12/1/22: I just found out that most of the commentaries on the Bible Study Tools website are no longer free. That's where most of the quotes that appear on the "Verse of the Day" and "Previous Verses" pages of my website are taken from, so from now on, many of the "Source:" links that I provide on those pages will not contain the quoted text.

I was disgusted to read about the organization's new "PLUS" membership, and the only thing I can say about it is that the Bible has this warning in 1 Timothy 6:10 for the owner of Bible Study Tools: "For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."
____________________

8/8/21: Something is wrong with my Christian forum. Everything seems to be working normally (i.e., the articles are there, and the links work), but for some reason, the forum's format has changed slightly, and I am currently unable to post anything new.

I'm really sorry for the inconvenience. Hopefully, the problem is only temporay and will be fixed soon.

AUGUST 29-31

God Sent a Worldwide Flood to Destroy the Evil People

Genesis 6:11: "[In the Old Testament, during Noah's lifetime,] The earth also was corrupt [spoiled, ruined, overwhelmed by sinful behavior] before God [because almost all of the people on the planet were godless (atheistic), idolatrous (idol worshipers), dishonest, evil, and/or immoral], and [as a result,] the earth was filled with violence."

Genesis 6:12: "And God looked [took special notice of what was happening] upon the earth, and, behold, it [the earth] was corrupt; for all flesh [every living person except Noah] had corrupted his [or her] way [of life] upon the earth."

Genesis 6:13: "And God said unto Noah, The end of all flesh [everything that lives on the earth, with a few exceptions--see note below*] is come before me [or has come to my attention]; for the earth is filled with violence through them [i.e., the bad people]; and, behold, I will destroy them [the bad people] with the earth [and everything on it] [through a worldwide flood--see note below**]."
Unfortunately, the world is becoming much like it was in Noah's time, and God's judgment (when it comes) will come quickly, as it did in the flood.
____________________

GotQuestions.org has an article related to Jesus' second coming being compared to the "days of Noah." It's entitled "What does it mean that the coming of the Son of Man will be as it was in the days of Noah (Matthew 24:37)?" and can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/coming-Son-of-Man-days-of-Noah.html.

*Regarding exceptions to the phrase the end of all flesh, immediately after stating his intentions to destroy them with the earth, God told Noah to build an ark to prevent him and his family, plus two (a male and female) of every kind of animal, insect, etc., that lived on the land and flew in the sky, from being destroyed in the flood that he intended to send.

**Some people wonder if there is evidence of a worldwide flood in Noah's time, so GotQuestions.org wrote an article entitled "Was Noah's flood global or local?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/global-flood.html.

AUGUST 27-28

Proverbs 27:1: "Boast not thyself of to morrow [don't brag about future events]; for [because] thou knowest not [you do not even know] what a day may bring forth [what will happen tomorrow]."
In other words, prepare for the future, but don't expect that everything will turn out the way you thought it would. Consider, for example, how the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted our normal, everyday lives. It caused an overwhelming amount of illness and death throughout the world, in addition to fear, anxiety, depression, job loss, food insecurity, economic disaster, etc., and nobody knew how long it would last.

Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church has written an excellent commentary on this verse, including many examples of things that we tend to boast about (e.g., what will happen in the future to our sports teams, our children, our businesses and careers, our country, our Christian walk, etc.) and reasons why we shouldn't do that (i.e., because future events can be affected by things that happen unexpectedly, such as serious illnesses, wars, natural disasters, stock market crashes, death, etc.).
____________________

Near the end of his commentary (in paragraph 7), Pastor Delany summarizes the meaning of the above verse as follows: "Make the best plans you can," "Be hopeful … But also be realistic …," and "… Trust God and leave all our tomorrows in His care …"

If you want to read the pastor's commentary, here's the link: https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-index/proverbs-27-index/proverbs-27_1/.

Note to procrastinators: "Tomorrow" may never come for some of us, so one thing we shouldn't put off is salvation, since we can't know for sure that we'll get a second chance to be saved.

