Introduction Last week's passage was about the Pharisees and the teachers of the law who were careful to separate themselves from everything and everyone which might defile their ceremonial purity. And that meant the Pharisees and teachers of the law stayed away from Gentiles, who they considered to be unclean. However, in the first part … Continue reading Matthew 15(21–39)
Author: Colin Gamble
Matthew 16(01–12)
Introduction In last week's passage we read about the faith of a Gentile woman who asked the Lord to have mercy on her daughter. And then other Gentiles came to the Lord so that he could heal them of their disabilities. And then the Lord Jesus fed the crowd of 4,000 men plus women and … Continue reading Matthew 16(01–12)
Job 11–14
Introduction We come today to Zophar's first speech and to Job's reply to him. And today's passage is the last part of the first cycle of speeches. I've explained before that there are three cycles of speeches from chapter 4 to chapter 28. In the first cycle, the three friends take it in turns to … Continue reading Job 11–14
1 John 4(01–06)
Introduction Last week's passage was about how believers should love one another. So, we're not to be like Cain, who hated his brother and killed him. We're to be like the Lord who loved us and who laid down his life for us on the cross. And so, we should love our fellow believers with … Continue reading 1 John 4(01–06)
Matthew 12(38–50)
Introduction In last week's passage we read about the ordinary people who were wondering whether the Lord Jesus might possibly be the Son of David. That is, they were wondering whether he might be God's Special Servant sent to save them. After all, surely only someone sent from God could do the things he was … Continue reading Matthew 12(38–50)
1 John 3(11–24)
Introduction In last week's passage, John was writing about the children of God and the children of the devil. The children of God are believers; and the children of the devil are unbelievers. And both of them display a family likeness. Both of them resemble their spiritual parent. So, the devil has been sinning from … Continue reading 1 John 3(11–24)
Job 08–10
Introduction We come today to the first speech by Bildad and Job's response to it. Bildad was one of Job's three friends who came to sympathise with him and to comfort him in his suffering after he lost his family and his possessions and his health. For seven days and nights they sat with Job … Continue reading Job 08–10
Psalm 055
Introduction Today's psalm is a psalm of lament in which the psalmist cries to the Lord because he's in trouble. And he's in trouble because of the wicked and the wicked things they're doing. But he's also in trouble, because a friend has betrayed him. Verses 1 to 3 In verses 1 to 3 the … Continue reading Psalm 055
Psalm 054
Introduction Today's psalm begins with the psalmist crying to God to save him, because ruthless strangers are attacking the psalmist. Then, in the middle of the psalm, the psalmist expresses his confidence in the Lord. And at the end, the psalmist makes a vow to give thanks to the Lord for delivering him from his … Continue reading Psalm 054
Psalm 053
Introduction This psalm may be familiar to us because it's almost identical to Psalm 14 which we studied together last November; and Paul the Apostle quotes lines from these two psalms in Romans 3 to make the point that Jews and Gentiles alike are sinners in the sight of God. And while it's true that … Continue reading Psalm 053
