Latest Commentaries

The Parable of the Mustard Seed Jesus likens the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed, which starts as a tiny seed and grows into a large, life-giving tree.

The Parable of the Seed Jesus describes the kingdom of God to a man who sows seed upon the soil, and though he does not understand how it happens, the seed sprouts and grows by itself. When the crop is fully ripe, the man immediately harvests it and partakes of its blessings.

The Parable of the Lamp Jesus uses the imagery of a lamp to illustrate that truth is meant to be revealed, not hidden. Just as a lamp is placed on a stand to give light, God's revelation is intended to be understood and shared. Jesus warns that the measure one uses—whether in receiving or applying His teaching—will determine what we receive in return, emphasizing personal responsibility in spiritual growth. Those who embrace His truth will be given even more, while those who neglect it will lose even what they have.

Jesus Explains the Parable of the Sower to His disciples. The first soil represents a hardened heart, completely resistant and unable to receive God’s word. The second soil reflects a fearful heart that initially receives the word with joy but quickly falls away when trials arise. The third soil depicts a heart more devoted to the temporary riches of this world than the eternal treasures of God’s kingdom, producing no fruit. In contrast, the fourth soil is distinct in its quality—it symbolizes a heart that trusts, reveres, and loves God, bearing abundant fruit and yielding exponentially according to its faithfulness.

Jesus's mother and brothers come looking for Him while He is responding to the scribes’ slander, but are unable to get into the house where He is because of the crowd. When He is told they are outside, Jesus responds by stating that whoever does the will of God is His true family—His brother, sister, and mother. This redefines family as those who share a spiritual bond through obedience to God, emphasizing the priority of spiritual relationships over biological ties.

The scribes slander and accuse Jesus of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul, the ruler of demons. Jesus exposes the hollowness of their slander with parables, explaining that a kingdom or house divided against itself cannot stand. Satan cannot cast out Satan. He warns the scribes about the unforgivable sin of blaspheming against the Holy Spirit.

Jesus returns to Capernaum where a crowd quickly gathers around Him. The crowd is so thick and invasive that Jesus and His disciples are unable to even eat their homecoming meal. Jesus’s family is worried about Him and thinks He is foolishly putting Himself in danger. They seek to take Him away from all this attention before His enemies find Him.

The Israelites begin crossing the Jordan River. The LORD stops the upstream waters and cuts off the downstream, allowing the Levitical priests who carry the Ark of the Covenant to stand still in the Jordan River on dry ground until the entire nation finishes crossing it.

Joshua instructs the Israelites to sanctify themselves to experience a miracle. He also asks the priests to carry the Ark of the Covenant and march ahead of the people toward the Promised Land.

The Israelites leave the camp at Shittim and stay by the Jordan River for three days. On the third day, the officers tell them to follow the ark of the covenant carried by the Levitical priests from 2,000 cubits away. 

The disciples ask Jesus to explain the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. Instead of providing an immediate explanation, Jesus first addresses why some people can understand the parables while others cannot.

“The Parable of the Sower” Jesus shares a parable about a sower who spreads seeds on four kinds of ground. While the first three fail to yield a harvest, the fourth, being good soil, produces an abundant crop.

The beast increases his persecution through disallowing any who do not take his mark from participating in the world economic system. We are told the number of the beast: six hundred and sixty-six.

Power is given to the second beast, the false prophet. He performs great signs that deceive the world into worshipping the beast. He also leads the world to make an image to the beast that speaks and kills people that will not worship it.

Satan has been thrown down to earth, and now focuses his efforts on earth. He is authorized to reign over the earth. He uses the power given him to impose upon all to worship him. He makes war on the only ones that resist him, who are the saints written in the book of life of the Lamb who has been slain. Believers are called to persevere, trusting in God’s judgment of those who persecute them.

The dragon gives power to the beast who appears to be the same figure as “the prince who is to come” spoken of in Daniel 9:26. He will be a ruler that openly wars against the people of God and the Lamb.

Paul tells the Ephesian elders they will never see him again. He warns them to be on guard for themselves and the people in their church, because false teachers will come in to corrupt the truth, like wolves attacking a flock of sheep. The elders’ job is to protect the flock and trust in Christ. Paul reminds them to remember his example, and to faithfully live out God’s word in their lives so that they might receive the inheritance of Christ. Lastly, he reminds them to give generously and bless those who are needy. The elders weep and embrace Paul, and see him off to his ship.

While in Miletus, Paul summons the Ephesian elders to leave Ephesus and meet with him. He gives them a final farewell, in which he reminds them of how he taught them the gospel faithfully for years. Paul tells them that the Holy Spirit has warned him that he will suffer and be arrested in Jerusalem, but he reassures the elders that he is not worried about his life. His purpose is to preach the gospel and suffer for Christ’s sake.

Paul’s team sails from Troas to Assos, while Paul journeys by land. They reunite in Assos, and sail to Mitylene. From Mitylene they sail south, eventually making port in Miletus, which is a city not far from Ephesus. Paul purposefully avoided stopping in Ephesus, because his intention is to be in Jerusalem in time for the holy day of Pentecost.

While in the city of Troas, Paul spends the night teaching the Troas believers. One of them, a young boy, falls asleep and drops out of a window to his death. Paul embraces the boy’s body and he comes back to life. Everyone is relieved. Paul then teaches until dawn, before leaving the city.