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Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Matthew 28:19-20 (The Great Commission)
We read Matthew 28:19-20 as the call to embody the liberating and transformative mission of Jesus. This Great Commission is not merely about converting individuals but about making disciples who live out the justice and freedom that Jesus proclaimed. We see this as a mandate to bring holistic salvat
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Psalm 23:1-6
We read Psalm 23:1-6 as a profound testimony to God's covenantal faithfulness and sovereign care for His people. The Lord as our Shepherd is a vivid picture of Christ, the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for His sheep, fulfilling the covenant of grace. The imagery of green pastures and still w
Traditional Lens Commentary: Psalm 23:1-6
We read Psalm 23 as a profound affirmation of the Lord's provision, guidance, and protection for His people. David, under divine inspiration, communicates the assurance that God, as our Shepherd, leads us through the paths of righteousness for His name's sake. This passage assures believers of God's
Lutheran Lens Commentary: Psalm 23:1-6
We read Psalm 23 as a profound expression of the Gospel — God’s unconditional promise to be our Shepherd, providing for us in all circumstances. The Lord's care is not contingent upon our actions but is a gracious gift. This passage points to Christ, the Good Shepherd, who lays down His life for the
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: Psalm 23:1-6
We read Psalm 23 as a profound reflection on God's providential care and guidance for His people, akin to a shepherd's care for his sheep. This passage resonates with our understanding of God as a loving Father who leads us through life's trials to eternal rest in Him. The imagery of the shepherd al
Lutheran Lens Commentary: Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by Grace Through Faith)
We read Ephesians 2:8-9 through the Lutheran Lens as a clear proclamation of the Gospel that delivers grace. This passage underscores the foundational truth of justification by grace alone through faith alone on account of Christ alone. It is a definitive Gospel text that declares salvation as a gif
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Psalm 23:1-6
We read Psalm 23 as a profound declaration of divine deliverance and assurance. This passage speaks to our lived experience of God as a Shepherd who leads us through the valleys of oppression and into the pastures of liberation. The promise that 'He restores my soul' resonates with our journey from
Traditional Lens Commentary: Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by Grace Through Faith)
We read this passage, Ephesians 2:8-9, as a clear declaration of salvation by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. The Apostle Paul, inspired by the Holy Spirit, emphasizes that our salvation is a gift from God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. This underscores the centra
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by Grace Through Faith)
We read Ephesians 2:8-9 as a vibrant declaration of God's sovereign grace in the economy of salvation. This passage underscores the monergistic nature of salvation — it is by grace alone, through faith alone, that we are saved, and this faith itself is a gift from God. Our understanding of this text
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by Grace Through Faith)
We read Ephesians 2:8-9 as a profound affirmation of God's gratuitous gift of grace, which is essential for our salvation. This passage underscores that grace is primary and is received through faith, yet it is not isolated from the transformative process of sanctification that occurs within the sac
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Ephesians 2:8-9 (Saved by Grace Through Faith)
We read Ephesians 2:8-9 as a powerful affirmation that salvation is a gift from God, underscoring that it is by grace through faith that we are saved. This passage resonates deeply with the Black Church tradition, as it affirms that liberation and deliverance come not through human effort but throug
Traditional Lens Commentary: John 14:1-14
We read this passage as a profound revelation of Christ's unique role as the sole mediator between God and humanity. Jesus' declaration, 'I am the way, and the truth, and the life' (John 14:6), asserts His exclusive authority and sufficiency in salvation. This passage affirms our belief in the neces
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: John 14:1-14
In John 14:1-14, we read this passage as a profound declaration of Christ's role in the redemptive history, emphasizing His exclusive mediatorship in the covenant of grace. Jesus' assurance that He is the way, the truth, and the life (v. 6) affirms the covenantal promise that through Him alone, as t
Lutheran Lens Commentary: John 14:1-14
We read this passage through the lens of Law and Gospel, recognizing that Jesus' words to 'not let your hearts be troubled' (John 14:1) comfort us with Gospel promise. The Law exposes our troubled hearts and inability to find peace on our own, while the Gospel assures us of Christ's preparation of a
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: John 14:1-14
We read John 14:1-14 within the Catholic tradition as a profound invitation to trust in Jesus Christ as the way, the truth, and the life. This passage underscores the incarnational mystery, where Jesus, the Word made flesh, reveals the Father to us. It emphasizes the unity of the Father and the Son,
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: John 14:1-14
We read John 14:1-14 as a profound promise of liberation and presence. Jesus assures us that He is preparing a place for us, a promise that transcends the suffering and systemic injustice we face. This passage speaks to the heart of our hope: Jesus is both the way and the truth that leads to life, a
Traditional Lens Commentary: Isaiah 40:21-31
We read Isaiah 40:21-31 as a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty and majesty. The passage reminds us that the Lord is the Creator of all, seated above the circle of the earth, and sovereign over every nation and ruler. We understand this text to emphasize God's transcendence and the futility o
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Isaiah 40:21-31
We read Isaiah 40:21-31 as a profound declaration of God's sovereignty over creation and history. This passage emphasizes God's majesty and power, contrasting the frailty of human beings with the eternal strength of the Creator. We see this as a reminder of God's covenant faithfulness, reassuring Hi
Lutheran Lens Commentary: Isaiah 40:21-31
We read this passage in Isaiah 40:21-31 through the lens of Law and Gospel, seeing it as a profound declaration of God's sovereignty and comfort. The Law exposes our finitude and inability by highlighting the grandeur and power of God in creation, reminding us of our smallness and limited understand
Roman Catholic Lens Commentary: Isaiah 40:21-31
We read Isaiah 40:21-31 as a profound affirmation of God's transcendence and immanence, themes central to our sacramental worldview. This passage reminds us that God is both the Creator of the universe and intimately involved in the lives of His people, sustaining and renewing them. It echoes our be
Black Church Tradition Lens Commentary: Isaiah 40:21-31
We read this passage as a powerful affirmation of God's sovereignty and strength, juxtaposed with the frailty and limitations of human power. Isaiah 40:21-31 speaks directly to our lived experience of systemic oppression and our persistent hope in divine deliverance. The text reminds us that our God
Traditional Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
We read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as a definitive description of the nature of true Christian love, grounded in the character of God and exemplified by Christ. This passage is understood as a moral imperative, calling believers to embody the self-sacrificial love displayed through the cross. As an expres
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: 1 Corinthians 13:4-8
We read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 as a profound exposition of the nature of love, rooted in the covenantal faithfulness of God. This passage is not merely a moral exhortation but a reflection of the character of Christ, who perfectly embodies this love. In the redemptive-historical context, these verses
Reformed (Presbyterian) Lens Commentary: Ephesians 6:10-18
We read Ephesians 6:10-18 through the lens of covenant theology, understanding this passage as an exhortation to stand firm in the strength of the Lord because of our union with Christ. The imagery of the armor of God is deeply rooted in the Old Testament, where God himself is depicted as a warrior.