You can find this book in the Olive Tree App. Download the app for free and start exploring God’s Word in new ways. God bless.
The Key Word Commentary is not your average commentary. In fact, itâs incredibly different than every other commentary weâve used. It provides 10 key insights every chapter of the Bible, all 1,189 of them. Letâs take a look inside!
Whatâs Inside the Key Word Commentary?
Using the commentary is fairly straightforward. Open it to the chapter you want to learn about. Then, youâll find ten âkeyâ categories that provide summary and analysis.
There are ten key categories for each chapter:
Before and After
Analysis of Chapter
Key Verse
Key Word
Key Person/Event
Key Thought
Key Thing(s) to Look For
Key Bible Cross-Reference
Key âBy Way of Explanationâ
Key âQuotable Quoteâ
As you can imagine, this makes for a very big book. In order to find the information you are looking for in the print version, youâll thumb through over 1,000 pages. There are some resources that we donât mind using paper versions ofâŚbut this is not one of them. Look how easy it is to use the Key Word Commentary in the app.
Key Word Commentary & Olive Tree
If you open the Key Word Commentary in the main window, you can use the verse chooser to quickly open any chapter you want.
You can toggle between grid and list view by tapping the menu button in the upper-right corner.
Once you open to the section you are looking for, youâll see each of the ten âkeys.â Here is what the Key Word Commentary has to share on Genesis chapter two.
Information like this is helpful anytime youâre in need of a quick refresher. It can get you headed in the right direction for a quick Bible study or discussion.
The Key Word Commentary is also useful for jumpstarting your own personal time in the Word. Even the most confusing chapters of the Bible have these 10 key points for you to reflect on.
Using the Resource Guide
We talk about the Resource Guide all the time because it helps you get the most out of your Bible study tools. The Key Word Commentary is no exception!
Anytime youâre reading the Bible, you have quick access to the Key Word Commentary. Since this commentary covers every chapter of the Bible, it will constantly be available in the commentaries category of the Resource Guide. All you need to do is tap and it will appear side-by-side with your Bible translation.
Lastly, donât forget that all the verse references are hyperlinked! So, when the Key Word Commentary tells you about an important cross-reference, you can quickly get the scoop.
Start Studying!
Get started with the Key Word Commentary by tapping here
Psalm 51 has long been one of my favorite passages of Scripture, and I came to love it because of Jon Foremanâs song White as Snow. Other people may shy away from this psalm because itâs entirely about sin. However, itâs pretty humbling to read (and even more humbling to sing and confess to God yourself!).
I came across MacArthurâs notes on this passage in the MacArthur Study Bible. They were so helpful in reminding me of the power of this psalm.
BACKGROUND
If you didnât know already, hereâs the background of Psalm 51:
âThis is the classic passage in the OT on manâs repentance and Godâs forgiveness of sin. Along with Ps. 32, it was written by David after his affair with Bathsheba and his murder of Uriah, her husband (2 Sam. 11â12). It is one of seven poems called penitential psalms (Ps. 6, 32, 38, 51, 102, 130, 143). To Davidâs credit, he recognized fully how horrendous his sin was against God, blamed no one but himself, and begged for divine forgiveness.â
OUTLINE: Plea for Forgiveness (51:1â2); Proffer of Confession (51:3â6); Prayer for Moral Cleanness (51:7â12); Promise of Renewed Service (51:13â17); Petition for National Restoration (51:18â19).â
TAKEAWAYS
Ps. 51:1 Steadfast Love
âEven though he had sinned horribly, David knew that forgiveness was available, based on Godâs covenant love.â
Have you ever been overwhelmed by your own sin, to the point of believing that God would abandon you? Or perhaps, you are so frustrated by what you have done, you become severely depressed and donât know how you can keep on going? Sin can make us feel as if we are entirely unloveable.
But MacArthur points out here in his notes that David, before apologizing for his sin, calls on Godâs unconditional love. Remember, David just MURDERED someone. Murder! I canât image the weight of the shame and guilt he must have been carrying. Iâm so thankful that the Bible doesnât cover up the mistakes of Godâs people. Instead, we can read this and be encouraged.
