Bible Commentaries

Exodus 4:19-23 — Moses did not return immediately to Egypt when he arrived back in Midian following his encounter with God at Horeb (Exodus 4:19). God spoke to him again in Midian and sent him back to Egypt assuring His servant that everyone who had sought his life earlier had died. Compare Abram’s stalling in Haran until God again urged him to press on to the unknown Promised Land. Exodus

Psalms 22:12-13 — The psalmist felt he was at the mercy of his enemies, as a person is in the presence of a dangerous bull or lion. Cattle grew large and strong in Bashan (or Gilead), the territory east of the Sea of Chinnereth (Galilee; cf. Numbers 32:1-5; Amos 4:1).

Psalms 23:2-3 — The Lord also provides spiritual refreshment and restoration. These benefits come to us as we take advantage of God’s provision of the water of life, which is the living and written Word of God (John 4:10-14; Ephesians 5:26). God renews our strength and cleanses us through these instruments.

Isaiah 41:27 — Yahweh had announced to His people that Cyrus’ invaders would come. Cyrus would be a messenger of good news in two senses: his coming would validate the truthfulness of Isaiah’s prediction of his coming, and his coming would mean return from captivity for the Jewish exiles (cf. Ezra 1:2-4).

Jeremiah 1:4-19 — B. The call of Jeremiah 1:4-19 This account of Jeremiah’s call prepares the reader for the prophet’s ministry that unfolds beginning in chapter 2. The events recorded here prepared Jeremiah for that ministry, a ministry that frequently discouraged him and made him wish that God had never called him.

Jeremiah 15:10-38 — 4. Warnings in view of Judah’s hard heart 15:10-25:38 This section of the book contains several collections of Jeremiah’s confessions, symbolic acts, and messages. These passages reflect conditions that were very grim, so their origin may have been shortly before the fall of Jerusalem in 586 B.C.

Jeremiah 25:29 — God’s work of judgment in Jerusalem was just the beginning of a larger scale judgment that would extend to all nations (cf. Amos 3:2; 1 Peter 4:17). Final fulfillment awaits the return of Jesus Christ when He will destroy all nations that oppose Him (Revelation 16:14-16).

Jeremiah 5:11-12 — Both the Northern and Southern Kingdoms had behaved treacherously toward the Lord. They had lied about Him, saying that He would not judge them by sending misfortune, war, or famine to touch them. They denied God and His warnings about judgment (cf. Genesis 3:4). They were blind due to complacency.

Ezekiel 8:9-10 — Also following the Lord’s instructions, Ezekiel went through the entrance and found himself in a chamber full of images carved on the wall that the Judahites were worshipping. There were pictures of many types of insects, animals, and other detestable things (cf. Leviticus 11:40-42; Deuteronomy 4:16-19).

Hosea 9:16 — The Lord had stricken the very roots of the nation so it would dry up and bear no fruit (cf. Malachi 4:1). This probably refers to human barrenness, agricultural unfruitfulness, and animal infertility. Even though the people bore children that were precious to them, the Lord would slay them.

Micah 4 overview — B. Blessing for Israel in the future chs. 4-5 These chapters contain much revelation about the future kingdom of Messiah, to which almost all the writing prophets referred. This section contrasts conditions in Israel in the future with those the prophet just described in the present (ch. 3).

Malachi 3:16-3 — D. Motivation: the coming day 3:16-4:3 In the first two hortatory speeches the first motivation sections are positive and the second ones are negative. In this last speech the first is mainly positive, but the second is a mixture of positive and negative, though mainly negative.

Matthew 13:44-52 — 4. Parables addressed to the disciples 13:44-52 The first and second parables in this group are quite similar, as was true of the third and fourth parables in the preceding group. This is a further reflection of the chiastic structure of this section (Matthew 13:1-53).

Luke 11:29-32 — 3. The sign of Jonah 11:29-32 (cf. Matthew 12:38-42; Mark 8:11-12) This teaching responded to the request of Jesus’ critics for a sign (Luke 11:16; cf. Matthew 16:1-4). It is the second main part of His answer to these opponents.

Luke 5:6-7 — Luke first stressed the gathering of very many fish (cf. John 21:6). The details give the narrative the ring of truth. "Partners" (Gr. metochos) probably refers to partners in business (cf. Luke 5:10; Hebrews 1:9; Hebrews 3:1; Hebrews 3:14; Hebrews 6:4; Hebrews 12:8).

John 8:50 — Jesus did not try to justify Himself. He sought the Father’s glory, not His own. What others thought of Him on the human level was relatively immaterial. God’s approval was all that mattered to Him because God, not man, was His judge (cf. 1 Corinthians 4:2-5).

Romans 15:25-26 — The purpose of Paul’s collection of money from the Macedonian and Achaean churches was to relieve the poverty that existed among the Jewish Christians in Jerusalem. A secondary purpose was to cement relations between Gentile and Jewish believers (cf. 1 Corinthians 16:1-4; 2 Corinthians 8-9).

1 Thessalonians 4:1-24 — III. PRACTICAL INSTRUCTIONS AND EXHORTATIONS 4:1-5:24 The second major part of this epistle contains instructions and exhortations about Christian living in general, the Rapture, personal watchfulness, church life, and individual behavior. All of this is vital for believers who are undergoing opposition for their faith.

1 Timothy 4:6-25 — IV. INSTRUCTIONS CONCERNING LEADERSHIP OF THE LOCAL CHURCH 4:6-5:25 Paul proceeded to give some specific instruction about leadership of the church. This included direction concerning the leader’s personal life and public ministry, basic principles of effective interpersonal relationships, and the proper treatment of widows and elders.

2 Timothy 3:1-8 — IV. DIRECTIONS CONCERNING THE LAST DAYS 3:1-4:8 Paul anticipated dark days ahead for the church. He listed several characteristics of this time, clarified the most important conduct in it, and explained his own role to prepare Timothy and all his readers for what lay ahead.