Bible Commentaries

Job 38:1-3 — God’s introductory challenge to Job 38:1-3 God sometimes made His self-revelations to people in a storm, symbolic of the disturbing effects His awesome presence produced (cf. Exodus 19:16-17; 1 Kings 19:11-13; 2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 2:11; Isaiah 6:4; Ezekiel 1:4; Zechariah 9:14). One wonders if Job’s friends thought God was about to strike Job dead with a bolt of lightning. "Job’s troubles began when a great wind killed his children (Job 1:19). The Lord was in that storm, and now

Ezekiel 17:22-23 — high mountain in Israel so that it would grow there, produce sheltering boughs, and bear fruit. Birds of every kind would come and take refuge in its shady branches. People would dwell securely under the protection of this great kingdom (cf. Hosea 14:5-7; Daniel 4:12; Daniel 4:21; Matthew 13:32; Mark 4:32). [Note: For discussion of the ancient mythological "cosmic tree," of which Ezekiel’s tree is a variation, see Block, The Book . . ., p. 551.] "Israel will protect surrounding

Daniel 3:26-27 — Meshach, and Abed-nego as servants of the "Most High God" (Daniel 3:26). This title for God appears 13 times in Daniel, more than in any other book except Psalms. Seven times, either Nebuchadnezzar used it to describe God (Daniel 3:36; Daniel 4:2; Daniel 4:17; Daniel 4:34), or Daniel used it in speaking of God to Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 4:24-25; Daniel 4:32). Daniel used it twice when speaking to Belshazzar about Nebuchadnezzar (Daniel 5:18; Daniel 5:21). It occurs four times in chapter 7,

Daniel 5:18-23 — Daniel reminded Belshazzar, and undoubtedly everyone else in the room, of the lesson in humility that God had taught the king’s forefather, Nebuchadnezzar (ch. 4). The Most High God had given his grandfather his authority, and had taught him that he was under His greater sovereignty. Nebuchadnezzar’s pride had led him to behave arrogantly, as Belshazzar was doing by drinking from the sacred vessels of

Micah 2:11 — pampers our pride and makes it easy for us to sin. Why? Because ’our God is a consuming fire’ (Hebrews 12:29), and ’The Lord shall judge His people’ (Hebrews 10:30). Remember, judgment begins in the house of the Lord (1 Peter 4:17)." [Note: Wiersbe, p. 393.] "Unfortunately the evangelical church today is too closely associated with the business establishment, too usually motivated by serving self, not others, and too little concerned with the oppressed and needy,

Zechariah 14:17-19 — punishment for not making the pilgrimage to attend this feast, the Lord would withhold (cf. Psalms 2:8-12; Revelation 2:27; Revelation 12:5; Revelation 19:15). This was also a curse for covenant disobedience under the Mosaic Law (Deuteronomy 28:22-24). For example, if people from Egypt did not go up to Jerusalem, the Lord would withhold rain from Egypt. This would be His punishment on any nation that did not participate (cf. Zechariah 9:11 to Zechariah 10:1). Rain is a figure for spiritual blessing

Matthew 2:14-15 — Herod died in 4 B.C. [Note: Hoehner, p. 13.] Josephus recorded that he died a horrible death, his body rotting away and consumed by worms. [Note: Josephus, Antiquities of . . ., 17:6:5; idem, The Wars . . ., 1:33.] His grandson, Herod Agrippa, later suffered a similar

Mark 6:47-48 — into it, not close to the coastline. The fourth watch of the night by Roman reckoning, which Mark followed, would have been between 3:00 and 6:00 a.m. Jesus intended to pass beside the disciples to reassure them (cf. Exodus 33:19; Exodus 33:22; Exodus 34:6; 1 Kings 19:11; Mark 6:50). Even though Jesus had been praying He had not forgotten or forsaken His disciples. He was probably praying for them. ". . . instead of a story about Jesus’ rescue of his disciples who are distressed but not in

Luke 10:13-14 — representatives for many other similar ones, had received much of Jesus’ ministry. Tyre and Sidon, two Phoenician cities on the Mediterranean coast, had suffered severe judgment for rejecting God and His people (cf. Isaiah 23:1-18; Jeremiah 25:22; Jeremiah 47:4; Ezekiel 26:1 to Ezekiel 28:23; Joel 3:4-8; Amos 1:9-10). The responsiveness of these rebellious Gentile towns in comparison to the unresponsive Jewish towns named would have encouraged readers of Luke’s Gospel who were witnessing to Gentiles.

