Commuter Bible

Under the rule of Joshua, Israel was doing well and was off to a good start in obeying the Lord’s commands. Not long afterward, however, they begin to intermarry with the Canaanites, signaling, not only an apathy toward God’s commands, but an acceptance of the gods that the Canaanites worshiped. God declares that he will no longer drive out the Canaanites before Israel, and he leaves them in the land to test Israel’s faithfulness t...

In Matthew’s very Jewish-oriented account we have seen Jesus lauded as the coming King, we have seen the builders reject the cornerstone, and today we will see the Lamb of God who brings a greater Passover and a greater deliverance. Like Abraham’s firstborn, the Son of God is offered to God as a sacrifice, but he also the substitute offered so that we might live. A Jewish audience would have heard and understood all the parallels t...

In Matthew’s very Jewish-oriented account we have seen Jesus lauded as the coming King, we have seen the builders reject the cornerstone, and today we will see the Lamb of God who brings a greater Passover and a greater deliverance. Like Abraham’s firstborn, the Son of God is offered to God as a sacrifice, but he also the substitute offered so that we might live. A Jewish audience would have heard and understood all the parallels t...

The prophecies of the Son of David predict that a king will rise to power to shepherd the people of Israel. Jesus fits this description, and after waiting for centuries for this King, the people rejoice at the thought of a King rising to power to conquer their foes. What they don’t realize is that Jesus won’t conquer Rome or other nations, but He will instead conquer far greater foes like sin and death. The leaders despise Jesus an...

While man-made religions all try to glorify the followers and originators of the religion they promote, Christianity stands in stark contrast, for it is evident that the disciples were absolutely clueless when it came to Jesus and His teaching. Time and again, they record their confusion and ignorance, all the while elevating Christ and His wisdom and power. In today’s reading, Christ teaches on the character of His disciples and h...

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We’ll hear a number of parables from Jesus today, and according to Jesus Himself, the reason he speaks in parables is conceal the truth from those whose hearts are callous. These truths are, however, for those who have ears to hear and eyes to see, that is, those whom the Father has chosen to reveal the truth. Take note, too, of the occasions in today’s passage where Jesus tries get away by ...

If you’ve been a follower of Jesus for a while, chances are that you’ve heard many of today’s accounts before. Jesus cleanses the lepers, opens the ears of the deaf and the eyes of the blind, raises the dead, casts demons out of people, and then commissions His disciples to do the same. As you listen to today’s reading, don’t let familiarity keep you from contemplating how absolutely mind-boggling all of this would have been to tho...

Just as Moses did before Him, Jesus ascends a mountaintop in order to deliver a Word from God to those who were following Him. Unlike Moses, Jesus doesn’t need to wait for an authoritative teaching, for He Himself is the authority: he is Immanuel, God with us. As He begins His teaching, He assures the crowd that His words are not an alteration of God’s established commands; rather, His words are a fulfillment of the Law. This sermo...

The gospel of Matthew was written with a Jewish audience in mind, pointing frequently to the Old Testament to show how Christ was God’s promised Messiah and the fulfillment of the Law. Matthew looks back upon some 60 Hebrew prophecies throughout his text. Not only is He the long-awaited King, He is also the new Abraham, that is, the head of the new spiritual Israel comprised of all who follow Him. If that weren’t enough, Matthew al...

The clans and families of Israel are settling into their apportioned lands and beginning to find rest when a report spreads across the lands that the tribes on the other side of the Jordan are rebelling against God. They ready themselves for war, knowing that God is a jealous God, but later find their zealous action was in haste. Today’s reading ends with the burial of three leaders: Joshua, who experienced the exodus as well as th...

Joshua 18 – 1:08 . 

Joshua 19 – 5:42 . 

Joshua 20 – 12:47 . 

Joshua 21 – 15:37 . 

Psalm 59 – 22:25 . 

Psalm 60 – 25:07 . 

Now that the majority of the Promised Land has been conquered, the land is being divided by lot and by size according to the number of people in each tribe. Today’s reading is the last section of text detailing the division of the land, and as mentioned in the last episode, consider the excitement and the joy that Isr...

