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

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

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 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

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

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 — park). “When a Persian king wished to confer a very special honor on someone specially dear to him, he made him a companion of the garden & gave him the right to walk in the royal gardens w/him in intimate companionship.” (William Barclay, pg.257.) Both the Hebrew & Greek borrowed this word. Hebrew – Eccl.2:5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. (paradesim) Greek – LXX of Gen.2:8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 — park). “When a Persian king wished to confer a very special honor on someone specially dear to him, he made him a companion of the garden & gave him the right to walk in the royal gardens w/him in intimate companionship.” (William Barclay, pg.257.) Both the Hebrew & Greek borrowed this word. Hebrew – Eccl.2:5 I made myself gardens and orchards, and I planted all kinds of fruit trees in them. (paradesim) Greek – LXX of Gen.2:8 The LORD God planted a garden eastward

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 — think He’d answer 2Cor.3:18. It is vital that day by day we live w/in this conceptual framework so that in everything we do or think we promote the growth of Christlikeness (or glorification) within our lives. (Paul Barnett, BST, Pg.75) See, the gospel of Christ not only illuminates our darkened lives; equally remarkably, it transforms them little by little so that they increasingly resemble the moral & spiritual character of the Lord Jesus. Slide#3 Paul points

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 — think He’d answer 2Cor.3:18. It is vital that day by day we live w/in this conceptual framework so that in everything we do or think we promote the growth of Christlikeness (or glorification) within our lives. (Paul Barnett, BST, Pg.75) See, the gospel of Christ not only illuminates our darkened lives; equally remarkably, it transforms them little by little so that they increasingly resemble the moral & spiritual character of the Lord Jesus. Slide#3 Paul points

Hebrews 12:1-3 — baggage. Robot Camel Jockey’s (a weight issue). I thought this was hilarious. ​​​​​​​I learned camel racing has been a tradition in Arab countries for 1000’s of years. Then I learned there has been some 5-40,000 children trafficked to be camel jockeys as young as 2 yrs old, best age & weight? 4 yrs old! (starved to be as light as possible)  UAE 1st to outlaw this, started using robots. [I’m so glad they laid aside this weight/stolen children] ​​​​​​​Kelly

Hebrews 12:1-3 — baggage. Robot Camel Jockey’s (a weight issue). I thought this was hilarious. ​​​​​​​I learned camel racing has been a tradition in Arab countries for 1000’s of years. Then I learned there has been some 5-40,000 children trafficked to be camel jockeys as young as 2 yrs old, best age & weight? 4 yrs old! (starved to be as light as possible)  UAE 1st to outlaw this, started using robots. [I’m so glad they laid aside this weight/stolen children] ​​​​​​​Kelly

Hebrews 6:4-12 — naval blockade of Germany throttled maritime commerce with Germany, forcing Germany to develop substitutes for products. Which included: synthetic rubber (produced from petroleum); tea composed of ground raspberry leaves or catnip; Slide#5 and coffee substitute using roasted acorns or beans instead of coffee beans. Outline: Ersatz Christians. Productive Christians. Kosher Christians. ERSATZ CHRISTIANS (4-6) [Ersatz - not real or genuine] This section of Scripture has

Hebrews 6:4-12 — naval blockade of Germany throttled maritime commerce with Germany, forcing Germany to develop substitutes for products. Which included: synthetic rubber (produced from petroleum); tea composed of ground raspberry leaves or catnip; Slide#5 and coffee substitute using roasted acorns or beans instead of coffee beans. Outline: Ersatz Christians. Productive Christians. Kosher Christians. ERSATZ CHRISTIANS (4-6) [Ersatz - not real or genuine] This section of Scripture has

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