The Bible Blog

1189 posts

Genesis 16

Genesis 16

Genesis 16 – Think about all the stressful situations that Abraham, Sarai, and Hagar now faced from one sinful decision. Does Sarai have a right to be mad at Abraham and to despise Hagar? Should Abraham raise …

Genesis 15

Genesis 15

Genesis 15 – God spoke, Abraham believed. Then he believed in the LORD; and He reckoned it to him as righteousness. Genesis 15:6 NASB I love that we see the first expression of the Gospel here between …

Genesis 14

Genesis 14

Genesis 14 – Here in Genesis 14, we find the bizarre story of Melchizedek. Melchizedek came to Abraham after his defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. He gave bread and wine to Abraham and his men …

Genesis 13

Genesis 13

Genesis 13 – Between chapters 12 and 13, we see a spiritual maturity unfolding in Abram’s life. His journey into Egypt illustrated his lack of trust in God’s provision. Now, we read that he has decided to …

Genesis 12

Genesis 12

Genesis 12 – “Faith is not a mushroom that grows overnight in damp soil; it is an oak tree that grows for a thousand years under the blast of the wind and rain.” Donald Grey Barnhouse None …

Genesis 11

Genesis 11

Genesis 11 – Josephus wrote of how the Tower of Babel originated from the heart and mind of Nimrod. “Now it was Nimrod who excited them to such an affront and contempt of God. …

Genesis 10

Genesis 10

Genesis 10 – Here in Genesis 10, we are introduced to an individual whose full-fledged insurrection led to all sorts of rebellion among humanity. Now Cush became the father of Nimrod; he became a mighty one on …

Genesis 9

Genesis 9

Genesis 9 – Noah was unique in the sense that his life spanned two different worlds. He saw the corruption of the world before the flood and, unfortunately, he witnessed the corruption after as well. Overall, Noah’s …

Genesis 8

Genesis 8

Genesis 8 – Mount Ararat and the Araratian plain, seen early morning from near the city of Artashat in Armenia. (Source: Wikipedia) The ark landed upon the mountains of Ararat (pictured) and the flood was finally over. …

Genesis 7

Genesis 7

Genesis 7 – The ox knows its owner, and the donkey its master’s feeding trough, but Israel does not know; My people do not understand.” Isaiah 1:3 HCSB There are a lot of themes throughout the Bible …

Genesis 6

Genesis 6

Genesis 6 – What does the text mean when it says the “sons of God” saw the “daughters of men” were beautiful and took wives for themselves? The phrase “sons of God” is used in other places …

Genesis 5

Genesis 5

Genesis 5 – Genealogies are boring, but they are important. They provide historical context and fill in many of the factual details. It is assumed this is not a complete genealogy, because most Biblical genealogies aren’t. With …

Genesis 4

Genesis 4

Genesis 4 – I’ll be honest, this story has always confused me. Why was Abel’s offering acceptable to God but Cain’s was not? All we know from the story here in Genesis is that Abel offered the …

Genesis 3

Genesis 3

Genesis 3 – Blatant evil is not our greatest threat as believers; it is deceptive evil wrapped in a package of truth. But I fear that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your minds may …

Genesis 2

Genesis 2

Genesis 2 – Sometimes we fall into the trap of believing that God’s wrath is greater than His grace. In Genesis 2, we read of God’s unbelievable grace when allowing Adam to roam freely in creation. And …

Genesis 1

Genesis 1

Genesis 1 – In his book, The Good Book, author Deron Spoo gives us perspective on what we should treasure about Genesis 1. In his opinion, the primary purpose of this first chapter is to affirm that …

James 5

James 5

James 5 – How should we respond to sickness and what is the church’s responsibility? In Chapter 5, James gives practical advice with a balance between physical and spiritual. First, we read that anyone who is sick …

James 4

James 4

James 4 – Consider these questions… Does the indwelling Holy Spirit war against itself? Would a believer filled with the Holy Spirit continually war against another believer who is also filled with the Holy Spirit? Look, I’m …

James 3

James 3

James 3 – “Name-It Claim-It” Theology – believers have the power to speak anything into existence. You just have to have faith. Universalism – everyone is saved as long as they believe in some form of higher …

