Bible Commentaries

Exodus 28:1-5 — The priests 28:1-5 Aaron had been functioning as a priest (Heb. cohen; Exodus 4:16). Now Moses officially appointed him and his sons to this office. God apparently specified Aaron because he was the brother of Moses whom God had already designated as the covenant mediator. [Note: Merrill, "A Theology . . .," p. 50.] Before

Psalms 104:1-4 — the earth for habitation." [Note: VanGemeren, p. 658.] The writer pictured God building a loft for Himself beyond the water above, namely, above the clouds. Riding on the clouds and wind symbolize God’s majestic authority (cf. Psalms 68:4). Psalms 104:4 is a poetic description of the angels (cf. Hebrews 1:7). Angels do His bidding as wind and fire carry out the will of God on earth.

Psalms 45:8-9 — king’s wedding garments were fragrant with aromatic spices. Perfumers made myrrh out of a gum that a certain kind of Arabian tree secreted (cf. Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 1:13). Aloes apparently came from a good-smelling wood (cf. Numbers 24:6; Proverbs 7:17; Song of Solomon 4:14). Ancient oriental monarchs decorated their palaces with ivory, and the amount of it they displayed represented their wealth and glory (cf. 1 Kings 10:18; 1 Kings 22:39; Amos 3:15; Amos 6:4). Kings’ daughters

Song of Solomon 1:2-4 — 1. Longing for the boyfriend 1:2-4 As the book begins, the young woman and young man have already met and "fallen in love." In Song of Solomon 1:2-4 a the girl voices her desire for her boyfriend’s physical affection. According to LaCocque, the main female character speaks

Isaiah 26:4 — Isaiah urged everyone to trust in the Lord as a way of life, not just in a saving act of faith, because Yahweh, even Yahweh, is the very essence of what an everlasting rock should be (cf. Isaiah 17:10; Isaiah 30:29; Isaiah 44:8; Exodus 33:21; Deuteronomy 32:4; 1 Samuel 2:2; 2 Samuel 22:2; 2 Samuel 22:32; Psalms 18:2; Psalms 19:14; Psalms 61:2; 1 Corinthians 10:4). His presence is an unmoving place of refuge and protection from the elements and from all enemies. Augustus

Isaiah 43:5-6 — Again, the Israelites should not fear (cf. Isaiah 43:1; Isaiah 7:4; Isaiah 8:10). The reason is again that God was with them (cf. Isaiah 43:1-3). Worldwide scattering would not prevent Him from fulfilling His promises and giving them a future in the Promised Land (cf. Isaiah 11:11-12; Isaiah 27:13; Isaiah

Isaiah 49:2 — Cyrus’ calling was to liberate Israel with the sword, but this speaker’s calling was to announce words from God, piercing, incisive words that would cut like a sword (cf. Isaiah 1:20; Hebrews 4:12; Revelation 1:16; Revelation 19:15). "His is an office of the mouth, his task a declaration of the Truth; for he is a prophet par excellence, and his word is the Gospel . . ." [Note: Ibid.] The Servant would be available for

Matthew 5:29-30 — As before (Matthew 5:23-26), two illustrations aid our understanding. The eye is the member of the body initially responsible for luring us into an immoral thought or deed (cf. Numbers 15:39; Proverbs 21:4; Ezekiel 6:9; Ezekiel 18:12; Ezekiel 20:8). The right eye is the best eye, the common metaphorical use of the "right" anything. A literal interpretation of this verse would have Jesus crippling every member of the human race. Should not one

Deuteronomy 5:21 — commandments six through nine. The attitude coveting reveals is selfishness, self-centeredness. One writer entitled a chapter in which he expounded this commandment, "The Selfish Life Denounced." [Note: Lehman Strauss, The Eleven Commandments, p. 149.] The seriousness of this sin is obvious from the fact that God forbade it many times in Scripture (e.g., Psalms 10:3; Proverbs 28:16; Mark 7:21-23; Luke 12:15; Romans 1:28-29; Ephesians 5:3; Ephesians 5:5; 1 Timothy 6:9-10; 2 Timothy 3:1-5). Coveting

Deuteronomy 9:1-6 — people (Deuteronomy 9:6), unresponsive to God’s will, as the Canaanites had been. The expression "stiff-necked" pictures unwillingness to submit to the yolk of God’s sovereignty (cf. Exodus 32:9; Exodus 33:3; Exodus 33:5; Exodus 34:9; Isaiah 48:4). God’s choice to bless them was not due to their righteousness. Their righteousness was not essentially superior to that of the Canaanites. God’s choice rested on His purposes in electing Israel (Deuteronomy 9:5; cf. Ephesians

Luke 2:51-52 — Incarnation (Philippians 2:7). The Greek word translated "increased" or "grew" (Luke 2:52, prokopto) literally means to make one’s way forward by chopping down obstacles, a vivid description of the maturation process (cf. Luke 2:40). Luke’s original Greek readers were familiar with the concept of gods visiting humans. This was common in their mythology. However those gods did not become humans; they remained different from mortals. Luke probably recorded so much information

1 Corinthians 12:4-11 — Diversity in the Godhead and the gifts 12:4-11

2 Corinthians 1:23-4 — The loving motivation of Paul’s conduct 1:23-2:4

Colossians 4:1 — slaves. Interestingly throughout history wherever Christians have constituted a significant segment of the population and have followed Paul’s directions here, the slave system has died. The principles in these verses (Colossians 3:22 to Colossians 4:1) are, of course, applicable to employer-employee relationships as well. [Note: Ellis, p. 1344.] William Webb offered an extensive discussion of how to apply these instructions. [Note: William J. Webb, Slaves, Women & Homosexuals.] I do not agree

1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 — certain because God has not appointed His children to wrath in any form or at any time (cf. 1 Thessalonians 1:10). In the context, the wrath of the day of the Lord is in view specifically. Rather He has appointed us to full salvation (1 Thessalonians 4:15-17). Whereas Christians do experience divine discipline (cf. Hebrews 12), we will not experience divine wrath (cf. Romans 8:1). "1 Thessalonians 5:9 is not a ’both/and’ statement. The believer is not appointed to wrath and to salvation-to

James 3:7-8 — 4. The uncontrollable nature of the tongue 3:7-8

1 Peter 2:11 — "Beloved, I [or we] urge you" frequently marks off a new section of an epistle, as it does here (Romans 12:1; Romans 15:30; Romans 16:17; 1 Corinthians 1:10; 1 Corinthians 16:15; 2 Corinthians 10:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:1; 1 Thessalonians 4:10 b; 1 Peter 5:14; Hebrews 13:22; cf. Hebrews 4:12; Hebrews 5:1). "I urge you" typically introduces exhortations. Again Peter reminded his audience of their identity so they would respond naturally and appropriately (cf.

1 Peter 5:8-11 — 4. The importance of resisting the devil 5:8-11

Revelation 10:1-4 — 1. The appearance of the mighty angel 10:1-4

Revelation 11:11-13 — 4. The resurrection of the two witnesses 11:11-13