Bible Commentaries

Proverbs 4:20-27 — 8. The importance of persistence 4:20-27 The last pericope of this chapter emphasizes the importance of persisting in the good practices that will lead to life. Success usually comes to those who keep concentrating on and perfecting the basics in their work. Our temptation is to leave

Isaiah 4:2-6 — 3. God’s determination for Israel 4:2-6 Having begun this oracle by clarifying God’s desire for Israel (Isaiah 2:1-4), the prophet proceeded to contrast her present condition. She depended on people rather than Himself, a condition that would result in divine discipline (Isaiah

Jeremiah 16:16 — The Lord was going to summon fishermen (cf. Ezekiel 12:13; Ezekiel 29:4-5; Amos 4:2; Habakkuk 1:14-17) and hunters (cf. Amos 9:1-4) to round up His people and take them as prey, even those who were in hiding. These agents would be the Babylonian invaders. "When Jesus used the metaphor of fishermen to describe the mission

Jeremiah 21:11-12 — Jeremiah was to tell the king of Judah and his administrators to be careful to dispense justice every day, particularly with the poor and powerless. If they did not, the Lord’s wrath would burn against them as an inextinguishable fire (cf. Jeremiah 4:4; Jeremiah 17:4; Jeremiah 17:27; Jeremiah 21:12; Jeremiah 21:14; Jeremiah 43:12; Jeremiah 49:27). Normally court convened in the morning to avoid the heat of the day (cf. 2 Samuel 4:5). "The administration of justice was one of the main duties

Ezekiel 42:7-9 — The north facade of this building, facing the outer court, was only 50 cubits (83 feet 4 inches) wide. Perhaps the roofline was 100 cubits (166 feet 8 inches) long, and there was an open space 50 cubits (83 feet 4 inches) wide under the roof to the east of this facade. The south facade was 100 cubits (166 feet 8 inches) long, the west facade was 50 cubits (83 feet 4 inches) long, and the north facade was 50 cubits (83 feet 4 inches) long.

Daniel 6:25-27 — This story ends, as previous ones in the book did, with the king praising and promoting Yahweh. This expression of praise, however, surpasses the others (cf. Daniel 3:28-29; Daniel 4:3; Daniel 4:34-35; Daniel 4:37). Not only did Darius personally praise God, but he ordered his subjects to do the same thing (cf. Daniel 3:29; Daniel 4:1). It is as though God was giving two witnesses to His people Israel: Nebuchadnezzar and Darius.

Numbers 4:1-49 — The number of Levites in tabernacle service ch. 4 Moses did not arrange the three Levitical families in the text here in the order of the ages of their founders. He arranged them in the order of the holiness of the articles that they managed. The Kohathites-who included Moses, Aaron, and the priests-were

Micah 5:2-5 — 3. The King of Zion 5:2-5a "In chapter 5 the prophet repeated and expanded the major themes of Micah 4:6-10, only in reverse order. This creates a chiastic structure for the central portion of the speech, which can be outlined as follows: A    The Lord strengthens a remnant (Micah 4:6-7 a) B    Dominion restored

Mark 4:21-25 — The parable of the lamp 4:21-25 (cf. Luke 8:16-18) Jesus’ statements in this pericope appear scattered throughout the other Gospels. Mark 4:21 occurs in Matthew 5:15 and in Luke 11:33. Mark 4:22 is in Matthew 10:26 and in Luke 12:2. Mark 4:24 appears in Matthew 7:2 and

John 4:46-54 — 2. The second sign: healing the official’s Song of Solomon 4:46-54 This incident completes a cycle in John’s Gospel. Jesus performed His first sign in Cana (John 2:1), and now He returned and did another miracle there (John 4:46). There is even a second reference to Capernaum (John 2:12; John 4:46). John’s

2 Corinthians 4:7-15 — The contrast between the message and the messenger 4:7-15 Paul presented many paradoxical contrasts involved in the sufferings and supports of the Christian to clarify for his readers the real issues involved in serving Jesus Christ. "This passage, which is about suffering and death (2 Corinthians

Ephesians 4:17-32 — 2. Walking in holiness 4:17-32 In the first part of this chapter Paul stressed the importance of living in unity in the church. He turned next to the importance of living in holiness. "The Bible was written to be obeyed, and not simply studied, and this is why the words

Ephesians 4:25 — As the practice of the old man follows his condition (Ephesians 4:17-19), so the practice of the new man (Ephesians 4:25-32) should follow his condition (Ephesians 4:20-24). In Ephesians 4:25-32 we find five exhortations to Christians regarding our conduct. Each one has three parts: a negative command, a positive

Ephesians 6:23 — Peace, love, and faith are all important communal virtues in the Christian life. Peace was necessary because of the Jewish Gentile problems Paul wrote Ephesians to ameliorate (Ephesians 2:14-16; Ephesians 3:15; Ephesians 3:19; Ephesians 4:3). Mutual love is the key to peace (Ephesians 1:15; Ephesians 3:17-18; Ephesians 4:2; Ephesians 4:16), and mutual love rests on a common faith (Ephesians 1:15; Ephesians 3:17; Ephesians 4:5; cf. Galatians

Joshua 4:1-24 — The memorial of the crossing ch. 4 The main point in the story of the crossing recorded in this chapter is the removal of the stones from the riverbed. They served as a memorial of this event for generations to come (Joshua 4:6-7). [Note: For a discussion of the supposed contradictions in chapters 3 and 4 and a solution based on literary analysis, see Brian Peckham, "The Composition of Joshua 3-4," Catholic Biblical Quarterly 46:3 (July 1984):413-31.]

Hebrews 4:14 — Our "great High Priest" (Hebrews 2:17) has already proved faithful through suffering and is now in God’s presence where He intercedes for us (cf. Romans 8:34). Compare our "great salvation" (Hebrews 2:3). He is not just a priest serving on earth, like Israel’s high priests. He is our file leader (Hebrews 2:10), and we will follow Him through the heavens one day. This great High Priest is

1 Peter 4:1-6 — 3. Living with the promise in view 4:1-6 Since Jesus Christ has gained the victory, Peter urged his readers to rededicate themselves to God’s will as long as they might live. He wanted to strengthen their resolve to continue to persevere. He resumed here the exhortation that he broke off in 1 Peter 3:17. Generally speaking, 1 Peter 4:1-3 focus on Christian behavior and 1 Peter 4:4-6 on pagan response.

1 John 3:24-16 — D. Learning to See the God of Love 3:24-4:16 Another inclusio helps us identify the theme of this section: God abiding in believers (1 John 3:24; 1 John 4:16). God abiding in us, as well as we abiding in Him, is essential to our having boldness as we anticipate the judgment seat of Christ (1 John 2:28; 1 John 4:17-18). Having boldness as we anticipate the judgment seat of Christ is the subject of the body of this epistle (1 John 2:28 to 1 John 4:19).

1 John 4:17-19 — E. Having Boldness at Christ’s Judgment Seat 4:17-19 John drew a conclusion from what he had written about the importance of believers abiding in God. It is the conclusion that he introduced in the theme verse of the body of the epistle: "And now, little children, abide in Him, so that whenever

1 Samuel 7:2-4 — 1. Samuel’s spiritual leadership 7:2-4 Twenty years after the Philistines had returned the ark, Samuel led the people in national repentance. [Note: Ralph W. Klein, 1 Samuel, pp. 65-66; Wood, The Prophets . . ., p. 159, n. 12.] Samson’s ministry may have taken place during