James 2

James 2

James 2 – Not surprisingly, James fires out more questions for believers here in Chapter 2. Among them are several targeting unfair treatment based on stereotypes. Has not God chosen the poor in the world to be …

James 1

James 1

James 1 – There are so many believers I talk with who tell me that their favorite book is James. It makes sense. The book structure is written with direct language and plain explanations. James comes across …

John 21

John 21

John 21 – Even after His resurrection, Jesus was still teaching His disciples. Jesus said to them, “Children, do you have any fish?” They answered him, “No.”  6  He said to them, “Cast the net on the …

John 20

John 20

John 20 – The empty tomb (Matt 28; Mark 16; Luke 24) is the most contested event by skeptics of Jesus’ death and resurrection. This is because if a skeptic concedes that the tomb was indeed empty, …

John 19

John 19

John 19 – One of the unique aspects of John’s Gospel is the theme of Jesus as the Lamb of God. All the way back in John 1, we read about John the Baptist declaring “Look! The …

John 18

John 18

John 18 – “While human politics is based on the premise that society must be changed in order to change people, in the politics of the Kingdom it is people who must be changed in order to …

John 17

John 17

John 17 – I cannot think of a more powerful prayer in all of Scripture. Through Jesus’ words, much is revealed. Eternal life = knowing Jesus Christ and the one true God (John 17:3) Glorification on Earth …

John 16

John 16

John 16 – They will ban you from the synagogues. In fact, a time is coming when anyone who kills you will think he is offering service to God.  3  They will do these things because they …

John 15

John 15

John 15 – “It makes no sense to me!” the woman proclaimed. “I can’t comprehend the concept of one way to God for only one simple reason. There are still people in this world who will never …

John 14

John 14

John 14 – Sometimes theology can overcomplicate the simple words of Jesus. In John 14, Jesus plainly states exactly what He requires from His followers. Judas (not Iscariot) said to Him, “Lord, how is it You’re going …

John 13

John 13

John 13 – John would have known the story well. He (the disciple whom Jesus loved) was reclining against Jesus when it all unfolded, so this firsthand account is most likely as accurate a picture as we …

John 12

John 12

John 12 – Here in John 12, we are once again drawn to how Jesus’ words and actions were in complete obedience to God and how He functioned as an extension of His Father in Heaven. We …

John 11

John 11

John 11 – So much irony! The reasoning of the religious leaders is astounding. “Let’s kill the man who is actively doing mighty works in the Name of God…” “Let’s kill the man who has just proven …

John 10

John 10

John 10 – The entire book of John has drawn us into the reality that Jesus is His own person, yet, is one with God. We have also witnessed the Jewish leaders trying to catch Jesus in …

John 9

John 9

John 9 – Jesus and the disciples are out for a stroll when suddenly they encounter a blind man. In the ancient world, blind people were especially helpless in many ways. They were easily manipulated and exploited. …

John 8

John 8

John 8 – It would not be a stretch to call this the “chapter of traps.” After trying to get Jesus to condemn a woman caught in adultery, the Pharisees continue their verbal trickery. I Am The …

John 7

John 7

John 7 – Have you experienced frustration or grief because a close friend or family member has rejected the Gospel? You aren’t alone. In John 7, we learn that even Jesus’ own family didn’t believe in Him. …

John 6

John 6

John 6 – Jesus was not going to be defined by the people’s interpretation of who He should be. He came to do the Father’s will. Out of all the themes of this chapter, this one speaks …

John 5

John 5

John 5 – Bearing witness to yourself is not reliable in court. Jesus didn’t need to provide witnesses for His authority, but in His grace, He would. John the Baptist John’s lamp testified to Jesus but he …

John 4

John 4

John 4 – Jesus told him, “Unless you people see signs and wonders, you will not believe.” John 4:48 HCSB Jesus used signs and wonders as a tool to lead people into faith. Later in His ministry, …

John 3

John 3

John 3 – If we take a bird’s eye view of chapter 3, we find that John is intentional about giving us stories that refute the familiar view of Salvation in ancient times. The Path To Salvation …

