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It is hard to read this scripture passage in 2014. It is hard to read in a world in which the number of political refugees has reached into unprecedented heights; in which the number of (...)

Our look at this passage will focus on three questions: What is the New Testament’s basic understanding of God’s purpose in relationship with the world? How do we find a clear path to right action (...)

Following his “temptation” in the Judean wilderness, Luke 4:14 reports that Jesus returns to Galilee to begin his ministry. Now in 9:51, Jesus “set his face to go to Jerusalem.” It’s a critical turning point (...)

Luke 7:1-17 recounts two stories: Jesus’ healing of the centurion’s slave (verses 1-10) and his raising of the widow’s only son at Nain (verses 11-17). The Narrative Lectionary keeps them together, and in doing so, (...)

Luke’s readers have been well prepared for John the Baptizer’s arrival on the scene. Three authoritative speeches have already announced John’s role in the events that are unfolding, echoing the words of Malachi concerning the (...)

The narrative begins eight days after the birth of Jesus and the visit from the shepherds. The baby is named and circumcised — a rite that marks Jesus as Jewish, as part of the people (...)

The book of Exodus begins with all 70 members of Jacob’s family living as immigrants in the land of Egypt. A new Pharaoh arose “who did not know Joseph” (1:8). This new Pharaoh enslaved these (...)

The summary statement at the end of Acts 2 says that in Jerusalem, “awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles” (2:43), and that Jesus’ followers “spent much (...)

The question, “Who is Jesus?” is fundamental to Mark’s Gospel. From the start, Mark confesses that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God (1:1). The “Messiah” (Hebrew) or the “Christ” (Greek) is the “anointed (...)

This passage shows us a response to one issue within first-century Judaism, which was hardly homogenous across the Greco-Roman world. In this brief commentary, we will give attention to how the passage fits into Mark’s (...)