Bible Commentaries

Esther 6:4-10 — Haman’s recommendation 6:4-10 "Here the early bird is gotten by the worm." [Note: Moore, Esther, p. 64.] Haman’s pride preceded his fall (Esther 6:6; cf. Proverbs 16:18). He wanted, as much as possible, to appear like the king himself, in the honors he recommended

Isaiah 4:3-4 — The divine judgments that God will bring on the Israelites in the future (in the Tribulation) will have a purifying effect on many of them, specifically the elect (cf. Isaiah 1:25; Ezekiel 36:25-26; Ezekiel 39:23-26; Daniel 9:4-19; Malachi 3:2-5; Matthew 3:11; Acts 13:48). Those left alive to the end will be holy in conduct, as well as set apart by God for His purposes. Similarly, God purified the Israelites through their oppression in Egypt and then liberated them so they

Isaiah 42:1 — "The hen (behold) in ch. xli. 29 is now followed by a second hen [in Isaiah 42:1]. With the former, Jehovah pronounced sentence upon the idolaters and their idols; with the latter, He introduces His ’servant.’" [Note: Delitzsch, 2:174.] Yahweh called on the nations to see (give attention to) His Servant, in

Deuteronomy 6:4-5 — The essence of the principles 6:4-5 Here the actual exposition of the Decalogue begins with an explanation and implications of the first commandment. Moses presented Yahweh as the one true God who requires complete devotion. "With this chapter we come to the pivot around which

Mark 1:12-13 — 3. The temptation of Jesus 1:12-13 (cf. Matthew 4:1-11; Luke 4:1-13) Jesus’ temptation by Satan was another event that prepared the divine Servant for His ministry. [Note: For comparison of Moses’, Elijah’s, and Jesus’ 40-day periods of temptation, see Edersheim, 1:294.] Mark’s

Mark 1:17-18 — Simon (Peter) and Andrew had met Jesus previously (John 1:35-42). Mark stressed the urgency of Jesus’ call and the immediacy of the disciples’ response. Normally young men who wanted to learn from a rabbi sought one out, but Jesus called Simon and Andrew to participate in an urgent task with Him. "Follow

Luke 9:55-56 — Jesus strongly disapproved of James and John’s attitude, and He rebuked them (Gr. epetimesen, cf. Luke 4:35; Luke 4:41; Luke 8:24). Jesus’ mission did not call for Him to bring judgment yet. The group, therefore, proceeded to another presumably Samaritan village where they found lodging. The point of the story is Jesus’ toleration of rejection

Acts 5:1-2 — "But" introduces another sacrificial act that looked just as generous as Barnabas’ (Acts 4:37). However in this case the motive was quite different. Ananias’ Jewish name, Hananiah, means "Yahweh is gracious," and Sapphira’s Aramaic name, Sappira, means "beautiful." Their names proved as ironic as their behavior

1 Corinthians 4:1-5 — Judging God’s servants 4:1-5 "The first paragraph (1 Corinthians 4:1-5) leads the way by making an application of the servant model and showing how that relates to their treatment of him [Paul]. He changes images from farm to household and insists that he is God’s

2 Corinthians 4:16 — In view of the reasons just sited, the apostle restated that he did not lose heart (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:1). However, Paul’s sufferings, while not fatal, were destroying his body. Nevertheless even this did not discourage him for, even though physically he was decaying, spiritually he was still developing (cf. Ephesians 3:16). In this verse Paul

Ephesians 4:11 — This verse explains "gave" (Ephesians 4:8) and begins a sentence that runs through Ephesians 4:16 in the Greek text. After Jesus Christ ascended, He gave, as victor over death, gifts to the church that enabled it to function. This order of events is in harmony with the revelation that the

Ephesians 5:15-9 — 5. Walking in Wisdom of Solomon 5:15 to Wisdom of Solomon 6:9 Paul introduced a new thought with the repetition of "Therefore" and "walk" for the fifth time (cf. Ephesians 4:1; Ephesians 4:25; Ephesians 5:1-2; Ephesians 5:7-8). We can walk (live) wisely by letting the Holy Spirit control our lives. "For Paul, the Christian faith was not an abstract exercise in theological discourse. Instead it called for a different

Hebrews 3:1-10 — terms "merciful" and "faithful" from Hebrews 2:17 and to expound them in reverse order. He spoke of the faithfulness of Jesus (Hebrews 3:1-6, exposition) and the need for his hearers to remain faithful as well (Hebrews 3:7 to Hebrews 4:14, exhortation). He then encouraged his audience with a reminder of Jesus’ compassion as a merciful high priest in the service of God (Hebrews 4:15 to Hebrews 5:10, exposition).

James 4:1 — 1. The source of conflict 4:1 As in the previous chapters, James began this one with a clear introduction of a practical problem his readers faced. He had just been referring to the importance of avoiding strife (James 3:14-16) and loving peace (James 3:13; James 3:17-18). Now

Revelation 1:16 — Revelation 3:1). A sharp double-edged sword (Gr. hromphaia), the type the Romans used to kill with (Revelation 2:12; Revelation 2:16; Revelation 6:8; Revelation 19:15; Revelation 19:21), proceeded from His mouth. His word will judge His enemies (Isaiah 11:4; Isaiah 49:2; Ephesians 6:17; 2 Thessalonians 2:8; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 19:13-15). This sword was tongue-shaped. [Note: See the Dictionary of the Bible, ed. James Hastings, s.v. "Sword," by W. Emery Barnes, 4:634, for a picture of one.]

Revelation 10:4 — An authoritative voice, probably belonging to God or Christ (cf. Revelation 1:11; Revelation 1:19; Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9), did not permit John to record the judgments these seven thunders revealed (cf. 2 Corinthians 12:1-4). This indicates that God has not revealed in Scripture all the judgments that will take place on the earth during the Great Tribulation.

Revelation 22:10 — not to close it because the fulfillment of the events predicted was near, and people needed to be aware of them (cf. Revelation 1:11). God had told Daniel to seal his prophecy, evidently because there was more prophecy to come (Daniel 8:26; Daniel 12:4; Daniel 12:9-10; cf. Revelation 10:4). As an artist covers his work when it is under construction until it is complete, so God covered His picture of the future until He finished it.

Revelation 9:6 — Because of the influence of these scorpion-like locusts, people will seek death but will not be able to escape their pain. They long for death rather than repenting. Since Revelation 4 :1 John had been reporting what he saw, but now he spoke as a prophet predicting the future. "For the first time the Apostle ceases to be the exponent of what he saw, and becomes the direct organ of the Spirit . . ." [Note: Alford,

1 Samuel 3:1-18 — refers to a young teenager (cf. 1 Samuel 17:33). Consequently we should probably think of Samuel as a boy in his early teens as we read this section. Josephus wrote that Samuel was 12 years old. [Note: Flavius Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews, 5:10:4.] At this time in Israel’s history (i.e., the late Judges Period), special revelations from God were rare. These normally came to prophets in visions or dreams (cf. Numbers 12:6; 1 Samuel 28:6). Samuel, who saw clearly, both physically and spiritually,

1 Samuel 4:1 — II. THE HISTORY OF THE ARK OF THE COVENANT 4:1-7:1 Many serious students of 1 Samuel have noted the writer’s emphasis on the ark of the covenant that begins here in the text. Critical scholars have long argued that 1 Samuel 4:1 b to 1 Samuel 7:1 and 2 Samuel 6 are the only remaining fragments