Latest Commentaries

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.

Micah mourns the LORD’s forthcoming judgement on His people.

This first section of Micah’s first address (Micah 1:2-2:13) contains a call to all of the LORD’s creation to be witnesses to His accusations against all of Israel. This is followed by the LORD’s announcement of His judgment upon Samaria, the northern kingdom.

Micah, a prophet from Judah, receives the word of the LORD.

The LORD promises to regather His covenant people to the land of Israel and restore their blessings. At that time, He will deal with all their oppressors and replace Judah’s shame with honor and renown. The earth will be restored, and filled with love, wellness, and prosperity.

Speaking in the prophetic past, showing the certainty of what is predicted in the future, Zephaniah calls the people of Judah to shout for joy because the LORD their Suzerain God has overturned the sentence of condemnation against them and dismissed their adversaries. The people of God can thus lay fear aside and rejoice always because the LORD, the great warrior, is in their midst. They will dwell in intimate love and fellowship, in a world brimming with joy.