"Righteousness and justice are the foundation of Your throne," emphasizing that God's rule and character are built upon moral perfection, fairness, truth, and steadfast love, forming the bedrock of His governance. This means His authority isn't arbitrary but rooted in unchanging principles, with mercy and truth preceding His presence.
The "spirit of truth" and the "spirit of deception" (or error) are biblical concepts from 1 John 4, distinguishing those led by God from those led astray; the spirit of truth aligns with God's Word, the apostles' teachings (especially Jesus's incarnation), and leads to love and obedience, while the spirit of deception rejects these, speaks lies, and leads to spiritual error, often characterized by disobedience to God's established truth and authority, like the Church's Magisterium.
The Great Commission
(Matthew 28:16–20)
14Later, as they were eating, Jesus appeared to the Eleven and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they did not believe those who had seen Him after He had risen.
15And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 16Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: In My name they will drive out demons; they will speak in new tongues;d 18they will pick up snakes with their hands, and if they drink any deadly poison, it will not harm them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will be made well.”
Daniel 7:13-14
In my vision in the night I continued to watch, and I saw One like the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into His presence. / And He was given dominion, glory, and kingship, that the people of every nation and language should serve Him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and His kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.
Philippians 2:9-11
Therefore God exalted Him to the highest place and gave Him the name above all names, / that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, / and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Ephesians 1:20-22
which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, / far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. / And God put everything under His feet and made Him head over everything for the church,
Colossians 1:16-18
For in Him all things were created, things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities. All things were created through Him and for Him. / He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together. / And He is the head of the body, the church; He is the beginning and firstborn from among the dead, so that in all things He may have preeminence.
Hebrews 1:2-3
But in these last days He has spoken to us by His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, and through whom He made the universe. / The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of His nature, upholding all things by His powerful word. After He had provided purification for sins, He sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high.
John 3:35
The Father loves the Son and has placed all things in His hands.
John 17:2
For You granted Him authority over all people, so that He may give eternal life to all those You have given Him.
1 Corinthians 15:27
For “God has put everything under His feet.” Now when it says that everything has been put under Him, this clearly does not include the One who put everything under Him.
Revelation 1:5
and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us and has released us from our sins by His blood,
Revelation 17:14
They will make war against the Lamb, and the Lamb will triumph over them, because He is Lord of lords and King of kings; and He will be accompanied by His called and chosen and faithful ones.”
Psalm 2:6-8
“I have installed My King on Zion, upon My holy mountain.” / I will proclaim the decree spoken to Me by the LORD: “You are My Son; today I have become Your Father. / Ask Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance, the ends of the earth Your possession.
Psalm 110:1-2
A Psalm of David. The LORD said to my Lord: “Sit at My right hand until I make Your enemies a footstool for Your feet.” / The LORD extends Your mighty scepter from Zion: “Rule in the midst of Your enemies.”
Isaiah 9:6-7
For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given, and the government will be upon His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. / Of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish and sustain it with justice and righteousness from that time and forevermore. The zeal of the LORD of Hosts will accomplish this.
Isaiah 22:21-22
I will clothe him with your robe and tie your sash around him. I will put your authority in his hand, and he will be a father to the dwellers of Jerusalem and to the house of Judah. / I will place on his shoulder the key to the house of David. What he opens no one can shut, and what he shuts no one can open.
Jeremiah 23:5-6
Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and He will reign wisely as King and will administer justice and righteousness in the land. / In His days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is His name by which He will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.
James is writing about people who profess to know Christ.
These are people who stray from the truth into doctrinal error and sin because they were
never truly submitted to Christ’s lordship.
They are like the seed thrown on shallow or rocky soil that withered with no root
(Mark 4:1–9; Luke 8:4–8)
Never accepted the authority of God’s kingdom over their lives by confessing faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.
Romans 2:1-11:
Psalm 9:8:
John 7:24:
2 Thessalonians 1:5-10
Based on Truth:
God judges according to truth, not appearances, ensuring justice prevails.
