Bible Commentaries

Esther overview — Written - Events in this book are set in the era of the Persian Empire, sometime between 483-471 b.c. Extended from Sudan to Pakistan to Greece.B. Chronologically - Esther comes between the return of a first group of Jews to Judah from Babylon (538 b.c.) and the return of a second group led back by Ezra (458 b.c.). Esther fits in between Ezra chapters 6 & 7. [a 60 yr. gap] Esther covers a 10 year time period. Author – unknown. Some think Mordecai (9:29). Some think Ezra

Esther 2:1-23 — historian Herodotus describes the king’s life after his military defeat as one of sensual overindulgence. He even started messing around with some of his officers wife’s sowing an anger that led to his assassination in his bedroom in 456bc. (The NIV Application Commentary, Karen Jobbs, pg.94.) A parting comment on Vashti – Does any principle mean so much to you that you would be willing to risk losing your job over it? Four years w/o a Queen. A Miss Persia

Esther 9:1-32 — - And they can attack also. SELF CONTROL is greater than SELF ADVANCEMENT But...they don’t “go on the attack”. They simply defend themselves. They don’t “plunder”. They simply defend themselves. (6) 500 men - They attacked right under the king’s nose, in the capital of Shushan. Remember, their hero Haman had fallen, & now what, lose out on all the Money they could plunder…no way! (7-10) During the feast of Purim they’d

Psalms 23:1-6 — ring. Ps.22 - Good Shepherd dying for the sheep; Ps. 23 - The Great Shepherd caring for the sheep; Ps. 24 - The Chief Shepherd coming for the sheep. Phillips gives as an outline: The Secret of a Happy Life!(1-3); The Secret of a Happy Death!(4,5); The Secret of a Happy Eternity!(6). Read the amplified bible. Did David write this song on his harp, while laying back in the grass, out in a meadow, with sheep bleating all around him, as a little shepherd boy? This Sheep will not Lack!

Isaiah 31:1-9 — didn’t wait for God’s promise, but sought to bring it about by himself, through Hagar. (3) Still our 2 biggest problems: We place more trust in man than in God, & more trust in our flesh than in the spirit. God’s Power! (4,5) The lion won’t release its paw from the prey! Like my dog “Bongo” growing up, would never let go of his bone. Like mother mockingbirds darting, diving, swooping like little fighter pilots at enemy crows…never giving

Nahum 1:1-15 — you feel when you hear the Lord has His way? Q: Can “your way” ever supercede “His way”? Vs.4-6 shows how he commands the forces of nature. And that no one can stand before His anger. (4) He opened the red Sea. (5) He can turn off the rain & make the most fruitful areas dry up. Bashan(on their east); Carmel(on their West); Lebanon(north) At Sinai He made the mountain shake. When storms blow into your life remember, it is another promise God is

Matthew 12:1-21 — Jesus, and demonstrated its harmony with Old Testament messianic prophecy. Ch’s 3,4 affirmed Jesus’ full identity with humanity - and His victory over every human weakness. Surely this Person can lead us to victory too. Ch’s 5-7, the Sermon on the Mount, contained Jesus’ explanation of the lifestyle appropriate for those who choose to live in His kingdom. Ch’s 8-11 proved Jesus’ authority over all that binds human beings. And it also shows that in Jesus,

Matthew 12:38-50 — traveled a long distance to hear Sol.’s wisdom, yet the religious rulers rejected the wisdom of Christ who was in their very midst. [they repented...she heard] The greater the opportunity the greater the judgment. REFORMATION (43-45) Self-Reformation This man’s life was changed for the better; but his life was still empty. I remember my self-reformation right before I got saved. I quit smoking pot for a month. I felt better but still felt empty. The Pharisee’s

Matthew 15:1-20 — these phrases have in common? Moderation in all things (Aristotle, Doctrine of the Mean). To thine ownself be true (Hamlet). God helps those who help themselves (Aesop's Fable, Hercules & the Wagoneer). The lion shall lay down with the lamb (Is.65:25). Cleanliness is next toGodliness (John Wesley, quoted in 1 of his sermons, already in existence) People often think they are found in Scripture They are not. And actually I think we have here in our text today a case that shows the opposite

Matthew 18:1-14 — in attitude. Jesus contrasts the disciples’ pride with the humility of children. Unlike children who had no status, the disciples were expecting to be honored in God’s kingdom. RECEIVE A CHILD LIKE CHRIST (5) ​​​​​​​One who has a child heart, receives a child, which in turn is receiving Christ himself. And the person that does not have a child heart will offend the child...see 6-9. ENTICING

