Latest Commentaries

Paul continues his description of the proper perspective for Christians and the associated behavioral choices.

Paul gives some examples of what it means to think and act according to the things above. And what binds them all together.

Paul continues his description of behaviors that are not in alignment with the reality of Christ, or the true benefit of the Colossian believers, and exhorts the Colossian believers to stay away from them.

Paul continues to delineate between things above and things below, listing problematic indications of the latter.

Paul reminds the Colossians of their standing with Christ, over and against the mindset of the flesh.

Mark’s terse statement, "Jesus came," is in effect a first-century press release with three points: the time is fulfilled; the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe. Jews needed to repent from believing Jesus was an illegitimate son of a carpenter from a backwater town, to believing He was the Messiah foretold by the prophets and announced by John the Baptizer. Gentiles needed to repent from believing Jesus was an erudite eccentric Jewish philosopher from a backwater country, to believing He was the savior of the world.

We are dead to the law because we have spiritually died with Christ, and have been given a new life to live, where Christ lives through us. But if we rebuild the law, we create failure for ourselves, because we are seeking to add to the free gift of God’s grace. This new life is a life of continued faith in Jesus, not in obeying the law.

The LORD commands trumpets to be blown to announce judgment on Israel and Judah. He will withdraw His help and plunge His people into war so that they might acknowledge their guilt and earnestly seek His face.

The LORD calls the nation Israel along with her priests and king to hear His indictment because they have played the harlot, breaking their marriage covenant with Him, and then refused to return to Him.

In the midst of leveling additional accusations against Israel for playing the harlot by following pagan ways that violate their covenant with God, the LORD through Hosea warned Judah not to follow Israel because she is headed to destruction.

The LORD describes in great detail Israel’s involvement in the Canaanite fertility rites of Baal worship. He threatens to judge them accordingly.

The LORD accuses the priests for their failure to keep the law and for their neglect of their responsibilities. The LORD will reject their priestly status; they and the people they are misleading will be end up in the same boat.

Hosea summons the Israelites to hear the LORD’s indictment against them because they have abandoned their covenant God and given themselves to apostasy.

Jacob proposes to Esau that he sell him his birthright in exchange for the stew. Esau is so hungry that he doesn’t care about his birthright, and willingly sells it to Jacob for one meal.

When they grow up, Esau becomes a skilled hunter, finding favor with his father Isaac. Jacob stays indoors and is favored by his mother Rebekah. After a day of hunting, Esau returns home very hungry and begs Jacob to share a stew he’s cooked.

God answers Rebekah’s inquiry and tells her that the turmoil indicates that her two sons within her will become two nations. The younger son and his nation will be stronger than the older one. When Isaac was 60 years old the twins were born. Esau is the firstborn. Jacob is born second, holding onto his brother’s heel.

Isaac was 40 years old when he married Rebekah. For a time, they are unable to have children. Isaac prays to God for help, and Rebekah conceives. Rebekah’s twins struggle inside her womb, so she asks God why this is.

Abraham’s son Ishmael has twelve sons according to God’s promise. Nebaioth was the oldest and Kedemah was the youngest. Ishmael dies at age 137 years old. His descendants settle east of Egypt.

Isaac inherits all of Abraham’s possessions. Abraham gives gifts to his other sons and sends them east of Canaan to settle away from Isaac. Abraham dies when he is 175 years old. Isaac and Ishmael bury him in the cave of Machpelah where Sarah was buried. Isaac settles near Beer—lahai—roi.

Abraham marries his concubine Keturah. They have six sons. One son, Jokshan, has two sons. One of his sons, Dedan, has three sons. Abraham’s son Midian has five sons.