The Surprising God

This post exegetes Matthew 25:31-46 , providing context for the Gospel reading on 11/22/26. Insights are drawn from "Kingdom, Grace, Judgment" by Robert Capon; "New Bible Commentary" by RT France; and "Bible Knowledge Commentary" by Louis Barbieri. Sheep and Goats by Roos (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction Our Gospel reading falls within Jesus’ lengthy discourse concerning the final age (referred to elsewhere in Scripture as ‘the last days’)—a period of time (an ‘age’) that begins with Jesus’ death and resurrection, and ends with his parousia (coming or appearing) in glory at the end of the age. In Matthew 24:1-35, Jesus looked at the beginning stages of that age—the tumultuous transition from the old age of the Law to the new age of the Spirit. That transition was completed in the horrific destruction of Jerusalem with its temple in AD 70—an event that Jesus predicts will occur before this generation (the one Jesus is speaking with) passes...

  This post exegetes 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 , providing context for the Epistle reading on 11/15/2026. Insights are drawn from John Stott's commentary on this passage. Billboard (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction In this epistle, Paul is addressing fainthearted Christians in Thessalonica. In 1 Thess 4:13-18, he offers hope in the midst of grieving for certain believers who had unexpectedly died. Now in 1 Thess 5:1-11 he offers hope to counter insecurities regarding the coming judgment at Christ's return. Paul had evidently taught the Thessalonians about this *day of the Lord* (2), explaining from the Old Testament that it would be a day of judgment. Amos, the great eighth-century prophet, had made that plain. 'Woe to you who long for the day of the Lord!' he had  proclaimed. 'Why do you long for the day of the Lord? That day will be darkness, not light...pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness' (Am.5:18-20; cf.Is.13:6). Joel had called it 'th...

This post exegetes 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 , providing context for the Epistle reading on 11/8/26. Insights are drawn from John Stott's commentary on this passage. "Resurrection of the Dead" (public domain via Wikimedia Commons) Introduction The death of a loved one always raises painful and anguished questions. What has happened to them? Are they all right? Shall we see them again? These were questions for which the young believers in Thessalonica were unprepared. Expecting Jesus' immediate return ( parousia ), they were shocked when some believing friends and family died before this anticipated event. This turn of events greatly disturbed them and left them with many nagging questions that they addressed to Paul (perhaps through Timothy): How would the Christian dead fare when Jesus returned? Would they stand at a disadvantage? Would they miss the blessing of the parousia? Were they even 'lost'?   The state of the dead Paul begins his answer with two negativ...