John 2

John 2

John 2 – Jesus cleansed the temple twice. The first, recorded here in John 2, was early in His ministry. The second is recorded by the other gospel accounts during passion week. Jews and proselytes from all …

John 1

John 1

John 1 – From the very first verse of the book, it is clear that the focus of John’s gospel is Jesus as God. As brain-twisting as that revelation is, it opens up a marvelous new realm …

Esther 10

Esther 10

Esther 10 – As Chapter 10 winds down, I can’t help but reflect on the sovereignty of God. First and foremost, God had a plan. He knew exactly how this entire situation would bring glory to Himself. …

Esther 9

Esther 9

Esther 9 – Historians have long criticized Esther for her decision to eradicate all those who stood against the Jews. Herodotus, a Greek historian, wrote that Esther was a cold and vindictive woman. To outsiders, justice can …

Esther 8

Esther 8

Esther 8 – Throughout the book of Esther, I have been drawing lines connecting Haman with Satan and this chapter is no different. Haman was defeated and eliminated but the King’s decree still stood over the Jewish …

Esther 7

Esther 7

Esther 7 – The time has come for Esther to speak up. It was not God’s timing earlier because many events had to unfold. Haman was lured into a trap by his own arrogance. He unknowingly constructed …

Esther 6

Esther 6

Esther 6 – Generally speaking, we tend to fall into one of two categories. Either we are detail-oriented thinkers or big-picture thinkers. People who focus on the details tend to lack the vision to see how it …

Esther 5

Esther 5

Esther 5 – This is an interesting chapter. Many commentators and scholars will be quick to point out the timing was not right for Esther to make her ask. It’s hard to know. Did God prevent Esther …

Esther 4

Esther 4

Esther 4 – “…if I perish, I perish” Don’t miss these words. Don’t gloss over them. I know maybe you have read them before when you’ve studied this story, but take a moment and let that thought …

Esther 3

Esther 3

Esther 3 – Haman was a descendant of Agag, the mortal enemies of the Jews. So, of course, when Haman found out that Mordecai was a Jew it only compounded the issue at hand. Mordecai’s choice not …

Esther 2

Esther 2

Esther 2 – A little over 6 years ago, I was given a front-row seat to a miraculous event that I had never seen before. My wife and I had been unable to conceive for many years, …

Esther 1

Esther 1

Esther 1 – At this point in Israel’s history, Ezra has just returned from the exile to rebuild the temple in Jerusalem. The Persian Empire is firmly in control and its territory extends from India to Ethiopia …

Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13

Nehemiah 13 – So, remember that guy Tobiah? Back in Nehemiah 6 he was one of Israel’s enemies who formulated a smear campaign against Nehemiah to stop the construction of the walls. Now we read that while …

Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12

Nehemiah 12 – A few years ago a woman in town asked Hank and I to come over and cleanse her apartment. Not knowing exactly what we were dealing with, we agreed. Come to find out, she …

Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11

Nehemiah 11 – Nehemiah came up with a brilliant solution to repopulate Jerusalem with God’s people. Of all the people in the outer suburbs, 10% were to be “donated” to the city of Jerusalem. To be in …

Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10

Nehemiah 10 – Cutting corners. To me, this is what the covenant was all about. The people vowed to obey God’s law and swore a penalty on themselves if they broke it. We don’t do this today, …

Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah 9

Nehemiah 9 – Nehemiah 9 describes a scene of revival. God was working collectively and personally to bring about reflection, ownership, repentance, and obedience. There is something to be said about reflecting on our history with God. …

Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 8

Nehemiah 8 – Why is it important to read and hear the Word of God? The one who reads this is blessed, and those who hear the words of this prophecy and keep what is written in …

Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah 7

Nehemiah 7 – After the walls had been built, Nehemiah continued to beef up security to ward off the hostile enemies. It was normal to open the gates at sunrise, however, Nehemiah determined they should wait until …

Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah 6

Nehemiah 6 – Nehemiah is determined to fulfill the Lord’s work and rebuild the walls despite facing every obstacle imaginable thus far. He has persevered during the mockery from his enemies and the turmoil from his own …

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5

Nehemiah 5 – In Nehemiah 4, we looked at how the enemy engages us when we step out in faith to do the Lord’s work. Satan and the world work externally to derail our progress, however, the …

Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah 4

Nehemiah 4 – This chapter is a case study for how the enemy works when you decide to follow through with God’s calling. In Nehemiah 3, Nehemiah planned a strategy to get the walls up all at …

Nehemiah 3

Nehemiah 3

Nehemiah 3 – In my mind, there are two critical applications of this chapter. Back in Nehemiah 1, I stated that the rubble of the temple mirrored the people’s spiritual condition. So, the first application is that …

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2

Nehemiah 2 – Nehemiah had a rather… uh… interesting position in the royal court. He was the cupbearer and personal bodyguard to Artaxerxes Longimanus, and his responsibilities would have been very diverse. A cupbearer needed to be …

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah 1

Nehemiah 1 – Back in the minor prophets, we learned that very few Jewish people left Babylon to return to their own land when they were granted permission. Out of approximately 2.5 million Jews, only about 50,000 …

Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13

Hebrews 13 – Don’t neglect to show hospitality, for by doing this some have welcomed angels as guests without knowing it.  3  Remember the prisoners, as though you were in prison with them, and the mistreated, as …

Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12

Hebrews 12 – Dear Weary Christ-Follower, Read Hebrews 12:3-17 Which is worse, the weight of sin or the discipline of Jesus? It’s an interesting question to ponder considering we often complain about our lot in life. The …

Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11

Hebrews 11 – The Hall of Faith. It is by far the most popular and most quoted chapter of Hebrews. Beautifully, the author articulates the power of faith and how it can completely change both our attitude …

Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10

Hebrews 10 – If you are tracking with the author of Hebrews thus far, it may seem overwhelmingly theological. The second half of Hebrews 10 is a practical response to the foundation that has been established thus …

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9

Hebrews 9 – The author of Hebrews captures the incredible depth of what Jesus did for sinners. It is both stunning and poetic. And just as it is appointed for people to die once—and after this, judgment— …

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8

Hebrews 8 – Hebrews 8 is an important chapter because it proves Jesus was the Messiah and His covenant was both needed and expected. The Jews reject Jesus as their Messiah primarily on the grounds that His …

Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7

Hebrews 7 – Who was Melchizedek? You can read his full story in Genesis 14. Basically, he was a priest who came to Abraham after his defeat of Chedorlaomer and his three allies. Melchizedek gave bread and …

Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6

Hebrews 6 – Here we go. You want to start a heated debate among your Christian friends? Look no further than Hebrews 6. It all centers around the question of whether or not someone can lose their …

Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5

Hebrews 5 – First, let’s just point out that this chapter is deep! Here in Hebrews 5, we see two distinctive attributes of Christ’s character. It was by humility He was given (by God) the title of …

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4

Hebrews 4 – The Law demanded perfection. This was the standard accomplished by Jesus. Despite our best efforts, we don’t even come close. However, we continue to live in a society built upon works. Nearly everything we …

Hebrews 3

Hebrews 3

Hebrews 3 – At one point in the ’90s, Michael Jordan, Bo Jackson, and Andre Agassi all had an Official Fan Club, and I was a proud card-carrying member. I loved watching Andre Agassi when I was …

Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2

Hebrews 2 – For in bringing many sons to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—all things exist for Him and through Him—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings. Hebrews 2:10 HCSB It was …

Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1

Hebrews 1 – We do not know the writer of Hebrews and honestly, it doesn’t matter. The book is absolutely beautiful. Written with a unique elegance, this Holy Spirit-inspired author had mastered the principles of rhetoric and …

Malachi 4

Malachi 4

Malachi 4 – But for you who fear My name, the sun of righteousness will rise with healing in its wings, and you will go out and playfully jump like calves from the stall. Malachi 4:2 HCSB …

Malachi 3

Malachi 3

Malachi 3 – “Because I, Yahweh, have not changed, you descendants of Jacob have not been destroyed. Malachi 3:6 HCSB Picking up on the truth of God’s refining process, we read in verse 6 that He is …

Malachi 2

Malachi 2

Malachi 2 – God starts with the priests and then works His way down to marriage and divorce in this heavy-handed chapter. Rather than speak to the details, I want to look at the bigger picture. We …