Final & Ultimate:
It points to a future, complete reckoning where all deeds, good or evil,
are brought to light,
as described in the Book of Revelation
Christ as Judge:
Jesus Christ acts as the righteous judge, stating He judges as He hears the Father's will, not His own
Revealed Through Suffering:
The way believers endure suffering for their faith serves as evidence of God's righteous judgment
and their worthiness for His kingdom, while unbelievers face wrath
Fair & Impartial:
It's not swayed by emotion or external pressure, but rooted in God's unchanging nature,
judging individuals by their deeds and the condition of their hearts
God's righteous judgment is His fair, impartial, and just evaluation of humanity,
based on perfect standards
of truth and holiness, culminating in eternal consequences
for sin and vindication for the righteous,
often revealed through Christ and demonstrated by how people
respond to His will and endure trials.
It serves to restore order, protect the innocent, and
uphold His character,
contrasting with unrighteous, self-serving human judgment.
David begins by sitting quietly before God, certain that rescue
comes from Him alone. God is pictured as an immovable rock, a towering fortress,
the one place where trembling hearts find steady ground.
Paul warns Timothy, an elder of the church in Ephesus, that there will come a time when people “will not endure sound doctrine” (2 Timothy 4:3, NKJV); instead, “they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.” The idea of “enduring” sound teaching has to do with “tolerating” it or putting up with it. In other words, people will refuse to listen to what is good and right. They will be intolerant of the truth.
Prior to the warning, Paul establishes the source and utility of the Scriptures. The Scriptures are from the mouth of God, or God-breathed, and are beneficial for teaching, among other things, which leads to the maturing and equipping of the Christian (2 Timothy 3:16–17). This maturing and equipping has the purpose of allowing the believer to complete every good work that God has ordained.
Paul exhorts Timothy to be ready to proclaim the Scriptures at all times (2 Timothy 4:1–2), exhorting and correcting others by using the Word of God. Timothy is to study, practice, and then teach the Scriptures (cf. Ezra 7:10). In 2 Timothy 4:3, Paul provides the reason for urgency in such a task: “For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine.”
The Greek word translated “doctrine” is simply referring to “teaching” or “instruction.” Often, teaching and instruction systematized is understood as doctrine. The Greek word translated as “sound” can also be understood as “healthy” or “free from error.” Paul is warning Timothy that there will come a time when people will not desire to hear true or correct teaching—teaching that accords with reality. Instead, “they will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear” (2 Timothy 4:3, NLT).
Christ's Coming Judgment
(Genesis 3:1-7; Genesis 7:1-5; Romans 5:12-21)
1Behold this second epistle I write to you, my dearly beloved, in which, I stir up by way of admonition your sincere mind: 2That you may be mindful of those words which I told you before from the holy prophet and of your apostles, of the precepts of the Lord and Saviour.
3Knowing this first: That in the last days there shall come deceitful scoffers, walking after their own lusts, 4Saying: Where is his promise or his coming? For since the time that the fathers slept, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. 5For this they are wilfully ignorant of: That the heavens were before, and the earth out of water and through water, consisting by the word of God: 6Whereby the world that then was, being overflowed with water, perished. 7But the heavens and the earth which are now, by the same word are kept in store, reserved unto fire against the day of judgment and perdition of the ungodly men.
8But of this one thing be not ignorant, my beloved, that one day with the Lord is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9The Lord delayeth not his promise, as some imagine, but dealeth patiently for your sake, not willing that any should perish, but that all should return to penance,
The Day of the Lord
(Zephaniah 1:7-18; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)
10But the day of the Lord shall come as a thief, in which the heavens shall pass away with great violence and the elements shall be melted with heat and the earth and the works which are in it shall be burnt up.
11Seeing then that all these things are to be dissolved, what manner of people ought you to be in holy conversation and godliness? 12Looking for and hasting unto the coming of the day of the Lord, by which the heavens being on fire shall be dissolved, and the elements shall melt with the burning heat? 13But we look for new heavens and a new earth according to his promises, in which justice dwelleth.
Final Exhortations
14Wherefore, dearly beloved, waiting for these things, be diligent that you may be found before him unspotted and blameless in peace. 15And account the longsuffering of our Lord, salvation: as also our most dear brother Paul, according to the wisdom given him, hath written to you: 16As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are certain things hard to be understood, which the unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, to their own destruction. 17You therefore, brethren, knowing these things before, take heed, lest being led aside by the error of the unwise, you fall from your own steadfastness. 18But grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and unto the day of eternity, Amen.
