Recent Commentaries

The rich are often filled with pride but the poor man who has understanding will see through this person (v. 11). The poor man who has understanding is of far more value than his well to do neighbor. When an honest person wins, it’s time to celebrate; when crooks are in con …

This passage has to do with God’s Judgements against Babylon (vv. 1-10). Jeremiah is God’s prophet declaring God’s truth that the heathen Babylonians will be captured and punished for their sins of pride and corruption. Their God Bel (also known as Marduk) who w …

Twenty years was the time spent in building the temple, his own palace, and in rebuilding some villages that Hiram had previously been given by Solomon (I Kings 9:10-14). Hiram was displeased with them, so they were returned to Solomon. In this passage we find the names of …

Despite Haman’s death and Mordecai’s promotion, the Jews were still doomed to destruction by a decree that could not be reversed by the king. It was decided that a second unalterable decree had to be issued to overcome the effectiveness of the first decree. This second decree gave permission …

We are often confronted in Scripture with the evil that the tongue inflicts on others. A fool finds himself constantly in trouble because he speaks from a heart that is corrupt. In fact his mouth eventually will lead him to destruction if he is not brought to repentance. His sp …

James, the half-brother of Jesus Christ and a key leader in the Jerusalem church wrote to scattered Jewish believers (v. 1). These were thriving Jewish-Christian communities in Rome, Alexandria, Cyprus, and cities in Greece and Asia Minor. Many were severely persecuted and even died …

Jesus went to Capernaum, which He later made His home since His own hometown, Nazareth, had rejected Him. He sets up His headquarters in Capernaum, the home town of Peter, Andrew, James and John. On the Sabbath Jesus gives a powerful message at the synagogue (v. 31). It is no …

The key person in this passage is a mysterious soothsayer named Balaam. He was a Gentile who lived at a place called Pethor near the Euphrates River (v. 5). He had a reputation for receiving hidden knowledge and the use of occult power to grant blessing or cursing and sold his se …

As Jesus heads into Jericho, He meets a blind man named Bartimaeus. We know that’s his name from Mark’s account of the story. As we try to understand this incredible encounter between Bartimaeus and Jesus, we can see four different stages that Bartimaeus goes through. Hi …

One prevailing theme of this chapter is not finishing the work. Israel was ready to divide up the land among the tribes, but we find there were enemies yet to be conquered in the land (13:1). It appears that some of the Israelites wanted to spare the Canaanites because of a false sense of mercy …