Latest Commentaries

Herod hears about the miracles of Jesus and incorrectly presumes that Jesus is John the Baptist returned to life.

Jesus returns to His hometown of Nazareth and begins to preach and perform miracles. But His hometown refuses to believe that this man who grew up among them is the Messiah. Consequently Jesus does only a few miracles among them.

Matthew concludes Jesus’s teachings on parables with a question from Jesus to His disciples and an exciting riddle about what understanding the scriptures and seeking the kingdom is like.

Jesus tells another short parable about the kingdom of heaven. It is about a fishing net that catches all manner of fish. The good fish are kept. The bad fish are thrown away.

Jesus tells two short parables about the kingdom of heaven. In each He shows the immeasurable value and worth of finding the kingdom.

Jesus explains the meaning of the parable of the wheat and the tares. It is parable about what happens to the faithful sons of the kingdom and the unfaithful sons of the evil one at their respective judgments.

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to leaven hidden in flour resulting in a feast’s worth of bread.

Jesus compares the kingdom of heaven to a mustard seed that grows from a small seed into a large life-giving tree.

Matthew records Jesus’ second parable concerning the kingdom of heaven. He compares it to a man who sows good wheat in his field, but later an enemy sows toxic, unproductive tares.

Jesus explains to His disciples the meaning of the Parable of the Sower. The first soil is like a heart that is hard was from the outset and fails to receive God’s word altogether. The second soil is like a heart that is afraid and loses its joy over the immediate sufferings it encounters. The third soil is like a heart that cares more for the lesser goods of this world than the eternal goods of Heaven’s kingdom and is rendered unfruitful. But the fourth soil is qualitatively different. It represents a heart that trusts, fears, and loves God and it bears much fruit and produces exponentially more in proportion to its faithfulness

The disciples ask Jesus why He speaks to the people in parables rather than teaching them through literal statements. Jesus gives them a full response by explaining that only those whose hearts are open to Jesus can understand the mysteries of the kingdom.

Jesus teaches a parable about a sower who scatters his seed on four different types of ground. The first three types of ground fail to produce a crop, but the fourth type of ground is good soil and it produces a very good harvest.

Paul still desires to see the Thessalonians in person and to teach them more. He tells them to love each other and all other people with an overflowing love. Love is the means by which Jesus prepares us for His return to earth, so that He will find us living a life set apart from the world which He will judge.

Timothy reported to Paul that the Thessalonians were thriving despite their persecution. They continue in faith and love, and they miss Paul as much as he misses them. He is comforted by this news, and declares that when believers overcome suffering, we are living out the fullest, most rewarding life God intended for us.

Paul sent Timothy to check in on the Thessalonians, to strengthen them in the midst of their persecutions. He reminds them that they should expect suffering because of their faith in Christ. It should never surprise them, or worse yet, cause them to buckle and stop living a life of faith.

Paul asks that Timothy greet old friends Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus. He repeats his request that Timothy try as hard as possible to visit him before his execution. He sends a few greetings from other believers, and encourages Timothy that the Lord is with him.

Paul tends to some personal matters. He urges Timothy to try as hard as he can to see him before he is executed. Most of his other ministry partners are away from him, except Luke. Paul warns Timothy against certain people, like Alexander the coppersmith. He explains how no one supported him at his first defense, but that he does not want God to hold it against these people. He was able to preach the gospel regardless, and eagerly looks forward to joining Jesus in His kingdom after death.

Paul knows he is going to die soon. Unlike other letters, where he writes of running the race to win, now Paul concludes that he has finished the race, he served God unto death. He looks forward to the heavenly reward Christ will give him and all others who endure to the end.

Paul passes the torch of ministry to Timothy, charging him in the presence of God and Christ, to preach the gospel. Timothy must always be ready to teach, at all times of the year, to rebuke and patiently instruct. Eventually people will not be willing to hear the truth of God’s word.

In contrast to the evil way men will behave in the last days, Paul points to himself as an example for Timothy to follow. Timothy spent years being mentored by Paul on missionary journeys. He knows of the many ways Paul suffered for Jesus, because all who walk with Jesus will be persecuted, yet the Lord rescues us and sustains us. Timothy does not need to look only at Paul for an example to imitate; he has known the scriptures since he was a boy. The scriptures are God’s word, given from the highest authority, and they can teach, correct, and equip all people to become who God made us to be.