Commentary

Wednesday, November 23 Pride is before a crash.—Prov. 16:18. What power our sinful tendencies exert on us! Take, for example, pride. This trait can interfere with our listening to the voice of Jehovah and can lead us to take a disastrous course. A proud person has an exaggerated opinion of himself. He may feel that he has the right to do whatever he wants and that no [...]

Friday, November 18 I do not know you.—Matt. 25:12. In the parable of the ten virgins, was Jesus saying that many of his anointed servants would prove unfaithful and need to be replaced? No. Remember, he had just warned his “faithful and discreet slave” never to turn into an evil slave. That did not mean that he expected such an outcome. Similarly, this parable conveys a powerful warning. [...]

Thursday, November 17 Be courageous and strong of heart. Yes, hope in Jehovah.—Ps. 27:14. We get courage by trusting in God and following the steps of his Son. During his ministry, Jesus showed courage in various ways. He boldly exposed the religious leaders for misleading the people with false teachings. He stood firm against the world’s contaminating influence. He continued to preach despite pressure from opposers.  Twice, he [...]

Sunday, October 30 So it will be in the conclusion of the system of things.—Matt. 13:40. “The conclusion of the system of things” began in 1914. During the war that broke out that year, the few thousand anointed Christians, “the sons of the Kingdom,” were in spiritual captivity to Babylon the Great. In 1919, Jehovah delivered them, making a clear distinction between them and “the weeds,” or imitation [...]

Friday, October 21 For this I have come into the world, that I should bear witness to the truth.—John 18:37. When on trial for his life, Jesus Christ said those words to the Roman governor of Judea. Jesus had just identified himself as a king. Years later, the apostle Paul referred to this courageous example of Jesus, “who as a witness made the fine public declaration before [...]

Wednesday, October 19 Jesus began preaching and saying: “Repent, for the Kingdom of the heavens has drawn near.”—Matt. 4:17. Jesus taught his disciples to do the same work. He told them: “You will be witnesses of me in Jerusalem, in all Judea and Samaria, and to the most distant part of the earth.” (Acts 1:8) The early followers of Christ definitely understood what was required of [...]

Monday, October 17 To the extent that you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.—Matt. 25:40. Jesus has been speaking to Peter, Andrew, James, and John, his close companions. They have just heard him relate illustrations about the faithful and discreet slave, the ten virgins, and the talents. Jesus concludes his discussion with one more parable. [...]

Sunday, October 16 I, Jehovah, am . . . guiding you in the way you should walk.—Isa. 48:17. The Bible Students of the late 19th and early 20th centuries faced many obstacles. Like the first-century Christians, they proclaimed a largely unpopular message. They were few in number, and the world in general did not consider them highly educated. Moreover, they would in time face the “great [...]

Wednesday, October 12 I will make with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new covenant.—Jer. 31:31. Long before the Law covenant was canceled, