Genesis 4:1-14
Commentary
This is a story about the other side of Eden, a story about life and death, a story about brothers, a story about God. An introduction to this text could highlight current stories of life and death – stories that make it clear that we are for life and against death. When I preached on…
Genesis 45
Commentary
The Joseph narrative comes to a climax in Genesis 45. In reflecting on Joseph’s story up to this point, one can see that Joseph was both a wounded man and a broken man. He was wounded, certainly, by the loss of his mother, by the mistreatment of his brothers, by the mischaracterization by Potiphar’s wife,…
Numbers 13
Commentary
Here in Numbers 13, the Israelites have arrived at the southern border of the Promised Land. Ever since the days that they left Egypt, this is where they were heading. The land was the gift that God had promised them. This was “the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites” (13:1, emphasis…
Judges 13:1-16
Commentary
In its introduction to the book of Judges, my NIV Study Bible summarizes Samson’s life this way: “a lone hero from the tribe of Dan who delivers Israel from oppression from the west” (p. 324). The book of Judges is sometimes seen as a book of heroes, with Samson in all of his strength, standing…
Hosea 4
Commentary
When I first learned to preach, I was told that each text has one theme, and one theme only. A few years later, another teacher of preaching told me that each text has many possible legitimate themes. One must choose a theme and run that theme like a magnet over the surface of the text. …
John 8:12-20
Commentary
Jesus’ words in chapters 7 and 8 of John happen during a particular religious festival. We look back to the beginning of chapter 7 to read about the Feast of Tabernacles (or the Feast of Booths). Jesus’ brothers set out their ideas for Jesus’ travels – recommending that he go up to the Feast with…
Galatians 2:1-14
Commentary
To be differentiated as an individual is to be defined and connected at the same time. The principle of self-differentiation comes to us from the family systems theory. Aside from Christ, no human being is completely differentiated. We all, the apostle Paul included, could be plotted somewhere on the scale of differentiation of self. Sometimes…
1 Peter 3:1-12
Commentary
When we pick up the text at 1 Peter 3:1, it’s pretty clear that Peter is right in the middle of saying something quite long and profound. He is calling the believers in Asia Minor – many of whom were new converts – to good lives – to lives that are so good that they…
Revelation 19:1-10
Commentary
There are a couple of big questions that haunt my reading of Revelation 19:1-10 (especially when I read it against the backdrop of Revelation 18). What/Where/Who is Babylon? And how do I react to the fall of Babylon? When I first read Rev. 19:1-10 in preparation for writing this sermon commentary, I knew I was…
About Heidi De Jonge