Ps. 51:4 Against You, You Only
âDavid realized what every believer seeking forgiveness must, that even though he had tragically wronged Bathsheba and Uriah, his ultimate crime was against God and his holy law (cf. 2 Sam. 11:27). Romans 3:4 quotes Ps. 51:4.â
When we sin, it is so important to remember that our mistakes are ultimately against God. I can think of two good reasons for meditating on this idea. The first is that we donât want to act as if our sin only has to do with other peopleâit affects our relationship with God and we need reconciliation with Him. We need to ask for forgiveness! But also, we know that God is faithful and just to forgive us, and it is His forgiveness that matters. We are able to move past our sin and pursue holiness, even when the people we have sinned against wonât accept our apology.
Ps. 51:6 You Will Not Delight in Sacrifice
âRitual without genuine repentance is useless. However, with a right heart attitude, sacrifices were acceptable (see v. 19).â
What kind of rituals surrounding repentance have we created? Maybe at your church, you recite a prayer of repentance each week. Or, it may be that you have a habit of asking God for forgiveness, but itâs become numb to you. God cares less about the action and more about the heart. Make sure to take the time you need to truly repent of your wrongdoing. Your relationship with God (and own struggle with sin, guilt, and shame) will be better for it.
Dig Deeper!
If you enjoyed the content above, get more like it with the MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Edition which is available in three translations!
NASB MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Ed.
ESV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Ed.
NKJV MacArthur Study Bible, 2nd Ed.
It takes intentionality to reflect on Christ during the busy seasons of our lives. Below, youâll find an excerpt from the Preaching the Word Commentary on John. Weâve grabbed the section that covers John 1:1-3, a great section for meditating on the eternal Christ and person of Jesus.
The Greatness of the Eternal Christ
It is rightly said that each of the Gospels presents Christ with a distinctive emphasis. Matthew emphasizes his kingship, Mark his servanthood, Luke his manhood, and John his Godhood. Certainly all of the Gospels present all four truths, but their separate emphases have allowed them unique functions in telling the story of Christ.
INTRO TO JOHN
John is unique in his powerful presentation of Jesus as the great Creator-God of the universe. His massive vision of Christ has been used countless times to open the eyes of unbelievers to who Jesus is and the way of redemption.
This Gospelâs continuing effect on Christians is equally profound because in Johnâs account believers find an ongoing source for expanding their concept of the Saviorâs greatness. The serious student of John will find that each time he returns to the Gospel, Christ will be a little bigger â something like Lucyâs experience with the lion Aslan (the Christ symbol in C. S. Lewisâs Chronicles of Narnia) as she again gazed into his large, wise face.
“Welcome, child,” he said.
“Aslan,” said Lucy, “you’re bigger.”
“That is because you are older, little one,” answered he.
“Not because you are?”
“I am not. But every year you grow, you will find me bigger.”
My hope is that as we work our way through the wonders of this book, we will find Christ bigger and bigger and bigger.
The prologue to Johnâs Gospel (vv. 1-18) is considered to be one of the most sublime sections in all of Scripture. Some believe it was an early Christian âHymn of the Incarnate Word,â for Christâs incarnation is its subject, and it is marvelously poetic. Even more, it introduces us to some of the major ideas of the book: the cosmic Christ who came as light into the world, suffered rejection, but gave âgrace upon graceâ (1:16, RSV) to those who received him. This hymn gives us a sense of the matchless greatness of Christ (vv. 1-3), the greatness of his love (vv. 4-13), and the greatness of his grace (vv. 14-18).
As John begins this introductory song, the force of what he says is so staggering that the words almost seem to bend under the weight they are made to bear. The opening three verses are an amazingly congealed expression of the greatness of Christ.