If you believe that Jesus Christ (God's Son) died on the cross to pay for your sins and that he was buried and rose again, all you need to do is sincerely ask him (through prayer, either silently or out loud) to come into your heart and save you so you can go to heaven when you die.
____________________

If you need more detailed instructions for the plan of salvation, you'll find them in most of the tracts on the "Printable Gospel Tracts" page of my website. Here's the link: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.

AUGUST 25-26

Ephesians 2:8-9: "For by [God's] grace are ye [you] [born again, or] saved [from eternal death (punishment) in hell and given eternal life in heaven] through faith [in the Lord Jesus Christ and his death on the cross to pay for your sins--see note below*]; and that [referring to salvation and eternal life] [is] not of [earned by] yourselves: it is the gift of God [as confirmed by Romans 6:23]: [salvation and eternal life is] Not of [due to] [good] works, lest any man [or woman or child, or 'so that no person'] should [be able to] boast [brag]."
We can't work our way to heaven. According to the Bible, salvation is based on faith, not works, so that nobody will be ever able to say, "I got to heaven because of my own righteousness (what a good person I was, how many good deeds I did during my life on earth, etc.)."

*For an explanation of what it means to have faith in Jesus and believe in Jesus, I recommend the following articles:

-- "What does it mean to have faith in Jesus?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/faith-in-Jesus.html)

-- "What does it mean to believe in Jesus?"
    (https://www.gotquestions.org/believe-in-Jesus.html)

AUGUST 20-24

An Example of Church Discipline in the Early Christian Church

The Corinthian church had many problems. In one of his letters to them, the apostle Paul wrote:

1 Corinthians 5:1: "It is reported commonly [which means Paul had heard a rumor] that there is fornication [sexual immorality--in this case, incest, or sexual relations between close relatives] among you [members of the congregation], and [it is] such [or 'the type of'] fornication as is not so much as [or is not even] named among the Gentiles [which means that the type of behavior being referred to was unacceptable to everyone, including non-Jewish people; specifically], that one should have [as his wife … or 'should have sexual relations with'] his father's wife [referring to his mother or stepmother] [by marrying her or keeping her as his concubine or mistress]."

1 Corinthians 5:2,3: "And ye [you members of the congregation] are puffed up [i.e., filled with pride despite the scandal], and have not rather mourned [expressed sorrow (sadness) or regret], that he that hath [has] done this deed [thing] might be taken away from among you [by excommunication, meaning the offender should be temporarily removed from the church)]. For I [Paul] verily [truly], as [being] absent in body, but present in spirit, have judged [made a decision] already, as though I were present [with you in person], concerning him that hath so done this deed [committed this horrible sin],"

1 Corinthians 5:4,5: "In the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, when ye [you] are gathered together [as a church, in public], and my spirit [is with you, as if I (Paul) were present in person], with the power [under the power and authority] of our Lord Jesus Christ, To deliver such an one unto Satan [or turn him (the fornicator) over to Satan] for the destruction of the flesh [perhaps to be caused by pain and/or bodily diseases], [so] that the spirit [of this man (the fornicator), referring to his soul,] may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus [Christ] [on judgment day] [i.e., so the sinner (a born-again Christian) may be reformed and saved from ruin]."
In his commentary, Matthew Henry noted:

"… The heinous [hateful, wicked] sins of professed Christians [i.e., people who claim to be Christians] are quickly noted and noised abroad [broadcast, spread around, told to others]. We should walk circumspectly [or act cautiously or carefully], for many eyes are upon us, and many mouths will be opened against us if we fall into any scandalous practice [disgraceful behavior]."

(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/1-corinthians/5.html, "v. 1")

Regarding the term for the destruction of the flesh in verse 5, Albert Barnes said that this type of punishment "… was an extraordinary and miraculous power. It was designed for the government of the [Christian] church in its infancy [early years, after it was first started], when everything was suited to show the direct agency [control] of God; and it ceased [ended], doubtless [undoubtedly], with the apostles. The church now has no such power. It cannot now work miracles; and all its discipline now is to be moral discipline, designed not to inflict bodily pain and penalties, but to work a moral reformation in the offender."

