Latest Commentaries

In this portion of Isaiah’s Second Servant Song, the LORD reassures Zion that He has not forsaken or forgotten her. To Zion’s astonishment, the LORD will return Zion’s children. These unexpected blessings will be so great and surprising that they will disorient Zion from her false conceptions about herself and God. 

This portion of Isaiah’s second Servant Song contains an interjection of praise in response to the LORD’s promises to exalt His Servant and bring His people home. It also contains an interjection of doubt that is raised by Zion, lamenting how the LORD has forsaken and forgotten her. 

The LORD speaks to His Servant the Messiah, promising Him that He will vindicate and rescue Him from the humiliation of His enemies. The LORD also promises the Messiah that He will save the Messiah’s people. These promises show how the Messiah did not come in vain.

The seventh angel sounds his trumpet. Voices from heaven proclaim that the kingdom of God is here. The elders give thanks to God and remember His deeds, that it is time for the dead to be judged and the bond-servants to be rewarded. Finally, the temple of God in heaven opens and the ark of His covenant is revealed. 

The witnesses who were killed by the beast are revived and brought up into heaven. And the second woe, an earthquake that kills seven thousand people, causes those who remain to give glory to God. 

The witnesses’ time of prophesying has ended and the beast comes out of the abyss and kills them. The people have not repented and rejoice that the witnesses have died. 

Continuing in the interlude between the sixth and seventh trumpets, the Gentiles are given to dominate the court outside the temple for the same length of time that two witnesses are given authority to prophesy. The witnesses are also given special powers to protect themselves with fire so that they cannot be harmed during their time of prophesying. 

Mark narrates a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees on the issue of authority over the Sabbath. The Pharisees set a trap for Jesus relating to the healing of a man’s withered hand on the Sabbath.

Mark recounts a confrontation between Jesus and the Pharisees, raising the question: Who holds authority over the Sabbath—Jesus or the Pharisees?

Jesus shares two parables that illustrate the incompatibility between the new patterns of righteousness taught by the Pharisees and His fulfillment of the perfect Law of God.

John the Baptizer’s disciples and the Pharisees confront Jesus about why His disciples do not fast and pray as they do. Jesus responds with a parable, explaining that it is not appropriate for the attendants of the Bridegroom to fast when He is with them. That is a time for celebration. However, once He leaves, the days for fasting will come.

Jesus calls Matthew, a tax collector who is widely despised, to follow Him. Matthew obeys, leaving his post and joining Jesus. Subsequently, Jesus dines at Matthew’s home, sharing a meal with other tax collectors and sinners. Observing this, the Pharisees question Jesus’s disciples, asking why their teacher associates with such disreputable individuals. Jesus responds to their criticism with a parable, explaining that just as physicians tend to the sick rather than the healthy, He has come to call sinners, not the righteous.

Paul is comforted by the response of the Corinthians and their treatment of Titus. He had told Titus he would find an open acceptance in Corinth and Paul now rejoices that his boasting about them has been realized, that they have been obedient to him and to God and his confidence has not been in vain.

Paul refers to conflicts without, fears within, but in the midst of these he was comforted by the coming of Titus, not only by seeing him in the flesh, but by the report he brought Paul from Corinth and their response to his letter. He rejoices that their response led to a godly sorrow, which produced a repentance that led to salvation.

Paul makes a transition. He begins to turn from the defense of his own apostleship and ministry to his relationship with the Corinthian believers. He expresses his confidence in the commitment of the Corinthians and encourages them to continue walking in the cleansing of the Holy Spirit. He does not want to condemn the Corinthians, but to express his confidence in them, that they are a source of joy to him.

Jesus publicly and dramatically heals a paralytic. Before performing the healing, He tells the man that his sins are forgiven, which prompts some of the scribes and Pharisees in the crowd to silently accuse Him of blasphemy. Jesus calls out their unbelief and demonstrates His divine authority by healing the paralytic, instructing him to get up and go home. Consequently, the crowds are amazed and begin glorifying God.

These final verses mark the conclusion of the battle against Jabin, king of Canaan. After Sisera’s defeat and death, God continues to subdue Jabin’s forces, leading to Israel’s increasing dominance over him. Over time, the Israelites press harder against Jabin until they fully destroy his rule, securing their freedom from Canaanite oppression.

This passage narrates the surprising and decisive role of a woman named Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, in the defeat of Sisera. After fleeing the battle, Sisera seeks refuge in Jael’s tent, where she deceptively offers him hospitality. However, once Sisera falls asleep, Jael takes initiative and marks her place in Israel’s redemptive history.

This passage describes the climactic battle between Barak’s forces and Sisera’s army. Deborah urges Barak to act, affirming that God has already secured victory. As Barak leads his men into battle, God intervenes, routing Sisera’s forces. Sisera flees on foot while his entire army is destroyed.

Judges 4:11 introduces Heber the Kenite. The details concerning Heber’s location and lineage in this verse foreshadow his involvement in the unfolding events of Sisera’s defeat, though it seems incidental at first.