Joshua 14 - 1:10 . 

Joshua 15 - 3:55 . 

Joshua 16 - 11:46 . 

Joshua 17 - 13:22 . 

Psalm 57 – 17:36 . 

Psalm 58 - 19:24 . 

The work of conquering the Promised Land, in large part, has come to a close. Now it’s time to divide the land between the clans of Israel as Moses had instructed. To our modern ears, much of what we’ll hear today may not seem important or relevant. Try to imagine, however, if you and your family had been given large ...

Joshua 10 – 1:10 . 

Joshua 11 – 10:37 . 

Joshua 12 – 15:04 . 

Joshua 13 – 18:53 . 

Psalm 55 – 24:13 . 

Psalm 56 – 27:20 . 

A coalition of nations conspires to fight against Israel when they hear that Joshua has defeated Jericho and Ai, and they gather together to surge against them. They are no match for those with whom the Lord has covenanted, and God sends a natural disaster that lays waste to more men than the Israelites slay by the s...

Joshua 7 – 1:14 . 

Joshua 8 – 8:38 . 

Joshua 9 – 16:39 . 

Psalm 52 – 22:00 . 

Psalm 53 – 23:24 . 

Psalm 54 – 24:41 .

In our last episode, Israel had successfully crossed the Jordan on dry ground and defeated the walled city of Jericho, not by their own strength, but by the strength of God’s mighty hand over His Creation. God had instructed that all of Jericho be set apart to the Lord for destruction, with specific instruction not to take...

Joshua 1 – 1:09 . 

Joshua 2 – 4:26 . 

Joshua 3 – 10:05 . 

Joshua 4 – 13:31 . 

Joshua 5 – 18:33 . 

Joshua 6 – 21:37 . 

Psalm 51 – 27:32 . 

Moses has died, leaving Israel with a new legacy, a new Law, and a new leader. Before Moses’ death, the Lord appointed Joshua to lead and blessed Him. Today, Joshua takes charge over Israel and leads them over the Jordan and into the land of promise. You may recall that Joshua has seen the land already,...

James 1 - 1:09 . 

James 2 - 5:33 . 

James 3 - 10:58 . 

James 4 - 14:07 . 

James 5 - 17:08 . 

Psalm 50 - 21:04 . 

After spending some time writing to the church concerning trials and temptations, James writes about the role of works in the believer’s life, citing specific works such as caring for orphans & widows in their distress and avoiding favoritism. It is not one’s work that earns him salvation, rather, good works are the evidence t...

Deuteronomy 32 – 1:12 . 

Deuteronomy 33 – 12:35 . 

Deuteronomy 34 – 19:44 . 

Psalm 49 – 22:22 . 

In our final reading of the book of Deuteronomy, the Lord tells Moses that Israel will indeed rebel against Him after Moses dies. The song of Moses recorded here prophesies the coming wrath of God for Israel’s rebellion, focusing on God’s power over the worthless idols that Israel has turned to worship. After this warning, the Lord tells Mo...

Deuteronomy 29 – 1:10 . 

Deuteronomy 30 – 7:36 . 

Deuteronomy 31 – 12:51 . 

Psalm 48 – 19:37 . 

Moses continues to explain to Israel that they will be blessed if follow the Lord and cursed if they follow other gods. He calls out that thought which is so common to mankind: I am the exception to the rules, and as Moses puts it, “I will have peace even though I follow my own stubborn heart.” Contrary to what much of western society teache...

Deuteronomy 26 – 1:20 . 

Deuteronomy 27 – 5:16 . 

Deuteronomy 28 – 11:00 . 

Psalm 47 – 22:22 . 

In our reading today, Moses outlines the blessings and the curses that will fall upon Israel if they fail to keep the covenant of the Lord. Keep in mind that the covenant and the statutes include the prescribed ways that Israel can repent of sin and execute justice. To reject the statutes and ordinances is to reject a good God who loves His ...