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/1-corinthians-5.html, "Verse 5")

AUGUST 17-19

Proverbs 17:25: "A foolish son [or daughter--one who does stupid things and tends to get in trouble] is a grief [source of anger and/or frustration] to his [or her] father, and [also is] [a cause of] bitterness [sorrow (sadness), trouble or annoyance, mental strain and stress] to her that bare [gave birth to] him [or her, referring to the foolish person's mother]."
Note: Since this verse is mostly self-explanatory, there is no commentary for it on the Salem Bible Church website.

AUGUST 15-16

There's Only One Way to Heaven: Through the "Strait Gate"

In these verses, Jesus taught that everyone must choose their eternal destination before they die. Unfortunately, most people are on the wide road to hell, and only a few are on the narrow path to heaven. Hopefully, before it's too late, you will have chosen the right way.

Matthew 7:13-14: "Enter ye [you must enter] in [to the kingdom of heaven] at the strait [narrow] gate [entrance]: for wide is the gate [entrance], and broad [wide] is the way [path, road], that leadeth [leads] to destruction [hell], and many [people] [will] there be which go in thereat [there, or at that place]: Because strait is the gate [or 'narrow is the entrance'], and narrow is the way [path, road], which leadeth unto life [i.e., eternal life in heaven], and [probably only a] few [billion people, compared to the billions of people who have lived and died since Adam and Eve were created and who are taking (or took) the 'broad way' to hell--see note below*] [will] there be that find it [i.e., the 'strait gate']."
If you want to go to heaven someday but don't know what to do, please read my "Mansion in Heaven" gospel tract. It follows what is known as the "Romans Road" because it uses Bible verses from the book of Romans to explain the plan of salvation. You can find that tract in either of these two places:

-- To read my "Mansion in Heaven" tract on separate pages, click here: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/Index2.html.

-- To read and/or print my "Mansion in Heaven" tract in a three-panel format, click here: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.

Note: On my "Printable Gospel Tracts" page, you may have to scroll down a little bit to find my "Mansion in Heaven" tract.

*Bob Wilkins wrote an article entitled "Have Over 100 Billion People Lived on the Earth?" and according to him, the answer to that question is no. He estimates that the number of people who have lived on the earth since Adam and Eve were created is approximately 35 to 40 billion, and in the article, he explains how he came to that conclusion. If you want to read Bob's article, here's the link: https://faithalone.org/blog/have-over-100-billion-people-lived-on-the-earth/.

AUGUST 12-14

Proverbs 12:21: "There shall no evil [things, like trouble, sorrow and grief, affliction and suffering] happen to the just [or 'righteous' people, referring to those who obey the law, follow orders, etc.]: but the wicked [people, including those who tend to lie, cheat, steal, and break the law] shall be filled with mischief [such as, for example, being arrested and ending up in jail, having an accident and ending up injured or dead, cheating at work and being fired, etc.]."
According to Pastor Jim Delany of Salem Bible Church, this proverb is a general observation by King Solomon, which means that although it may not be true all of the time, it's true most of the time.
____________________

Here are some excerpts from the pastor's commentary on this verse:

-- "Solomon's point is that when you do things right, you avoid a lot of trouble!"

-- "The one who keeps on committing crimes… who keeps on breaking the rules… who keeps on cheating--will also keep on falling into trouble."

-- "Folks who don't do things right lead their whole lives with a dark cloud following them… the dark cloud of their own making!"

-- "Law-abiding citizens usually lead a quiet and peaceable life. But criminals and lawbreakers bring trouble upon their own heads and upon their households [families]."

If you want to read more of Pastor Delany's commentary, here's the link: https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-index/proverbs-12-index/proverbs-12_21/.

