Bible Commentaries

Esther 4:1-17 — Mordecai’s Personal Progress; Esther’s Life Decisions; and Basic Lessons from Providence. A look back: 4:1a ties into The Edict given by Haman in 3:13. Basically a Hitlerian genocide against his people, the Jews. How significant? 15 million Jews, spread throughout the Persian kingdom, were now at risk. All because of Haman’s hostility & the King’s stupidity. Driscoll called Esther, “a Mexican Soap Opera with Persian sub-titles.” HATHACH’s,

Ecclesiastes 2:1-26 — of the House of the Forest of Lebanon were pure gold. Not one was silver, for this was accounted as nothing in the days of Solomon. Eating the best of foods. 1 Kings 4:22,23 The daily food requirements for Solomon’s palace were 150 bushels of choice flour and 300 bushels of meal; also 10 oxen from the fattening pens, 20 pasture-fed cattle, 100 sheep or goats, as well as deer, gazelles, roe deer, and choice poultry. nlt [lamb chops, mutton, venison, wild game, game birds] Drinking

Isaiah 59:1-21 — Jesus! [have you?] “A surrendered life doesn’t keep you insulated from life’s pain & difficulties, but knowing Him brings joy that none of life’s suffering could ever overwhelm!” (Rebecca Pippert) Snake Eggs! (4,5a) No Justice! (4) Read: A Modern Red Riding Hood Lies – A lie is not just a sound in the air or a sentence on paper. (Warren Wiersbe; pg. 488; With the Word.) It has a life of its own & gives birth to all

Daniel 6:1-28 — employees at work, like Daniel did. How did you respond? How will Daniel respond? We should not go out of our way to either invite or avoid persecution. Here we have Daniel as a senior citizen (in his 80’s). We’re in the year 539bc. Darius (duh-RIGH-uhs) the Mede at 62 years old is king (due to the capture of Babylon). Life is littered with Lion dens...what will we do? FIRST LION DEN (1-9) (4) Faithful – It’s required of servants that they

Jonah 1:1-3 — Islam in the Quran, Yunus (in Arabic). Jonah is the only prophet named from the Hebrew bible/Tanak in the Qur'an, in the book As-Saaffat, chapter/Surah 37, verse 139-148. We have here a real person & a real story. 2 Kings 14:25 He (Jeroboam II, 793-753bc) restored the territory of Israel from the entrance of Hamath to the Sea of the Arabah, according to the word of the Lord God of Israel, which He had spoken through His servant Jonah the son of Amittai, the prophet who was

Matthew 25:31-46 — placed on his left hand. And the sheep (saved people) on his right hand. And The Separated (34-46). The Sheep will be rewarded. The contents (34) They will receive the Kingdom, prepared for them from the foundation of the world. The cause (35,36) It is due to their mercy ministry in feeding, clothing, caring for, and even assisting Jesus in prison. The confusion (37-39) The saved asked, when all this took place? The clarification (40) Jesus says it’s when they ministered to others,

Matthew 6:19-34 — - so kingdom & character seekers receive all of this as a gracious reward for not seeking the earthly things. We have here 3 Imperatives/commands of vital importance: They are… (20) Lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven (25) Do not worry (3x’s +2) (20) Seek first the kingdom of God & His righteousness LAY UP FOR YOURSELVES TREASURES IN HEAVEN (19-24) ​​​​​​​How do we turn our addiction to earth-treasure

Mark 11:12-24 — nothing but leaves. The Fig Tree pictures Israel, taking up space but not producing fruit. The Parable of the Fig Tree in Luke give an example of this. (Lk.13:6-9) Jesus is still seeking fruit from His people. To Be fruitless is sin. Jn.15:16 You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain. Fruit? – But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness,

Mark 12:13-27 — w/Rome. Pharisees (extreme right wingers); Herodians (extreme left wingers). Catch – to take by hunting or fishing. (14) Listen to their flattery. They call him teacher but have not intention of learning anything from Him. (15-17) Denarius – a silver coin used to pay the Poll Tax (Introduced by the Romans in 6ad; a constant reminder they were a subject people). On this coin: [note V = U] [obverse/front] The image of emperor Tiberius Caesar & the abbreviated

Mark 14:53-72 — Intro: Title: Solid Rock & Sinking Sand Here we the most famous trial in human history. He was tried before the world & the world was tried before Him. SOLID ROCK, JESUS (53-65) Here we have a scene that would be likened unto: A Sheep…being led away by a pack of hungry hyenas, to stand trial & conviction before a jury of starving coyotes & a blood thirsty wolf/judge. This trial was in 2 sets of 3 stages (Jewish