Matthew 20:17-34 — As they thought he was going to take His place on the throne of the kingdom...and they wanted the box seats. What she/they forgot was what He just said about the cross. What she/they forgot was the only way to glory is through suffering (1 Pet.5:10 may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, & settle you) You do not pray for a throne; you pay for it. Weirsbe (22) Why

1 Corinthians 1:1-17 — were sacred prostitutes. Aphrodite = Gk. Goddess of Love - Roman equivalent was Venus. Interesting, Paul will speak to them on the grandest passage ever on Love (ch.13) [and the greatest passage on the resurrection in ch.15] Church History in Corinth: ​​​​​​​AD 51, the Apostle Paul steps into this population of paganism. Paul started a church here on his 2nd trip through. He was there

2 Corinthians 5:1-10 — from punishment. The New International Dictionary of the Christian Church, defines it, “an intermediate place between heaven & hell, where the unfinished business of earth is settled.” This doctrine is built from 2 Maccabees 12:39-45 where it says, “thus he made atonement for the dead that they might be free from this sin.” There are definitely some contextual problems, & even my Catholic bible says in its foot notes & I quote, “His belief(Judas) was

Ephesians 1:7-14 — lamb. The atoning sac. The Bronze serpent. The promised Prophet. The deliverer. The kinsman redeemer, etc. But the NT is a quantum leap in the redemptive picture…John pointing to Jesus & saying, behold the lamb, was very clear. Jn.4:25,26 The woman (at the well) said to Him, I know that Messiah is coming who is called Christ. When He comes, He will tell us all things. Jesus said to her, I who speak to you am He...was very clear. Mystery then refers to God’s plan of

Philippians 1:1-18 — abide by the law, even go to church!” The difference lies in both Means & Motives! Christian goodness is not a matter of Degree, but of Kind! A Christians righteousness will exceed that of the Scribes & Phar’s. (Mt. 5:20). Not necessarily in quantity but in quality! The difference is the Means. It is…by Jesus Christ! The means of our goodness is not our own effort to copy His life, but His living in us! (swindoll) It is supernatural,

Colossians 1:1-14 — pg.7) 1st we come out of bondage, then we are brought into the banqueting house! Ephesians & Colossians represent the highest, fullest, richest presentation of Christianity! Relationship to Ephesus - As one writer puts it, “Out of 95 verses in Colossians, 78 have a marked resemblance to Ephesians.” Difference: In Ephesus the primary subject is the Church; while in Colosse the primary subject is Christ! Epaphras was one of Paul’s converts while he was in

Revelation 3:14-22 — creation! Beginning = origin; to have 1st place; to hold the chief place! Though outwardly the church appeared strong & prosperous, the lord finds nothing to COMMEND! Though they were busy commending themselves! HE CONDEMNS 4 THINGS: (15-17) [1] INDIFFERENCE! (15,16) - Lukewarm, not Hot nor Cold. In the Christian life there are 3 temperatures: [1] A Burning Heart [zestos/boiling hot] (on fire for God) Lk.24:32 “And they said to one another, "Did not our

1 Samuel 3:1-21 — those days there was no prophet regularly active to give the people messages from God (Search the Scriptures; footnote; pg.209) (3) Probably near day break, as the lamp was about to go out. Eli was not allowed to serve anymore as he was over 50 years old (see 4:15). Numb.4:46,47 from thirty years old and above, even to fifty years old, all who enter the service to do the work in the tabernacle of meeting. Maybe why Jesus didn’t start His ministry (as our high priest) until

1 Samuel 7:1-17 — mothers without ever pausing to was his hands. Dr. Semmelweis was the 1st man in history to associate such examinations with the resultant infection and death. His own practice was to wash with a chlorine solution, and after 11 years and the delivery of 8,537 babies, he lost only 184 mothers - about 1 in 50. He spent the vigor of his life lecturing and debating with his colleagues. Once he argued, “Puerperal fever is caused by decomposed material, conveyed to a wound. I have shown how it can be prevented.

2 Samuel 12:13-31 — up against the wooden & fiberglass hulls. Within minutes, though, the storm clouds begin to roll through the sky. Thunder rumbles; rain pelts. The tranquil little harbor is tossed by a whirlwind. (Taken & adapted from Charles Swindoll intro pg.152 David.) One boat, was tied loosely to its moorings, snaps the rope & is carried out by the violent currents only to crash upon the rocks. But another boat, secured by its nautical ropes to the 4 cleats on the dock, is able to ride out the