THE GREATNESS OF CHRIST (VV. 1-3)
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. (vv. 1-3)
ETERNALLY PREEXISTENT
âIn the beginning was the Word.â There never was a time when Christ did not exist because the word âwasâ is in the Greek imperfect tense, which means âwas continuing.â In fact, the entire first verse bears this sense. âIn the beginning was continuing the Word, and the Word was continuing with God, and the Word was continually God.â Or as one of my friends accurately (though ungrammatically) concluded, âJesus always was wasing!â That is precisely it. Jesus Christ is preexistent. He always was continuing. Christ is eternal.
If you are like me, this kind of thinking makes for a super-headache. Our minds look backward until time disappears and thought collapses in exhaustion. Thus we begin our thoughts of the greatness of Christ. (The same thought can be found in 2 Corinthians 8:9, Philippians 2:6, and Colossians 1:17.)
ETERNALLY IN RELATIONSHIP
Next the apostle adds, âand the Word was with God.â Literally, âthe Word was continually toward God.â The Father and the Son were continually face to face. The preposition âwithâ bears the idea of nearness, along with a sense of movement toward God. That is to say, there has always existed the deepest equality and intimacy in the Holy Trinity.
Again our minds stagger as we think of Jesus as always having continued (without beginning and without end) in perfect joyous intimacy with the Father.
ETERNALLY GOD
Moreover, as the final phrase of verse 1 adds, âand the Word was God.â The exact meaning is that the Word was God in essence and character. He was God in every way, though he was a separate person from God the Father. The phrase perfectly preserves Jesusâ separate identity, while also stating that he is God. This was his continuing identity from all eternity. He was God constantly.
The simple sentence of verse 1 is the most compact and pulsating theological statement in all of Scripture. Jesus was always existing from all eternity as God, in perfect fellowship with God the Father and (though not mentioned) the Holy Spirit. He is the cosmic Christ.
Learn More!
Did you enjoy this excerpt? We pulled it straight from the Preaching the Word Commentary.
Click here to get a copy!
The New American Commentary collects the best in contemporary evangelical scholarship in a series that examines the entire Bible in depth. This commentary consistently supports the inerrancy of Scripture and contributing scholars all hold explicit commitments to Scriptureâs infallibility. Its distinctive perspective is a focus on the theological ideas springing from Scripture. Along with the textual grounding of an expository commentary, the New American Commentary also focuses on the broader strokes of theology developed by each book, and interprets each book as a theological unity. Rooted in conservative theology, the New American Commentary also directly engages a wide range of theological and exegetical issues raised by contemporary biblical scholarship.
Based on the NIV Bible text, the New American Commentary offers a verse-by-verse analysis of the Scriptures. A mid-level commentary, its scholarship reflects comprehensive biblical research in original languages, but avoids overly-technical prose to maintain accessibility to readers without a seminary background.
On Sale Now!
New American Commentary (42 Vols.)
In First Samuel, we see Israel transition from a system of Judges to a monarchy. Although the narrative does give us a close-up view of what got the nation to this point, itâs helpful to zoom out and examine the factors at play. Why would Israel prefer a system like the other nations? Letâs examine the 5 reasons Israel wanted Saul as king, according to the New American Commentary.
The Lord Gives Israel a King âSuch as All Other Nations Haveâ
This second major section of 1, 2 Samuel details the outworking of one of the Torahâs most important predictions, the transfer of supreme social influence in Israelite culture from judges and Levites to kings. 1 Samuel 8:1-14:51 functions as a historical commentary on Deut 16:18-17:20 and provides insights into both the proximate and underlying causes for Israelâs immutable decision to be ruled by an earthly king. As presented in 1 Samuel 8, the following political, military, and spiritual factors underlay Israelâs demand for a leadership change:
1. The failure to establish a system producing an adequate number of qualified judges to lead Israel (8:3-5; cf. Deut 16:18).
In particular, the ability of the judgeship system to provide a system of succession failed. Four different judges were mentioned in the Bible as having sons who held positions of leadership following their fathersâ deaths. In three of the casesâGideonâs, Eliâs, and Samuelâsâthe sons were portrayed as unworthy successors. In the one instance where apparently successful succession did occurâJairâit does not appear to have been carried on past one generation (Judg 10:4).
