapter, showing the changes during the intervening 38 years. MONO>GRAPHIC SUMMARY First Second Net % % Tribe Families Census Census Change Gain Loss REUBEN 4 46,500 43,730 2,270 6% SIMEON 5 59,300 22,200 37,100 63% GAD 7 45,650 40,500 5,150 11% JUDAH 5 74,600 76,500 1,900 2 1/2% ISSACHAR 4 54,400

Numbers 26:1 — first chapter, showing the changes during the intervening 38 years. MONO>GRAPHIC SUMMARY First Second Net % % Tribe Families Census Census Change Gain Loss REUBEN 4 46,500 43,730 2,270 6% SIMEON 5 59,300 22,200 37,100 63% GAD 7 45,650 40,500 5,150 11% JUDAH 5 74,600 76,500 1,900 2 1/2% ISSACHAR 4 54,400

Luke 21:32-33 — pass away, till all things be accomplished Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. Throughout this discourse, Jesus was giving prophecies related to two future events: (1) the destruction of Jerusalem with its temple, and (2) his Second Coming in glory; therefore, Jesus’ use of the word "generation" in this passage requires it to be understood in two senses. It has a perfect application to both events when so understood. This generation… meaning the

Romans 1:17 — however, the overriding consideration in accepting the "righteousness" of this verse as a reference to God’s intrinsic righteousness, rather than to man’s forensic, or imputed righteousness, is found in Romans itself (Romans 3:25,26), where God’s righteousness in "passing over the sins done aforetime" is the real key to the meaning of "righteousness" throughout the epistle, plainly referring to an attribute of God, and not to any imputed righteousness

Ephesians 3:6 — divisions in which there were definite and undeniable foreshadowings of his own mission to the Gentiles; "but the thing not visible in the Old Testament was that the Gentile sharing of these blessings involved the creation of `one new man' (Ephesians 2:15),"[16] and that there would be no separate organization for either Jews or Gentiles, both being incorporated into the one body, the church. As Alfred Martin put it: "The mystery was not that the Gentiles should be saved - there is much in the Old

Ephesians 4:28 — like these have the impact of "cease and desist from all sin." While those who "had been" criminals were welcome, their sins were not welcome. The word of God reveals some acceptable methods of acquiring property, these being: (1) by inheritance, (2) by work, (3) by reception of it as a gift, (4) through merchandising, (5) through investment, etc.; two of the acceptable methods and one of the unacceptable methods appear in this verse, the latter being, of course, stealing. ENDNOTE: [35] Francis

Philippians 1:10 — So that ye may approve the things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and void of offense unto the day of Christ. Approve the things which are excellent ... This is very similar to "distinguish things that differ" as Paul wrote in Romans 2:18; and both here and there, "It is impossible to decide exactly what Paul means.[25] One thing is evident, Paul wanted the Philippians to grow in knowledge in order to avoid offense in living the Christian life. Russell thought that Paul's words in

Colossians 2:6 — continually on that foundation."[17] Guthrie's significant analysis of these two verses is: To receive Christ is but the beginning. The following is to live in him, which is described as involving four aspects, the first three very similar: (1) rooted, (2) built up, and (3) established ... from a building metaphor ... The fourth aspect is abounding in thanksgiving, which echoes the apostle's own enthusiasm to give thanks.[18] Abounding ... This was one of Paul's favorite words. As Hendriksen said: Paul

1 Thessalonians 2:2 — imprisoned and made fast in the stocks, see my Commentary on Acts 16. Waxed bold ... "This word is always used in the New Testament of the proclamation of the gospel and denotes freedom from stress."[6] Other passages in which it occurs are Acts 9:27 and Ephesians 6:20. In our God ... This expression also appears in 1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Thessalonians 1:11,12, and 1 Corinthians 6:11. In the greater sense, all things are in God, for as Paul said, "In him we live and move and

1 Timothy 6:3 — As Stibbs put it: There is a contrast here between teaching which is "healthful" and teachers who are "sick" (see the English Revised Version margin (1885)). Teaching is continued as "sound" or "wholesome": (1) by having Christ as its author and (2) by the God-fearing conduct of the teacher.[10]SIZE> Lenski denied that this verse has primary application to the false teaching leading to the insubordination of slaves; but Spence felt that this may be allowed: There is little doubt that some influential

Titus 1:14 — some of the very words of Christ who said to the Pharisees, "In vain do ye worship me, teaching for doctrine the commandments of men" (Matthew 15:9). See fuller comment on this under that verse in my Commentary on Matthew. See also in Colossians 2:21,22. For all who would worship God correctly, there must be a sharp distinction between what God has commanded and authorized in the sacred scriptures, and the ceremonies, innovations and traditions that are purely human in their origin. The population

Titus 2:11 — say that salvation had indeed been brought to all men. As Simeon said: Now lettest thou thy servant depart, Lord, According to thy word, in peace; For mine eyes have seen thy salvation, Which thou hast prepared before the face of all peoples (Luke 2:29,30). When Simeon said this, all men had not been saved; and at the time of Paul's writing here, nor at any time ever, was it ever true that all men are saved. Yet God has established the charter of human redemption in dimensions large enough to

Hebrews 2:2 — recompense of reward. The mediation of angels in the giving of the Law of Moses was not stated at that time, the nearest thing to it being found thus: "He came with ten thousands of saints; from his right hand went a fiery law before them" (Deuteronomy 33:2). Paul stated it clearly, saying that the Law "was ordained through angels in the hands of a mediator" (Galatians 3:19); and Stephen also made reference to it, speaking of them "who received the law as it was ordained by angels, and kept it not" (Acts

Hebrews 6:10 — For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and the love which ye showed toward his name, in that ye minister unto the saints, and still do minister. Things done to the Lord's servants are done to the Lord (Matthew 25:40); and by distinguishing themselves in ministering to the needs of the saints, which they had done and were continuing to do, they were showing their love for God's name. From the things said here, it is plain, as Milligan pointed out, that "the

James 3:9 — Therewith bless we the Lord and Father; and therewith curse we men, who are made after the likeness of God: Bless we ... curse we ... Note the use of "we" as in James 3:2; here again the use of it does not indicate any guilt on the part of James in this particular. As Ward said, "The we of pastoral tact shows how far James could go in his desire to win rather than repel."[28] Bless we the Lord ... "The Jewish custom,

2 Peter 1:10 — under verse 8). As Payne put it: "Note the emphasis on God's initiative and man's response; both are essential, or the Christian may fall (literally stumble)."[33] "All Christians have been called, but they must work out their salvation" (Philippians 2:12).[34] We are amazed at the comment of Wheaton, who said, "Peter even hints at the possibility that one can fall from grace!"[35] Reference to Peter's warnings in this letter as a "hint" reminds one of the gang leader in Boston, who when five of his

2 Peter 1:15 — Yea, I will give diligence that at every time ye may be able after my decease to call these things to remembrance. Dummelow thought that "these things" had primary reference to Peter's first epistle, but that "more than his one letter is meant."[42] Payne leaned toward the idea that "the writer means the Gospel of Mark, which early tradition tells us was the written record of much of Peter's preaching."[43] However, the view here is that Peter meant the entire corpus of Christian doctrine which

Jude 1:21 — keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. Keep yourselves in the love of God ... Again the human response factor is stressed, the meaning here being exactly what it was in Jude 1:1:20, "keeping oneself in the love of God" being one and the same thing with obeying God's commandments, as extensively taught in the Johannine literature, above. Summarizing the admonitions of these verses, what Jude commanded, or rather pleaded that the