Verses 1 and 2 of chapter 12 flow naturally from the end of chapter 11, providing a direct application of the points made in that passage.
Previously, the writer of Hebrews listed dramatic examples of God's use of faith.
This included references to personal examples of faith, such as Abraham (Hebrews 11:17–19), as well as some of the amazing feats which Old Testament believers were able to achieve (Hebrews 11:30–35). And yet, this discussion also included mention of the hardships faced by these faithful ones (Hebrews 11:35–38).
Amazingly, God's love for us—those who are still able to hear and respond to the gospel today—is the reason
He has waited to fully deliver His ultimate victory over sin and suffering (Hebrews 11:39–40).
The writer's answer is deceptively simple, and easy to misunderstand when this verse is taken out of context. The proper response of a Christian, given all of the "witnesses" to godly faith, and their success despite their hardships, and in light of God's loving patience, is to purposefully shed our sins and selfishness and "hold fast" as we strive to fulfill the plans God has in store for us.
All we know of God's former work should inspire us to complete, dedicated devotion to His will.
As the next verse will remind us, the ultimate example of this is Christ Himself.
Not only did Jesus exemplify how we ought to live our lives (Hebrews 2:10–11), He did so by resisting all of the temptations we face (Hebrews 4:15), and with a firm understanding that His suffering was part of God's plan to "work together for good" everything for His glory and our benefit (Romans 8:28; Philippians 2:8–11).
Judges 17 and 18 record the story of a man named Micah who built a shrine and worshiped human-made idols.
(This man should not to be confused with the prophet Micah.)
Obviously, what Micah did was wrong.
The author of the Book of Judges includes the story in order to teach us some lessons.
First, it is clear that worshiping idols stands in opposition to God’s commands. The first of the Ten Commandments reads, “You shall have no other gods before me” (Exodus 20:3).
Second, external religious actions are not enough; faith in the true God is required. Micah was certainly zealous. He built a shrine, made an ephod to use in religious activities, and fashioned some household idols. He was excited to have hired his own, personal priest: “Now I know that the LORD will be good to me, since this Levite has become my priest” (Judges 17:13). However, Micah’s actions were not based on the teachings of God’s Word. He sought to serve God the way he wanted, not the way God had commanded.
Third, false beliefs lead to wrong actions. When the people of Dan inquired concerning a place to settle, Micah’s priest told them what they wanted to hear: “Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval” (Judges 18:6). Yet the Danites’ journey was a violent one that resulted in the destruction of a peaceful town.
Fourth, sinful actions by one person can have a long-term impact. The closing verses of this account leave us with these words: “The Danites set up for themselves the idol, and Jonathan son of Gershom, the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued to use the idol Micah had made, all the time the house of God was in Shiloh” (Judges 18:30–31). Micah’s false gods led to false worship among an entire tribe of Israel for several generations. We may not think our sinful actions hurt others, yet they do. They can even leave a long-term negative impact on entire communities for years to come.
The Micah of Judges 17—18 offers an example of how not to worship God, and his story illustrates the consequences of practicing religion according to what we think is best rather than according to God’s teachings. God’s Word is given to guide and protect us, as well as to bring Him glory. As 2 Timothy 3:16–17 teaches, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
Some Bible verses are incorporated like footnotes from the writer or narrator to help interpret or explain how certain events could occur. An example appears in Judges 17:6: “In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes” (NKJV). The same commentary recurs in the concluding verse of the book: “In those days Israel had no king; all the people did whatever seemed right in their own eyes” (Judges 21:25, NLT).
Everyone did what was right in his own eyes equates to saying that a state of anarchy existed in Israel. The phrase originates in the Pentateuch. Israel’s wilderness wandering period was an unsettled time when some of the sacrifices and tithes were not being offered. Moses described this time as “everyone doing whatever is right in his own eyes” (Deuteronomy 12:8, ESV). The haphazard worship of those days would end in the Promised Land, which would allow for a more stable mode of community life (Deuteronomy 12:9–14).
The days of the judges were dark and troubling times for the nation of Israel. Moses had commanded the people to do what is right in God’s eyes (Exodus 15:26; Deuteronomy 6:18; 12:25, 28; 13:19; 21:9). But, after the death of Moses and then Joshua, the people quickly went astray. Judges 17 is the account of Micah and his family, provided as an example of the widespread corruption taking place among the people. Idolatry and moral confusion were rampant. Without a king over the people, everyone did what was right in his own eyes. There was no central governing authority to maintain discipline and order in Israel, and the result was lawlessness.
