Bible Commentaries

Matthew 15:29-39 — 6. The public ministry to Gentiles 15:29-39 Matthew again recorded a summary of Jesus’ general healing ministry (cf. Matthew 4:23-25; Matthew 9:35-38; Matthew 12:15-21; Matthew 14:34-36) following opposition (Matthew 13:54 to Matthew 14:12; Matthew 15:1-20) and discipleship training (Matthew 14:13-33; Matthew 15:21-28). Opposition and discipleship training did not occupy His attention so exclusively that He had no time to heal the multitudes compassionately.

Matthew 24:6 — The presence of wars and rumors of wars should likewise not mislead the disciples into thinking that the prophesied destruction of Jerusalem was near (cf. Revelation 6:3-4). Wars and rumors of wars would come, but they would not necessarily be the fulfillment of the prophecies about Messiah’s destroying His enemies when He returns (Zechariah 14:2-5). The disciples should not let the presence of wars and rumors of

Mark 14:4-5 — Apparently Judas Iscariot voiced the disciples’ violent objection (Gr. embrimaomai, cf. Mark 10:14) to Mary’s act of loving sacrifice (Matthew 26:8; John 12:4-5). Customarily Jews gave gifts to the poor the evening of Passover. [Note: Wessel, p. 756.] Mary’s gift to Jesus was worth a year’s wages. The disciples could see no reason

Mark 4:35-36 — Jesus and the disciples would have been crossing from the west to the east side of the lake (cf. Mark 5:1). Fewer people lived on the east side. Evidently Jesus wanted to get away from the multitudes that had given Him no rest all that day (Mark 3:20 to Mark 4:34) and before. Mark normally did not give precise time designations. Probably he did so here to impress the reader with Jesus’ extreme busyness that moved Him to withdraw temporarily.

Mark 8:14-21 — 4. Jesus’ teaching about the yeast of the Pharisees and Herod 8:14-21 (cf. Matthew 16:5-12) This pericope parallels and recalls Jesus’ teaching about bread when He cast the demon out of the Phoenician girl (Mark 7:24-30). In both cases leavened

Luke 14:1-24 — 4. Participants in the kingdom 14:1-24 This section contains the record of several incidents that happened when Jesus was the dinner guest of a leading Pharisee. Jesus had just announced that He would leave Jerusalem desolate (Luke 13:35). The present

Luke 2:17-18 — After the shepherds saw Jesus they spread the word as evangelists (i.e., reporters of good news). The response of those who heard their eyewitness testimony was amazement (Gr. ethaumasan), not unbelief or belief. They probably thought: I wonder if the Messiah really has arrived. The theme of amazement runs through this Gospel (cf. Luke 2:33; Luke 2:47; Luke 4:22; Luke 8:25; Luke 9:43; Luke 11:14; Luke 11:38; Luke 20:26; Luke 24:12; Luke 24:41).

Luke 20:16 — Only Luke recorded the verbal response of the people to the vineyard owner’s action: "may it never be" (Gr. me genoito, cf. Romans 3:4; Romans 3:6; Romans 3:31, et al.). This was a strong statement expressing firm rejection. They understood that Jesus was predicting that God would condemn Israel’s leaders and turn the nation over to other people, probably Gentiles and specifically the Romans. They foresaw the end of Judaism as they knew it, and this prospect upset them.

John 18:19 — Clearly Annas was the (unofficial) high priest who conducted this initial informal inquiry (cf. John 18:24). He probably asked Jesus about His disciples to ascertain the size of His following since one of the religious leaders’ chief concerns was the power of Jesus’ popularity. Annas’ interest in His teachings undoubtedly revolved around

Acts 11:29 — The Christians in Antioch demonstrated love for and unity with their brethren in Jerusalem by sending them some relief money. Luke previously documented the love and generosity of the Jerusalem Christians for one another (Acts 2:42; Acts 4:32-35). Now he revealed that the Antioch Christians even surpassed them by sharing what they had with another congregation. The giving was voluntary and according to the ability that each Christian possessed (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:2; 2 Corinthians 9:7).