2. The desire of the people to have a national, rather than local or regional, government (cf. 8:4).
Samuel is the first judge in the Bible who was accorded truly national status; eleven times in the Hebrew Bible, Samuel is noted as leading, or at least being influential, throughout all Israel. Biblical narrative accounts give no suggestion that any of the judges prior to Samuel ministered to all Israel.
Samuelâs influence as both prophet and judge exceeded his regional boundaries, suggesting that he was a transitional figure, preparing Israel for more formal national leadership. His leadership over extensive regions indicates that Israel was moving away from the Torah ideal of numerous simultaneous judgeships (Deut 16:18). Likely this situation came about because of a lack of qualified candidates in many localities (cf. 8:2-3), reflective of the generally degraded state of Israelite society at that time. While exercising less control than a king, Samuelâs career seems a necessary event in preparing Israel for monarchy.
3. The perceived need for more human military leadership in armed conflicts against other nations (cf. 8:20).
Israelâs elders considered the tribesâ external military threats to be sufficiently serious to warrant a fundamental change in leadership style. It is reasonable to assume that economic considerations, especially the desire of wealthy Israelites to preserve their wealth from foreign confiscation, played a key role in the call for a strengthened military structure.
4. The desire of the people to have a form of national government that was âlike the other nationsâ (cf. 8:5, 20).
The Torah had foreseen a day when Israel would desire a king âlike the nationsâ (Deut 17:14) surrounding them, and in the latter part of Samuelâs career that day came. The Torah implicitly suggests this event would be undesirable, since Israel was to be fundamentally different from the other nations; the Lord was to be their king, with the nation set apart for service to their divine monarch.
5. The more fundamental reason for Israel desiring a king, however, was spiritual: they had rejected God as their king (8:7).
The Bible indicates that the concept of the Lordâs kingship over Israel was as old as the foundations of Israelite society, being traced to Moses (Deut 33:5) and acclaimed by non-Israelites (Num 23:21). Any attempt to have an earthly king to take the Lordâs rightful place (cf. 8:20) would end catastrophically.
Remarkably enough, the Lord honored the peopleâs request, giving them precisely what they requestedâSaul, a king âsuch as all the other nations haveâ (cf. 8:5). Saul, son of Kish, was as physically impressive and spiritually blind as the pagans. Saulâs unfitness to lead the Lordâs people is foreshadowed in the opening narrative portrait of Israelâs first king (9:3-10:16). There Saul is depicted as a bad shepherd, a metaphorical image in Semitic societies of an incompetent or ruinous leader.
Saulâs Spiritual Incompetence
This dark hint is reinforced in the writerâs selection of narrative details that illustrate spiritual incompetence of almost legendary proportions. Because of his spiritual obtuseness, Saul was able to live within five miles of Samuel, the most significant spiritual figure since Moses, and yet be completely ignorant of the prophet-reformerâs existence. So complete was Saulâs darkness that he had to be told by his servant that a prophet could help him, and even then Saul assumed that prophets needed to be hired to perform their divine task. He displayed a fundamental ignorance of basic Torah regulations in such areas as diet and military conduct, and when he did institute Torah-based reforms, he exempted himself from them. His hypocrisy was most glaring when he attempted to justify his failure to destroy the Amalekites (15:9; Deut 25:19) and when he sought guidance from sources explicitly forbidden by the Torah (28:3-19; Deut 18:10-14).
Clearly deliberate parallels are established between Saul and Achish, the Philistine king of Gath, further reinforcing the notion that Saul was a king âsuch as all the other nations haveâ. Both were impressed with David and had him serve as a personal bodyguard; both believed David was a serious threat to Saul; and both misjudged David, though in opposite ways.
The biblical writer passes judgment on Saul for his failure to live up to fundamental Torah guidelines. But more importantly the writer faults Israel for desiring a king who was not âafter Godâs own heart,â that is, wholeheartedly devoted to God.