AUGUST 8-11

The Only Way to Heaven: Jesus Christ

After the apostle Peter had, 'in the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth' (i.e., by Jesus' power and authority), healed a grown man who had been lame (crippled) from birth (which could be considered "salvation" in a physical sense), he (Peter) stood before the chief priests and elders of Israel (see note below*) and said:

Acts 4:12: "Neither is there salvation [in a spiritual sense, meaning deliverance from God's eternal punishment for sin,] in [through] any other [person or thing except the Lord Jesus Christ]: for there is none [no] other name [or person or authority] under heaven given among men [mankind, human beings] [except the name (or person or authority) of Jesus], whereby [by which] we must be saved [from hell]."
The question "What is salvation?" is answered by GotQuestions.org in the following article: "What is the Christian doctrine of salvation?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Christian-doctrine-salvation.html.

Would you like to be saved from hell? If you believe that Jesus Christ (God's Son) died on the cross to pay for your sins and that he was buried and rose again, all you need to do is sincerely ask him, through prayer (either silently or out loud), to come into your heart and save you so you can go to heaven when you die.
____________________

Note: Detailed explanations of the plan of salvation can be found in the "Printable Gospel Tracts" section of my website. Here's a direct link to that page: https://www.mansioninheaven.com/PrintableGospelTracts.html.

*The religious leaders of Israel are discussed in the following article: "What were the chief priests?" If you want to read it, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/chief-priests.html.

AUGUST 6-7

Things That God Hates

Proverbs 6:16: "These six things doth [does] the LORD [God] hate: yea [yes], seven are an abomination [a disgusting thing] unto him:

Proverbs 6:17:

[1] A proud look,

[2] a lying tongue [referring to lying in general], and

[3] hands that shed innocent blood [commit murder],

Proverbs 6:18:

[4] An heart [mind] that deviseth [devises] wicked imaginations [or plans evil deeds],

[5] feet that be swift in running to mischief [and belong to people who are in a hurry to do bad things],

Proverbs 6:19

[6] A false witness that speaketh [speaks] lies [i.e., a person who gives false testimony (or tells lies) about others, as in court], and

[7] he [or she] that soweth discord [sows discord, causes trouble] among brethren [referring to 'brothers and sisters in Christ,' or other Christians] [by spreading gossip or rumors]."
As usual, Salem Bible Church has excellent commentaries on all of these verses. They are broken down into six sections as follows:

-- Verses 16-19: "Six Things the Lord Hates" (Covers "Introduction" and "A Proud Look")
    (https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-6-index/proverbs-6_16-19/)

-- Verse 17a: "A Lying Tongue"
    (https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-6-index/proverbs-6_17a/)

-- Verse 17b: "Hands that Shed Innocent Blood"
    (https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-6-index/proverbs-6_17b/)

-- Verse 18a: "A Heart that Deviseth Wicked Imaginations"
    (https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-6-index/proverbs-6_18a/)

-- Verse 18b: "Feet that be Swift in Running to Mischief"
    (https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-6-index/proverbs-6_18b/)

-- Verse 19: "Sowing Discord" (Includes "A False Witness")
    (https://www.salembible.org/proverbs-6-index/proverbs-6_19/)

If you want to read some or all of the above commentaries, click on the accompanying links.


GotQuestions.org also has an article about these verses. It's called "What are the seven things God hates?" and can be found here: https://www.gotquestions.org/seven-things-God-hates.html.

AUGUST 4-5

Not All Suffering is Due to Sin

In an attempt to comfort his friend Job, who was experiencing great pain and suffering due to the loss of his children, animals, and servants and because his body was covered in boils after Satan was given permission to "test" Job's faithfulness to God, Eliphaz the Temanite said:

Job 5:17: "Behold, happy [blessed] is the man [or woman or child] whom God correcteth [corrects]: therefore despise not thou [don't disregard or feel contempt (disrespect) or hatred for] the chastening [punishment or discipline] of the Almighty [God, when he's acting in a fatherly way]:"

