A report came to Paul of a serious sin in the church at Corinth that was not being dealt with. The issue concerned a church member who was carrying on an incestuous affair with his stepmother. This kind of relationship was prohibited in the Old Testament (Lev. 18:8) and in Roman law. Paul …
History often repeats itself, and it certainly did so in this case. Daniel, now an old man, was brought into the banquet hall before King Belshazzar (v. 13). Apparently the two of them had never met. Explaining the situation, the king offered Daniel the third highest place in the kingdom if he could …
False teachers seemed to follow Paul everywhere he went. No sooner had he given out the gospel and people believed, than false teachers tried to discredit Paul’s message and challenge his authority. Paul’s co-workers in the Gospel were Barnabas, a circumcised Jew who was a …
It is not physical strength alone that gives us the ability to break through seemingly impossible positions. Wisdom gives strength and security (v. 22). This lesson is very important for us to learn when we are up against spiritual foes. Unwise words, however true they may be, are often the cause …
Since Sanballet and his friends had failed in opposing the work at Jerusalem, they decided to concentrate their attacks on Nehemiah personally. The walls had been completed and they were working on the gates (v. 1). Rather than opposing Nehemiah they now want to join with him. Sa …
Jacob continues to give his last words to his sons as they gather around his bed. The next in line is Dan (verses 16-18) who was a son of Bilhah the maid of Rachel. As Jacob gazed at Dan he saw coming out of his tribe the mightiest of all the judges from which Samson was to come. …
The human heart is so sinful that it soon forgets God’s blessings, ignores God’s promises, and finds fault with God’s provisions. Just three days after the great praise service by the Red Sea, the people complained against Moses and God because they didn’t have water to drink (Ex …
About 250 years after Solomon wrote them, Hezekiah’s men grouped many of these proverbs in units of similar thoughts (v. 1). Man is constantly forced to confess the limits of his understanding (vv. 2-3). God’s thoughts are far above our thoughts (Rom. 11:33-34). God has not chosen to reveal …
This chapter is filled with strong warning against sexual sin. If any fall prey to a strange woman and her wicked seduction it is not because of lack of warning but because of willful neglect of instruction. Temptation in these matters has always been in the forefront of man’s problems. The …
In chapters 8 and 9 Matthew records 10 miracles. The first two miracles of healing were:
1. The Healing of the Man with Leprosy (vv. 1-4). After the sermon on the mount, Jesus had great crowds of people following him (v. 1). Therefore, what happened next was extremely unusual …