The Surprising God

This post exegetes Matthew chapter 4, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/25/26, the 3rd Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Insights are drawn from "The IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament" by Craig Keener, "The New Bible Commentary" by RT France, and "The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by Louis Barbieri. "Temptation of Christ" by Immenraet (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In the third chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus is baptized for all humanity, anointed by the Holy Spirit for ministry to all humanity, and approved (accredited) by the Father as his Son who is given authority over all humanity (and all the cosmos). And now in chapter 4, Jesus is led by the Holy Spirit to be tested in the desert, further preparing him for his ministry and further accrediting him as Messiah. Then at the end of the chapter, Jesus is launched in the power of the Holy Spirit into public ministry. His first task is to call his ...

This post exegetes John 1:15-51, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/18/26, the 2nd Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Insights are drawn from "The Bible Expository Commentary" by Warren Wiersbe and from "The New Bible Commentary." "The Calling of Peter and Andrew" by Caravaggio (public domain via Wikimedia Commons)  Introduction In the first chapter of his Gospel, John proclaims Jesus to be divine: fully God. John does so by giving seven names/titles of Jesus. In vv 1-14, John looks at two of those titles: Word and Light-Life. Now he addresses the other five: Son of God, Lamb of God, Messiah, King of Israel, Son of Man.  Jesus: Son of God  John 1:15–28 15 John testifies concerning him. He cries out, saying, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me has surpassed me because he was before me.'" 16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace...

This post exegetes Matthew chapter 3, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/11/26, the 1st Sunday in the season of Epiphany. Insights are drawn from "The IVP Bible Background Commentary New Testament" by Craig Keener, "The New Bible Commentary" by RT France, and "The Bible Knowledge Commentary" by Louis Barbieri. "Baptism of Christ" by Zelenka (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In chapter 2, Matthew addressed Jesus’ infancy. Now he takes us forward about 30 years to the events surrounding the start of Jesus’ public ministry. Here Matthew tells of John the Baptist’s proclamation, and Jesus’ baptism (which includes heaven’s affirmation).  John’s proclamation  Matthew 3:1-12 1 In those days John the Baptist came, preaching in the Desert of Judea 2 and saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near." 3 This is he who was spoken of through the prophet Isaiah: "A voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepar...

This post exegetes John 1:1-14, providing context for the Gospel reading on 1/4/26, the 2nd Sunday in Christmastide (the season of Christmas). Insights are drawn from commentary by Warren Wiersbe in "The Bible Expository Commentary." Jesus , by Mironov (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction “Will God dwell on earth?” asked Solomon in dedicating the temple in Jerusalem (1 Kings 8:27). God’s glory had dwelt in the tabernacle in the wilderness (Ex. 40:34), and then it descended on Solomon’s temple (1 Kings 8:10–11). But eventually it departed from disobedient Israel (Ezek. 9:3; 10:4, 18; 11:22–23) and a long dry spell ensued. But then a marvelous and new thing happened: the glory of God came to His people again, but this time in person—specifically the person of God’s one and only Son, Jesus Christ.  The writers of the four Gospels give “snapshots” of our Lord’s life on earth. Matthew wrote with his fellow Jews in mind and emphasized that Jesus of Nazareth fulfilled ...