First Reading

Photo of a wheat field
Commentary on Jeremiah 31:31-34

Jeremiah is not known as a prophet of hope and [...]

Study for
Commentary on Numbers 21:4-9

At first, the text has an often-repeated theme from this wilderness period: The people complain, [...]

Christ Cleansing the Temple, El Greco, before 1570.
Commentary on Exodus 20:1-17

Laws or commandments, especially those in the Bible, are not usually the favorite topic of [...]

Ends of the Earth, Globe.
Commentary on Genesis 17:1-7, 15-16

God, in Genesis 17, reaffirms the covenant—or agreement—that God made [...]

Jesus' Baptism Fresco, Fanefjord Church, Møn, Denmark.
Commentary on Genesis 9:8-17

Genesis 9:8–17 describes how God, in the aftermath of the flood, blesses and makes a [...]

dust running through closed hand
Commentary on Joel 2:1-2, 12-17

The book of Joel is set amid the terrors of [...]

rusty sign that says Listen
Commentary on 2 Kings 2:1-12

Elisha is the prophet Elijah’s disciple and successor. But Elijah is a little cool toward [...]

Rembrandt sketch of Jesus and Simon's mother-in-law
Commentary on Isaiah 40:21-31

This poem is a display in exilic hope. The hope this poem provides is ultimately [...]

Matthew 3:16
Commentary on Genesis 1:1-5

In recent decades scholarly opinion on how to translate the opening words of Genesis—bereshit bara—has [...]

white sweatshirt with cartoon of figure with scribbles for brains
Commentary on Deuteronomy 18:15-20

Epiphany is my favorite season in the church. It means [...]