Get More Like It!
Did the above commentary interest you? Click the link below to continue learning!
New American Commentary (42 Vols.)
“Life is beautiful, but everyday is what you make it.”
William MacDonald’s Believer’s Bible Commentary offers a concise, accessible, yet thorough commentary that will equip newcomers to the faith and seasoned believers alike to make Bible study a part of their daily life. Covering every verse of the Bible, it furnishes reverent, reliable, and comprehensive help. Tackling difficult passages head-on, it seeks to provide a clear understanding using a balanced approach.
This revised and expanded second edition of Thomas Nelson’s bestselling commentary now includes fourteen pages of full-color maps of the Holy Land along with additional study aids. The Believer’s Bible Commentary is designed to be used with any Bible translation and yields a friendly guide to exploring the deeper meaning of every biblical book.
Get to know the author:
William MacDonald was President of Emmaus Bible College, teacher, Plymouth Brethren theologian and a prolific author of over 84 published books. MacDonald refused to accept royalties for his books, but established a fund for translating his work Believers Bible Commentary into foreign languages.
Save 50%
Believerâs Bible Commentary
When Jesus was hanging on the cross, one dying thief demonstrated how someone can be on the brink of death and still call Christ Lord. No matter where you are in life, thereâs always time to recognize Jesusâ lordship in your own life. Read the below notes from the MacArthur Bible Commentary.
Luke 23:32, 39-43
âTwo others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him.â (v. 32)
âOne of the criminals who were hanged railed at him, saying âAre you not the Christ? Save yourself and us!â But the other rebuked him, saying, âDo you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed justly, for we are receiving the due reward of our deeds; but this man has done nothing wrong.â And he said, âJesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.â And he said to him, âTruly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise.ââ (v. 39- 43)
Verse-by-Verse Notes
23:32|two others, criminals.** This word denotes a rebel and brigand who plunders as he steals. These were probably cohorts of Barabbas in the rebellion, since robbery itself was not a capital offense under Roman law.
23:39|one of the criminals.** Matthew 27:44 and Mark 15:32 report that both criminals were mocking Christ along with the crowd. As the hours wore on, however, this criminalâs conscience was smitten, and he repented. When the impenitent thief resumed his mocking (v. 39), this thief rebuked him and refused to participate again.
23:41|this Man has done nothing wrong.** Even the thief testified of Jesusâ innocence.
23:42|Lord, remember me.** The penitent thief âs prayer reflected his belief that the soul lives on after death, that Christ had a right to rule over a kingdom of the souls of men, and that He would soon enter that kingdom despite His impending death. His request to be remembered was a plea for mercy, which also reveals that the thief understood he had no hope but divine grace, and that the dispensing of that grace lay in Jesusâ power. All of this demonstrates true faith on the part of the dying thief, and Christ graciously affirmed the manâs salvation (v. 43).
Key Word: Paradise
23:43|Paradise**âlit. *âgardenâ* or âpark.â The Septuagint uses this word literally in Ecclesiastes 2:5 and Song of Solomon 4:13, although the term also refers to the Garden of Eden (see Gen. 2:8). Later, Paradise was described as the place of the righteous dead in Sheol (Luke 16:19â31). When Jesus spoke to the thief on the cross, He assured him that he would that day reside with Him in Paradise (23:42). This seems to indicate that this word refers to a pleasant place for the righteous among the dead. Revelation 2:7 speaks of Paradise as the restitution of an Edenic paradise, an everlasting home for believers (cf. Gen. 2 and Rev. 22).
Keep Reading!
This one-volume commentary is full of helpful notes and articles.
Get your copy of the MacArthur Bible Commentary today and keep diving deeper into the Word!
You want a deeper understanding of the Scriptures, but the notes in your study Bible don’t give you enough depth or insight. This commentary was created with you in mind.
The Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary is a nontechnical, section-by-section commentary on the whole Bible that provides reliable and readable interpretations of the Scriptures from forty-three leading evangelical scholars. A complete revision of the well-known Baker Commentary on the Bible, this updated resource features new articles and vibrant images, complete with photos, maps, and timelines to illustrate the text.
This information-packed commentary will help you gain a deeper understanding of the Bible in your own personal study or in preparation for teaching. It tackles problematic questions, calls attention to the spiritual and personal aspects of the biblical message, and brings out important points of biblical theology, making it invaluable to anyone seeking to get the most out of their Bible study.
Buy Now!
Click here to get the Baker Illustrated Bible Commentary
This can be purchased in the Olive Tree Bible App. It can be downloaded on your mobile device. God bless you.
Bible commentaries and study notes are great tools for understanding what the Bible has to say to us today. Often overlooked, however, is the value that using scripture to understand scripture can bring. Godâs inspired word is a complex tapestry of themes all woven together, and the development of those themes can provide us with insight into the relevant message of the Bible for todayâs readers.
USING SCRIPTURE TO INTERPRET SCRIPTURE
Finding our way around these themes can be a daunting task, especially given the variety of subjects covered in the Bible. A word search can be helpful, but it can give an incomplete picture due to the complexity of language and the context in which words are used.
The great news is that you can use tools like the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible. It links various themes together as they are mentioned and developed throughout Scripture.
The very heart of this product is the thematic chains that number in the thousands and people at all stages of learning about the Bible have used it in the 100 years since its initial release. The Thompson Chain resource is also a great study Bible, offering cross-references, book outlines, book introductions, maps, and harmonies to aid us in our study.
THOMPSON CHAIN IN THE APP
Weâve put quite a bit of attention into converting the rich topical content so it can be used in the app. Our goal was to make navigating the famous topical chains easy and intuitive and to allow quick access to the additional materials as well.
Weâre going to walk through a quick example of how the Olive Tree Bible App can make navigating the Thompson Chain Reference Study Bible enjoyable and easy. The example uses and refers to the iPad version of our software. Weâve designed this resource to work seamlessly with the built-in resource guide
USING THE STUDY CENTER
If you want to follow along with the example, bring 1 Samuel chapter 17 up in your Bible. With everything set up, the screen will look similar to this, depending on what resources you have:
To see the chains, tap the name of the Thompson Chain under the Commentaries section of the resource guide. Your split-window view will change to a listing of verses directly related to your location:
Choose the verse you want by tapping on it in the split window. In this example weâll choose 17:4:
You can now choose the theme you want to explore in the list under that verse, for instance, choosing 1409, Descendants of Rapha results in the following:
Now itâs as easy as tapping on each verse reference to get a popup where you can read the appropriate Bible text.
When you are done with this chain, you can tap the back arrow at the upper left corner of the split screen to return to the verse menu.
SEARCH PEOPLE AND TOPICS
There are also some other gems available but a little less obvious. For this example, tap the David entry under the People section. After youâve tapped on it, the screen will look like this:
The Resource Guide automatically shows you that there is an article on David available in the Thompson Chain resource. Tap on the article to read it.
There is also a map on the Journeys of David under the Maps section that you can open.
Tap the map to make it full screen, and pinch and zoom to make the image larger:
Buy Now!
We hope that youâll start learning about the value of using scripture to interpret scripture!
Click here to get a copy of the newly released NIV Thompson Chain Reference Bible
Each volume in the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series breaks down the barriers between the ancient and modern worlds so that the power and meaning of the biblical texts become transparent to contemporary readers. They present a careful section-by-section exposition of the biblical books with key terms and phrases highlighted and all Hebrew transliterated. Notes at the close of each chapter provide additional textual and technical comments for those who want to dig deeper. A bibliography as well as Scripture and subject indexes are also included. Pastors, students, and Bible teachers will find in this series a commitment to accessibility without sacrificing serious scholarship.
Huge Discounts!
For a limited time, save 80% on the Understanding the Bible Commentary Series (36 Vols.).
Food for the Soul 