Luke 2:36-52 — Jesus Christ and redeeming love, for moral forces everywhere, for our national leaders. Let prayer be our passion. Let prayer be our practice.” (38) Holy Expectation! – all those who looked for the redemption. JESUS, THE BOY! (39-52) Now, we’ve tracked Jesus’ life from pre-natal stories to toddler hood. Now we trace Jesus’ life: from Babyhood to Boyhood; from Boyhood to Bar mitzvah; from Bar mitzvah to Manhood. It is only Luke that gives us a brief,

Luke 5:17-26 — country, he recorded the parting words of his mother, Mrs. Mary Washington: “Remember that God is our only sure trust. To Him, I commend you…my son, neglect not the duty of secret prayer.” (America’s God & Country; pg.635,636) Pray: Our President. Many healings so far, & lastly a leper was made spot free! As ministry cranked up, Jesus made more time to be alone with His Father! (vs.16) – Too busy not to pray! OUTINE: Hindered By Many;

John 15:9-27 — business is failing; Joy in the midst of opposition; in the midst of unemployment; When a loved one passes away; when a boyfriend/girlfriend says goodbye for good. Joy is dependence on God & not on circumstances! FRIENDS! (12-15) This section begins & ends w/Love one another! (see 12,17) It is a command to love! – A decision not a feeling! It is a decision to continually seek the highest good of others. We aren’t to love others on the basis of

John 6:22-71 — INTRO: Oh, taste & see that the Lord is good; Blessed is the man who trusts in Him! Jesus had just fed the 5000. Jesus reads their hearts & confronts them with their motive. WONDER BREAD! BETHLEHEM! (22-40) (26) Most assuredly - Amen, Amen. A teaching technique that indicated a crucial idea from Jesus (also: vs.32,47,53) Often people want the

Acts 1:9-26 — Intro: I read an article entitled: A Tiger Bites its Tail. It’s about the F-11 Tiger that is notorious for being the first jet aircraft to shoot itself down. On September 21st 1956, during a test firing of its 20mm cannons, pilot Tom Attridge fired 2 bursts mid-way through a shallow dive. As the velocity and trajectory of the cannon rounds decayed, they ultimately crossed paths w/the Tiger as it continued its descent, disabling

Acts 28:1-31 — ALL through the storm! Still miles from Rome, God allows them 3 months of R&R, time to heal. ISLAND OF REFUGE! ​​​​​​​BITTEN BUT NOT FORSAKEN! (1-6) (1) Malta - small island 50m south of Sicily, which is just south of the toe of Italy’s boot. You’ve heard of the small white dog breed, the Maltese. (from here) Island is a rugged mountainous island, only 18 miles long & 8 miles wide. In Paul’s

Romans 16:1-27 — were w/Paul in Corinth(8 men, 1 women). This reveals the importance Paul placed on women in ministry in that 1st cent; and an intimate knowledge of their family relationships & Christian service! Partnering in Ministry: Phil.1:3-5(NIV) I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. “Each of us has the opportunity to participate in ministries far

1 Corinthians 11:17-34 — toward communion? Title: A Meal to Remember! Outline: Careless Communion! (17-22); Careful Communion! (23-34). CARELESS COMMUNION! (17-22) (17) I do not praise you – Paul did in vs.2, but can’t here! Come together – 5 x’s. (17,18,20,33,34) Oh, so I guess you are to come together as a local church body! (Baam) They enjoyed “Love Feasts” or “Agape Feasts”. Actually, they would have a meal 1st, then communion. This

Hebrews 12:12-17 — as an eagle; sometimes man is enabled to run & not be weary; but he also knew that of all things it is hardest to walk every day and not to faint. (William Barclay, Hebrews, pg.179) Outline: Finish Strong. Guard Against… Slide5 FINISH STRONG (12-14) Here the writer runs back to his running analogy. (vs.1 let us run w/endurance the race set before us) Remember, the spiritual life is a long distance run. Slide6 RUN TOUGH (12) The call here is to tough it

1 Samuel 9:1-27 — INTRO: God’s sovereignty & providence is seen in His control of men & events. He does according to His will among the host of heaven & among the inhabitants of the earth; & none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?” Dan 4:35 ESV Illustrations: (Cyril Barber: The Books of Samuel; Vol. 1, pg.108,109.) John Bunyan: was drafted as a soldier in the civil war in England & was sent to take part in the siege of Leicester(Les-ter). As he was about to begin sentry