Luke 13:18-19 — The parable of the mustard seed 13:18-19 (cf. Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32) The kingdom of God is the messianic kingdom that the Old Testament predicted. It would be an earthly kingdom over which Messiah would rule for 1,000 years (Revelation 20:4-6). It is similar to a mustard seed in that it had a small beginning in

Luke 4:38-39 — The healing of Peter’s mother-in-law 4:38-39 (cf. Matthew 8:14-15; Mark 1:29-31) Luke’s account does not include some details that Matthew and Mark recorded, but it stresses the immediacy of Jesus’ healing. Luke did not introduce Peter to his readers, probably because they knew

Luke 5:1-11 — 4. The call of Peter, James, and John 5:1-11 (cf. Matthew 4:18-22; Mark 1:16-20) Luke’s account of this incident is the longest of the three. Luke stressed Peter and omitted any reference to Andrew, his brother (Matthew 4:18; Mark 1:16). He characteristically

Acts 4:36 — her characteristics (e.g., "son of Beliel"). They probably did so because Barnabas was a constant positive influence on those around him, as further references to him in Acts will demonstrate (cf. Acts 9:27; Acts 11:22-30; Acts 13:1 to Acts 14:28; Acts 15:2-4; Acts 15:12; Acts 15:22; Acts 15:36-41; 1 Corinthians 9:6). [Note: See Michael Pocock, "The Role of Encouragement in Leadership," in Integrity of Heart, Skillfulness of Hands, pp. 301-7.] Luke probably mentioned that he was

1 Corinthians 15:19 — If the Christian’s hope in Christ is just what he or she can expect this side of the grave, that one deserves pity. Of course there are some benefits to trusting Christ as we live here and now (cf. 1 Timothy 4:8). However, we have to place these things in the balance with what we lose in this life for taking a stand for Him (cf. Philippians 3:8; 1 Corinthians 4:4-5; 1 Corinthians 9:25). If we have nothing to hope for the other side of the grave, the Christian

2 Corinthians 6:11-13 — The appeal stated 6:11-13 On the basis of his preceding openness with the Corinthians, Paul exhorted them, on the ground of fair play, to respond toward him as he had behaved toward them. His open speech (cf. 2 Corinthians 3:12; 2 Corinthians 4:2) reflected his open heart. They had shown reserve, not because Paul had put them under bondage but because they doubted his integrity. He urged them to become unrestrained in their affection toward him as he had demonstrated that he was unrestrained

Ephesians 3:3 — written of this mystery before in this epistle (Ephesians 1:9-10; Ephesians 2:11-22).New Testament References to "Mysteries"(things previously unknown but now revealed) [Note: Adapted from The Bible Knowledge Commentary: New Testament, p. 48. See also the excursus in Hoehner, Ephesians, pp. 428-34.] Matthew 13:11The secrets of the kingdom of heavenLuke 8:10The secrets (mysteries) of the kingdom of GodRomans 11:25Israel experiencing a hardening of heartRomans 16:25-26The plan of salvation

Joshua 3:1-6 — overlapping three-day period began on the next day (day four) with the people’s arrival at Shittim (Joshua 3:1), and concluded two days later (on the sixth day) with the officers giving the people last-minute instructions about the crossing (Joshua 3:2-4). The people then crossed the Jordan on the next day (day seven). [Note: David M. Howard Jr., "’Three Days’ in Joshua 1-3 : Resolving a Chronological Conundrum," Journal of the Evangelical Theological Society 41:4 (December 1998):539-50.]

1 Timothy 2:1-7 — can engage in. "It [prayer] is the most dynamic work which God has entrusted to His saints, but it is also the most neglected ministry open to the believer." [Note: D. Edmond Hiebert, Working With God: Scriptural Studies in Intercession, pp. 44, 19.] "The most essential part of public worship is prayer." [Note: Earle, p. 357.] Every aspect of this prayer touches the church’s evangelistic mission. Prayer is not the subject of this section but the context for that subject,

James 1:6 — In Scripture asking in faith always means one of two things. It means either believing God will do what He has promised or, if He has not promised, believing that He can do what the person requesting asks (cf. Matthew 8:1-4; Mark 4:35-41). "James teaches that faith is the essential condition of prayer." [Note: Adamson, p. 57.] The NASB translation "without any doubting, for the one who doubts" is unfortunate. The Greek word diakrinomenos, used twice

2 Samuel 2:8-11 — 4. Ish-bosheth’s coronation over Israel 2:8-11 David’s overtures to the Jabesh-gileadites were very important. Saul’s commander-in-chief and cousin, Abner, was working to install Saul’s youngest son, Ish-bosheth (called Eshbaal