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Matthew 5 Persecuted because of Righteousness vv.10-12 Rather than do a word study on “righteousness” (which he could have done), Jesus qualifies its meaning as that which is done “on my account” or “because of me” (v. 11b). He is looking ahead and anticipates the push-back the disciples will suffer as they “go into all […]

Key Verse: 2 Peter 3:9 “The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is long-suffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.” The subject of this concluding chapter is the return of Christ. Already in Peter’s day there were impatient believers and […]

Key Verse: 2 Peter 2:19b “…a man is a slave to whatever has mastered him.” Chapter 2 is rather gloomy reading. It describes false teachers in very explicit terms. Peter refers to them as shameful (v.2), greedy (v.3), corrupt (v.10a), arrogant (v.10b), blasphemous and ignorant (v.12a), beasts (v.12b), blots and blemishes (v.13), springs without water […]

During this protracted Covid isolation I’ve been “redeeming the time”. Social media has been very useful in keeping in touch with our WOW partners overseas, and writing a couple of books has filled the gaps. Keep a lookout for “Cantelon’s Casual Commentary” (Matthew, Mark, Luke/Acts, John) in a single volume, and “Opening the Windows of Your […]

Key Verse: 2 Peter 1:8 “For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NIV). Would you listen and take note if some trusted pastor gave you a list of things to do with the promise that, if you […]

Key Verse: 1 Peter 5:6,7 “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Peter concludes this letter with some words for the church leaders (the elders). He encourages them to focus on pastoring and to […]

Matthew 5 The Peacemakers v. 9 In Israel the standard “Hello” is “Shalom”. The standard “Goodbye” is “Shalom”. “Shalom” also means “Peace”. Ironically, “peace” is not the standard state of the atmosphere in Israel, or anywhere else in the Middle East for that matter. But “shalom” is the heart’s cry of the world. Imagine the […]

Key Verse: 1 Peter 4:7, 8 “The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray. Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins” (NIV). The New Testament writers were all conscious of the “end of all things”. They expected the […]

Key Verse: 1 Peter 3:15, 16a “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defence to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience…” There’s a difference between being able to “give a defence” and […]

Key Verse: 1 Peter 2:2 “…as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby…” A newborn baby is voracious — he lives to eat. His whole world is committed to survival. And his parents (especially his mother!) must align their lives to that infant’s appetite for life. One of […]

Key Verse: 1 Peter 1:3-5 “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an in hesitance that can never perish, spoil or fade — kept in […]

Key Verse: James 5:20 “…Whoever turns a sinner from the error his way will save him from death and cover over a multitude of sins” (NIV). In the context, the key verse is the continuation of a sentence which begins, “My brothers, if one of you should wander from the truth and someone should bring […]