Latest Commentaries

Psalm 31:1-5 begins with a prayer of complete trust in the LORD. David, the psalmist petitions God to save him and tells the LORD that he trusts Him even unto death. Jesus the Messiah quotes Psalm 31:5 with His final statement from the cross. 

Rabshakeh finishes his propaganda campaign of fearmongering aimed at convincing Jerusalem to surrender to the king of Assyria.

Rabshakeh, who is the spokesperson for Sennacherib king of Assyria begins his speech outside of Jerusalem. His speech includes fearmongering, lies, and other Assyrian propaganda aimed at convincing Jerusalem to surrender without a fight.

On the heels of several military victories, Sennacherib the King of Assyria sends his trusted advisor “The Rabshakeh” (the chief cup-bearer) to Jerusalem with the intention of convincing its king, Hezekiah, and its inhabitants to surrender out of fear.

God blesses King Hezekiah’s efforts. The Judean king wins battles against the Philistines in Gaza and ceases to send tribute to Assyria. To the north, Assyria captures Israel’s capital, Samaria, after a three-year siege and enslaves the Israelites.

Hezekiah becomes king of Judah during the third year of Hoshea, king of Israel to the north. Hezekiah of Judah was 25 when he received the throne, and reigned for nearly thirty years in Jerusalem. He was as righteous a king as the revered David his predecessor. Hezekiah reformed Judah by destroying every place of idol-worship in the kingdom. He trusted in God, followed Him, and kept His commandments.

We will experience suffering, as Jesus did, but we do not lose heart because of the promises we gain through the resurrection.

Paul declares that the treasure of the gospel is in us. The strength and power of the gospel is not from us. Though we carry treasure in this earthen vessel (our bodies), the power is from God. The gospel is spreading and as we look at things which are not seen, we see a greater glory than our sufferings in this life.

Paul continues to defend his apostolic ministry. He declares that his ministry is not about him, but about Christ. He is a servant of Christ and of the people in Corinth.

We have hope, for the Spirit lives within us. The veil that used to separate us from seeing God’s glory has been removed from our eyes. When believers turn to God, we see the true glory of the Lord. We are in the process of transforming into the image of Christ.

The ministry of the Spirit, the new covenant, will reveal the true glory of God. We will move from the glory of the Law to the glory of the Spirit.

Paul’s confidence is in God through Christ. Any adequacy he may have is from God. He introduces the new covenant of the Spirit, who gives life.

Paul notes that he does not need letters of recommendation from anyone to validate his ministry. The Corinthian believers are themselves living letters that show that Christ has worked in their lives through the Spirit, whom Paul first preached to them about. Believers have the Spirit living within them.

The Scourging and Mocking of Jesus: Pilate’s Third Attempt to Release Jesus: Matthew records how the Roman soldiers physically abused and cruelly mocked Jesus during His civil trial. After they scourged Him, the soldiers dress Him up as a ridiculous king, complete with a robe, a crown of thorns, and reed for a scepter. They act out a charade of paying homage to "the King of the Jews" and beat Him with the "scepter" and spit on Him. This passage is Matthew’s account of the Roman Soldiers physical and social abuse of Jesus. It occurred within the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment." 

Pilate’s Verdict: Matthew summarizes the three main outcomes of Jesus’s civil trial. They are: Barabbas was released; Jesus was scourged; and Jesus was handed over to the crowd’s demands that He be crucified.This passage is Matthew’s summary—conclusion to his narration of the judicial proceedings of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

Pilate Washes His Hands: Pilate’s Sixth Attempt to Release Jesus: Pilate comes to the conclusion that he cannot win and that a riot is about to break out. But he is very troubled about crucifying Jesus, whom he firmly believes to be an innocent Man. He tries to publicly absolve himself of any wrong doing by washing his hands in water and declaring himself to be innocent. For their part, the Jews are quick to reassure the governor that Jesus’s blood will not be on Pilate, but on them and their children. This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

The Crowd Wears Pilate Down: As the crowd was shouting "Crucify Him!" Pilate asks them two questions to recall them from their frenzied obsession with killing Jesus. Pilate asks them: "Why He should be crucified? What evil has He done deserving of such a punishment?" The crowds ignore his questions and keep shouting all the more—"Crucify Him!" This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment." 

The Crowd Chooses Barabbas: The crowd responds to Pilate’s offer to use the governor’s "Passover Pardon" on Jesus by shouting at Him to give them Barabbas instead. Barabbas had been imprisoned for insurrection and murder. Pilate wanted to release Jesus and tries to persuade the crowd again, but they kept on calling out—"Crucify, crucify Him!" This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

Pilate’s Wife’s Troubling Dream: Pilate’s wife sends him a message during the middle of Jesus’s civil trial. The Roman governor receives it while he is sitting in the seat of judgment. The message is for Pilate to have no part in Jesus’s conviction or execution, because his wife suffered a terrible dream about this righteous Man the night before. This event is part of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."

"The Passover Pardon": Pilate’s Second Attempt to Release Jesus. Pilate offers the crowd a choice as to which prisoner he will customarily release: the notorious prisoner Barabbas or Jesus, called Christ. Matthew points out that Pilate did this because he knew the Jews accused Jesus out of envy. Matthew 27:17-18 begins Matthew’s account of the third phase of Jesus’s Civil Trial. This phase is called: "Pilate’s Judgment."