They did what was right in their own eyes is equivalent to today’s philosophy that “if it feels right, then do it” or “you be you.” Nowadays, we “do our own thing” and sing songs that boast, “I did it my way,” as though this is a good thing. But such moral subjectivism got Israel into trouble, leading the nation into the depths of depravity and moral decay. It will do the same for societies today.
God has an absolute right way spelled out for us in His Word. Proverbs 14:34 puts it like this:
“Godliness makes a nation great, but sin is a disgrace to any people” (NLT).
The same proverb warns,
“There is a way that appears to be right, but in the end it leads to death”
(Proverbs 14:12).
If everyone does whatever is right in his own eyes, spiritual confusion and compromise arise,
and nations fall into disgrace.
God calls His people to obedience and conformity to the standards of right living in His Word:
“He will give eternal life
to those who keep on doing good,
seeking after the
glory and honor and immortality
that God offers.
But he will pour out his anger and wrath on those who live for themselves, who refuse to obey the truth and instead live lives of wickedness. There will be trouble and calamity for everyone who keeps on doing what is evil—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. But there will be glory and honor and peace from God for all who do good—for the Jew first and also for the Gentile. For God does not show favoritism”
(Romans 2:7–11, NLT).
Thankfully, when we call on the name of Jesus, we are made right in God’s eyes through Jesus Christ’s work of redemption
(1 Corinthians 6:9–11; Romans 8:3–4).
God’s Spirit guides
and
empowers us to live righteous and holy lives
so that we no longer do
as we
please but instead live to please Him
(Romans 8:11–14; Galatians 5:19–24; Ephesians 4:22–24; Philippians 2:12–13; Hebrews 8:10).
Jeremiah 6:17
I appointed watchmen over you and said, ‘Listen for the sound of the ram’s horn.’ But they answered, ‘We will not listen!’
Ezekiel 3:17-19
“Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel. Whenever you hear a word from My mouth, give them a warning from Me. / If I say to the wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ but you do not warn him or speak out to warn him from his wicked way to save his life, that wicked man will die in his iniquity, and I will hold you responsible for his blood. / But if you warn a wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness and his wicked way, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved yourself.
Micah 3:8
As for me, however, I am filled with power by the Spirit of the LORD, with justice and courage, to declare to Jacob his transgression and to Israel his sin.
Hosea 8:1
Put the ram’s horn to your lips! An eagle looms over the house of the LORD, because the people have transgressed My covenant and rebelled against My law.
Jeremiah 1:17
Get yourself ready. Stand up and tell them everything that I command you. Do not be intimidated by them, or I will terrify you before them.
Ezekiel 33:7-9
As for you, O son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word from My mouth and give them the warning from Me. / If I say to the wicked, ‘O wicked man, you will surely die,’ but you do not speak out to dissuade him from his way, then that wicked man will die in his iniquity, yet I will hold you accountable for his blood. / But if you warn the wicked man to turn from his way, and he does not turn from it, he will die in his iniquity, but you will have saved your life.
Amos 3:7-8
Surely the Lord GOD does nothing without revealing His plan to His servants the prophets. / The lion has roared—who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken—who will not prophesy?
Joel 2:1
Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near--
Jeremiah 4:5
Announce in Judah, proclaim in Jerusalem, and say: “Blow the ram’s horn throughout the land. Cry aloud and say, ‘Assemble yourselves and let us flee to the fortified cities.’
Jeremiah 11:6
Then the LORD said to me, “Proclaim all these words in the cities of Judah and in the streets of Jerusalem, saying: Hear the words of this covenant and carry them out.
Matthew 3:7-8
But when John saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming to his place of baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? / Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance.
Matthew 23:13-15
Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You shut the kingdom of heaven in men’s faces. You yourselves do not enter, nor will you let in those who wish to enter. / Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You traverse land and sea to win a single convert, and when he becomes one, you make him twice as much a son of hell as you are.
Luke 3:7-9
Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? / Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. / The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.”
Acts 20:31
Therefore be alert and remember that for three years I never stopped warning each of you night and day with tears.
2 Timothy 4:2
Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction.