Acts 18:11 — Paul’s year and a half stay in Corinth probably dates from the fall of 50 to the spring of A.D. 52. This was evidently the entire time Paul remained in Corinth. The church Paul planted in Corinth consisted of a rich mixture of people some of whom were greatly gifted but most of whom came from the lower elements of society (cf. Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:4-8; 1 Corinthians 1:26-29; 1 Corinthians 7:18; 1 Corinthians 12:13).

Acts 18:7 — Titius Justus-the name is Roman-may have been a God-fearer whom Paul met in the synagogue. He may be the person Paul called Gaius elsewhere (cf. Romans 16:23; 1 Corinthians 1:14) since Gaius is a first name and Titius and Justus are given and family names respectively. [Note: William M. Ramsay, Pictures of the Apostolic Church, p. 205, footnote 2; Edgar J. Goodspeed, "Gaius Titius Justus," Journal of Biblical Literature 69:4 (December 1950):382-83.]

Acts 21:29 — Trophimus the Ephesian was Paul’s travelling companion from Asia (Acts 20:4) The Asian Jews had previously seen them together in the city and had assumed that Paul had brought this Gentile into the sacred enclosure of the Temple. "The possibility that Trophimus might have wandered of his own freewill into the forbidden

Acts 26:2-3 — Paul began with a customary introduction in which he complemented the king sincerely and urged him to listen patiently. He did not promise a short defense (cf. Acts 24:2-4; Acts 24:10). "This was just the kind of situation Paul had longed for during two bleak years in prison-viz., a knowledgeable judge and a not inherently antagonistic audience before whom he could not only make his defense but also proclaim his message." [Note: Longenecker, "The Acts . . .," p. 551.]

Romans 9:19-29 — 4. God’s mercy toward Israel 9:19-29 Next Paul dealt with a question that rises out of what he had just argued for, namely, God’s freedom to extend mercy to whom He will. Is it not logical that if God is going to show mercy to whom He will, in spite of human actions and merit, that human actions really provide no basis for His judging us? Is not the basis of judgment really God’s will rather than human actions?

1 Corinthians 1:4-9 — B. Thanksgiving 1:4-9 Paul followed his salutation with an expression of gratitude for his original readers, as he usually did in his epistles. In this case the focus of his thanksgiving was on God’s grace in giving the Corinthians such great spiritual gifts (cf. Ephesians 1:3-14). "What is remarkable here is the apostle’s ability to thank God for the very things in the church that, because of the abuses, are also causing him grief." [Note: Ibid., p. 36.]

1 Corinthians 16:9 — Paul occasionally used the door as a metaphor for opportunity (cf. 2 Corinthians 2:12; Colossians 4:3). He stayed in Ephesus three years to take advantage of his opportunities there. He did not regard adversaries there as an indication of a closed door or as a sign that God wanted him to move on to more comfortable ministry. He followed his own advice and remained immovable and abounding in the work of the Lord in Ephesus (1 Corinthians 15:58).

Ephesians 2:5 — Unbelievers are spiritually dead in their sins (cf. Ephesians 2:1). However, God has given new life to believers. The only way a dead person can have any fellowship with the living God is for God to give him or her new life (cf. Romans 4:17). Regeneration is an act of God in grace. Regeneration results in the commencement and continuation of new life. "Have been saved" is in the perfect tense in Greek indicating an ongoing permanent condition.

Philippians 1:9-11 — B. Prayer 1:9-11 Paul had already written that he prayed for the Philippians (Philippians 1:3-4). Now he explained what he prayed so his readers would know specifically what the apostle was asking God to do for them. In response to God’s working in them (Philippians 1:6) it was imperative that they continue to grow in the virtues identified here, specifically, intelligent and discerning love. Note the balance of divine sovereignty and human responsibility in this pericope.

1 Peter 4:12-19 — A. The Fiery Trial 4:12-19 Peter reminded his readers of how sufferings fit into God’s purposes to encourage them to persevere with the proper attitude (cf. James 1). "The section which began at iii. 13 is here concluded in a passage which recapitulates much