Malachi 1

Malachi 1

Malachi 1 – Malachi’s ministry would have overlapped with Nehemiah. The temple had been rebuilt (v. 13), and there was a presiding governor over the nation (v. 8), but the people were struggling with the same sins …

Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14

Zechariah 14 – In Philippians, Paul urges the church to “hold onto the truth we have attained.” This means as truth is revealed to us, we must continue to move forward and not lose ground with regard …

Zechariah 13

Zechariah 13

Zechariah 13 – In order to understand this chapter, we must rewind to the end of Zechariah 12. In the end times, after Jesus has returned, Zechariah predicts a time of mourning where Israel will finally realize …

Zechariah 12

Zechariah 12

Zechariah 12 – Zechariah’s name means “The Lord Remembers” and in this chapter, we get a striking image of God remembering His Jewish people. Theology is not the most important thing here, but it does determine what …

Zechariah 11

Zechariah 11

Zechariah 11 – The LORD my God said to me, “Act the part of the shepherd of a flock of sheep that are going to be butchered. Zechariah 11:4 GNB Zechariah was called to “act the part” …

Zechariah 10

Zechariah 10

Zechariah 10 – What happens when we don’t receive an answer from God as soon as we like? We turn to false gods and idols. We want to feel comfort, so instead of waiting on God we …

Zechariah 9

Zechariah 9

Zechariah 9 – Before Jesus was Savior, He was King. But He was not a king as you or I know one. Jesus ushered in a different kind of Kingdom. Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout in triumph, …

Zechariah 8

Zechariah 8

Zechariah 8 – Oh my! There are few verses more worthy of our desperate pursuit than Zechariah 8:6. The verse illustrates a life of faith, trust, and perseverance. The LORD of Hosts says this: “Though it may …

Zechariah 7

Zechariah 7

Zechariah 7 – What kind of motives do we have for the rituals and traditions we hold onto? by asking the priests who were at the house of the LORD of Hosts as well as the prophets, …

Zechariah 6

Zechariah 6

Zechariah 6 – The scene here is connected, though it might not seem like it on the surface. In the Bible, divine warfare follows a pattern that was common in the Near East: War-Victory-Kingship-Building-Celebration. Zechariah 6 shows …

Zechariah 5

Zechariah 5

Zechariah 5 – Even though the Jewish people were brought back to their land, were forgiven of their sins, and were inspired by the Holy Spirit to complete the temple, God still had standards for them. What …

Zechariah 4

Zechariah 4

Zechariah 4 – Verse 6 is the key to unlocking the truth of Zechariah 4. So he answered me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by strength or by might, but by My …

Zechariah 3

Zechariah 3

Zechariah 3 – Wow! What. A. Scene. Joshua stands before God in rags while Satan accuses him. That image alone is enough for an entire sermon series. The reason Joshua stands in rags is because the vision …

Zechariah 2

Zechariah 2

Zechariah 2 – There is so much we could unpack in this short chapter of only 13 verses. It is rich with symbolism and prophecy. But I want to draw your focus to one section that stuck …

Zechariah 1

Zechariah 1

Zechariah 1 – According to many scholars, Zechariah is the most messianic, apocalyptic, and end times descriptive book of the Old Testament. That’s a big statement considering many have probably never read it. Haggai led the charge …

Zephaniah 3

Zephaniah 3

Zephaniah 3 – Destruction. Conversion. Restoration. This chapter reads as a Gospel presentation as all glory goes to God. He is the One to correct, convert, and restore. Though these prophecies address an immediate time period, they …

Zephaniah 2

Zephaniah 2

Zephaniah 2 – Urgency. Do you sense it? Are you living it? There are two massive truth bombs that come from this chapter. The first is that God will repay all evil done against Him outside of …

Zephaniah 1

Zephaniah 1

Zephaniah 1 – The twelve minor prophets are divided into two categories based on the time period of their ministry. Either they came before the Babylonian exile (pre-exilic) or after it (post-exilic). “Zephaniah is the last of …

Nahum 3

Nahum 3

Nahum 3 – God has declared the condition of Nineveh unrepairable. They have gone too far. There is no chance for restoration. Is this how you feel currently in a relationship or situation? There is no remedy …