Latest Commentaries

Using familiar phrasing and powerful illustrations, Solomon encourages us to be intimately connected to wisdom.

Zechariah sees a woman in a basket who personifies the wickedness of the land of Judah. He also sees two other women grabbing the basket and flying into the sky like winged storks to transport it to Shinar (Babylon). The action means that the LORD will remove the sin of Judah and take it to Babylonia.

This letter is to be read to the believers in the nearby community of Laodicea, just as a letter sent to the Laodiceans is intended to be read to the Colossians. Paul gives a personal message for a man named Archippus, then signs off wishing his readers God’s favor.

Paul lists all the men with him who pass on greetings to the Colossian believers. Some are Jewish believers, others are Gentiles.

Paul begins to wind down his letter to the Colossians by giving them a rundown of what to expect from him moving forward. Fellow ministers named Tychicus and Onesimus will give a detailed update to them in person.

Paul instructs masters to treat their slaves fairly, because God is the true Master of all men to whom we are accountable. The Colossians are urged to continue to pray, to be thankful, and to pray for the effectiveness of Paul’s preaching. Furthermore, they ought to treat non-believers with wise, gracious language, to win them over to Christ if given the opportunity.

Zechariah urges the Hebrew exiles to flee Babylonia because God will judge the nations that plundered Jerusalem. According to the prophet, God will restore the Judeans to their homeland and re-establish His protective presence among them. At that time, many ethnic groups will turn to God and become His people.

In his third vision, Zechariah sees a surveyor who is about to mark out the boundaries of Jerusalem to prepare for rebuilding the city’s walls. However, an angel runs after the surveyor and tells him not to take measurements because in the future Jerusalem will be an unwalled city, protected by God. Then, the LORD announces that He will be a wall of fire around the city boundaries to protect it from the enemy.

Zechariah again asks the angel about the meaning of the two olive trees standing by the lampstand and the two olive branches beside the golden pipes. The angel reveals to him that they are the two men God appoints to serve Him.

Zechariah learns that Zerubbabel, who laid the temple foundation, will complete it because the LORD watches over all the events of the world.

Zechariah sees a golden lampstand with two olive trees on each side. He asks the interpreting angel to explain the vision to him. The angel tells Zechariah that the LORD’s Spirit will remove obstacles to the rebuilding of the temple, so that Zerubbabel will complete its reconstruction.

After declaring the LORD’s judgment upon His unfaithful people, He then promised to bring them positive blessing and to gather His people again.

Micah declared an oracle of judgment against false prophets whose teaching justified the seizing of other people’s land by wealthy land barons.

The prophet Zechariah tells Joshua that his associates are signs of the Messiah, the future great King, through whom God will cleanse His people and restore peace and security in their land.

The angel of the LORD admonishes Joshua to follow the LORD wholeheartedly in order to have the reward of ruling over the temple, and ultimately in God’s presence.

Zechariah sees an adversary (Satan) desiring to accuse Joshua before the LORD. However, the angel of the LORD rebukes the adversary and cleanses Joshua, allowing him to continue to perform his priestly duties.

Micah describes the sins of wealthy people who constantly scheme new ways to cheat their fellow Judeans in order to enrich themselves.

Micah confronted Israel’s leaders with the judgments that will come upon Israel as a consequence of their sin.

Micah declared an oracle of judgment against the religious leaders of Israel whose teaching justified the evil done by wealthy land barons.

Micah calls on Israel’s civil leaders to listen to his description of their sins.