Job 5:18: "For he [God] maketh sore [makes sore, or causes pain or suffering, as when a doctor makes an incision (a surgical cut in the skin) in an attempt to remove or fix a problem area], and [then he (God)] bindeth up [binds up] [the wound (like when a bandage is applied) and, thus, provides protection and comfort to the patient]: [in other words,] he [God] woundeth [wounds someone, or causes an injury], and [then] his hands make whole [bring healing]."
The last paragraph of the GotQuestions.org article entitled "What was Eliphaz the Temanite's message to Job?" says:

"Eliphaz is an example of someone responding with the world's wisdom to suffering. It made sense to Eliphaz that suffering was the consequence of sin and that, if a person suffered, he was being punished by God. However, Eliphaz was wrong. Job's life is a clear example of how sometimes the innocent suffer. God can use suffering as part of His [God's] divine plan to strengthen a believer's life and to change the lives of others for His glory."

If you want to read the rest of the article, here's the link: https://www.gotquestions.org/Eliphaz-the-Temanite.html.

For detailed background information on Job's life, read "Who was Job in the Bible?" Click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Job.html.

Regarding Job 5:17, Matthew Henry wrote:

"… Happy is the man whom God correcteth [corrects] if he make but a due [or 'an expected'] improvement of the correction. A good man is happy though he be afflicted [suffering physically or mentally], for [because], whatever he has lost, he has not lost his enjoyment of God nor his title to [a future home in] heaven. Nay [no], he is happy because he is afflicted; correction is an evidence of his sonship [meaning he is a child of God] and a means of his sanctification [i.e., being set apart for God's special use and purpose]; it mortifies [suppresses] his corruptions [misconduct, wrongdoing], weans his heart from the world [i.e., makes him have less desire for worldly pleasures], draws him nearer to God, brings him to [read and study] his Bible, brings him to his knees [in prayer], works him for, and so is working for him, a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory [referring to heavenly things]…"

(Source: https://www.biblestudytools.com/commentaries/matthew-henry-complete/job/5.html, "Verses 17-27")

AUGUST 2-3

How to Deal With Anxiety and Stress

In a letter to the church in Philippi, this was the apostle Paul's advice to Christians:

Philippians 4:6: "Be careful [full of care, troubled with care, anxious] for nothing [in other words, don't worry]; but in every thing by prayer and supplication [asking for something that you need or want] with thanksgiving [thankfulness, or 'along with giving of thanks'] let your requests be made known unto God."

Philippians 4:7: "And the peace of [i.e., the supernatural peace that comes from] God, which passeth [passes, surpasses (exceeds, goes beyond, is greater than)] all [people's, or everyone's] understanding, shall keep [guard, protect] your hearts and minds [and help you remain calm and free from anxiety and fear] through [the power of] Christ Jesus."
Regarding Philippians 4:6, Pastor Chuck Smith said:

"The answer for worry is prayer. Prayer and commitment, those things that concern me, those things that are prone [likely] to cause me to worry are the very things I need to be praying about. And once I pray about them, I need to just trust God to take care of them. I need to know that once I commit them to God, they are in His hands and He will work them out for His glory …"

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentary/philippians/4-6.html, "Smith's Bible Commentary")

GotQuestions.org has an article that answers the question "What is the peace that passes all understanding?" If you want to read it, click here: https://www.gotquestions.org/peace-that-passes-all-understanding.html.

AUGUST 1

King David prayed to God:

Psalm 84:10: "For a day in thy [your] courts [referring to a place of worship, like a synagogue or church] is better than a thousand [days spent anywhere else]. I [David] had [would] rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God [meaning he would rather be a security guard in a house of worship, or just stand at the entrance, looking in, without being allowed to enter], than to dwell in the tents of wickedness [or be in places where he could enjoy many sinful pleasures]."
To summarize the above verse, in Albert Barnes' words, "… It would be an honor and a privilege to be anywhere about [around] the place of public worship, rather than to be the occupant [resident, inhabitant] of a dwelling-place of sin." Hopefully, many Christians feel the same way.

(Source: https://www.studylight.org/commentaries/bnb/psalms-84.html, "Verse 10")