Samuel has come to Bethlehem to anoint one of Jesse's sons as the next king of Israel, following God's rejection of Saul. Jesse presents seven of his sons to Samuel, but God rejects each one, indicating that outward appearance does not determine His choice. When Samuel asks if Jesse has any other sons, Jesse mentions his youngest, David, who is tending sheep in the fields. Samuel insists that David be brought before him, refusing to sit down for the meal until the young shepherd arrives from his duties.
[12] So he sent and brought him in. Now he was ruddy, with bright eyes, and good-looking. And the Lord said, “Arise, anoint him; for this is the one!” [13] Then Samuel took the horn of oil and anointed him in the midst of his brothers; and the Spirit of the Lord came upon David from that day forward. So Samuel arose and went to Ramah.
[14] But the Spirit of the Lord departed from Saul, and a distressing spirit from the Lord troubled him.
On that day, the Lord promises to defend Jerusalem's inhabitants, making even the weakest among them as strong as David, while the house of David will be like God or the angel of the Lord leading them. God declares He will destroy all nations that come against Jerusalem. The Lord then announces He will pour out a spirit of grace and supplication on David's house and Jerusalem's inhabitants, causing them to look upon the one they have pierced and mourn deeply for him as one mourns for an only child or firstborn son.
[8] In that day the Lord will defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; the one who is feeble among them in that day shall be like David, and the house of David shall be like God, like the Angel of the Lord before them. [9] It shall be in that day that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.
[10] “And I will pour on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and supplication; then they will look on Me whom they pierced. Yes, they will mourn for Him as one mourns for his only son, and grieve for Him as one grieves for a firstborn.
Paul has just finished explaining how he publicly confronted Peter in Antioch for withdrawing from eating with Gentile believers when certain men came from James. Paul rebuked Peter's hypocrisy because Peter's actions suggested that Gentiles needed to follow Jewish customs to be fully accepted. Paul then declared that a person is justified by faith in Christ, not by works of the law, and that he has been crucified with Christ so that Christ now lives in him. He emphasized that he does not set aside God's grace, for if righteousness came through the law, then Christ died for nothing. Having established these foundational truths about justification by faith versus works of the law, Paul now turns directly to address the Galatian believers themselves. Paul is addressing the Galatian churches.
[1] O foolish Galatians! Who has bewitched you that you should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ was clearly portrayed among you as crucified? [2] This only I want to learn from you: Did you receive the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith? [3] Are you so foolish? Having begun in the Spirit, are you now being made perfect by the flesh? [4] Have you suffered so many things in vain—if indeed it was in vain?
[5] Therefore He who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you, does He do it by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?— [6] just as Abraham “believed God, and it was accounted to him for righteousness.” [7] Therefore know that only those who are of faith are sons of Abraham.
Mary, a virgin betrothed to Joseph, is found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit before they come together in marriage. Joseph, being a righteous man and not wanting to publicly disgrace her, plans to divorce her quietly. However, an angel of the Lord appears to Joseph in a dream, explaining that Mary's child is conceived by the Holy Spirit and instructing him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The angel reveals that the child will be a son who will save His people from their sins, and Joseph is told to name Him Jesus. The angel is addressing Joseph.
[18] Now the birth of Jesus Christ was as follows: After His mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph, before they came together, she was found with child of the Holy Spirit. [19] Then Joseph her husband, being a just man, and not wanting to make her a public example, was minded to put her away secretly. [20] But while he thought about these things, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take to you Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit. [21] And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”
Paul has just begun addressing the moral superiority and judgmental attitudes prevalent among his readers, particularly those familiar with Jewish law. In the opening chapter, he condemned various forms of wickedness and idolatry among the Gentiles, establishing that humanity's sinful condition is evident to all. However, he then pivoted to confront those who would condemn others while practicing similar sins themselves, warning that God's judgment falls on all wrongdoing regardless of one's religious or cultural background. Paul emphasized that presuming upon God's kindness while remaining impenitent stores up divine wrath, and he prepared to explain that God judges impartially based on deeds rather than ethnic identity or religious privilege. Paul is addressing the Roman church, which included both Jewish and Gentile believers.
[2] But we know that the judgment of God is according to truth against those who practice such things. [3] And do you think this, O man, you who judge those practicing such things, and doing the same, that you will escape the judgment of God? [4] Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? [5] But in accordance with your hardness and your impenitent heart you are treasuring up for yourself wrath in the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God, [6] who “will render to each one according to his deeds”: [7] eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good seek for glory, honor, and immortality; [8] but to those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness—indignation and wrath, [9] tribulation and anguish, on every soul of man who does evil, of the Jew first and also of the Greek; [10] but glory, honor, and peace to everyone who works what is good, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. [11] For there is no partiality with God.
Jesus has just healed a Roman centurion's servant from a distance after commending the centurion's remarkable faith, then healed Peter's mother-in-law of a fever and cast out demons from many people brought to him that evening in Capernaum. Matthew notes this fulfills Isaiah's prophecy about bearing our infirmities. Large crowds are now gathering around Jesus by the Sea of Galilee, prompting him to give orders to cross to the other side of the lake. As Jesus prepares to depart, a scribe approaches expressing his desire to follow Jesus wherever he goes, and another disciple asks permission to first bury his father before following.
[18] And when Jesus saw great multitudes about Him, He gave a command to depart to the other side. [19] Then a certain scribe came and said to Him, “Teacher, I will follow You wherever You go.”
[20] And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”
[21] Then another of His disciples said to Him, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.”
[22] But Jesus said to him, “Follow Me, and let the dead bury their own dead.”
[23] Now when He got into a boat, His disciples followed Him. [24] And suddenly a great tempest arose on the sea, so that the boat was covered with the waves. But He was asleep. [25] Then His disciples came to Him and awoke Him, saying, “Lord, save us! We are perishing!”
[26] But He said to them, “Why are you fearful, O you of little faith?” Then He arose and rebuked the winds and the sea, and there was a great calm. [27] So the men marveled, saying, “Who can this be, that even the winds and the sea obey Him?”
John the Baptist has been baptizing and preaching in the wilderness, calling people to repentance in preparation for the coming Messiah. Religious leaders from Jerusalem have recently questioned him about his identity and authority, asking if he is the Christ, Elijah, or the Prophet. John denied being any of these figures and explained that he baptizes with water but one mightier than he is coming, whose sandals he is unworthy to untie. John testified that he did not initially know who the Messiah would be, but God told him that the one upon whom he sees the Spirit descend and remain would be the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit. Jesus has recently come to John to be baptized, and during that baptism, John witnessed the Spirit descending upon Jesus like a dove. John the Baptist is now addressing those gathered around him at the Jordan River.
[29] The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! [30] This is He of whom I said, ‘After me comes a Man who is preferred before me, for He was before me.’ [31] I did not know Him; but that He should be revealed to Israel, therefore I came baptizing with water.”
[32] And John bore witness, saying, “I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and He remained upon Him. [33] I did not know Him, but He who sent me to baptize with water said to me, ‘Upon whom you see the Spirit descending, and remaining on Him, this is He who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.’ [34] And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God.”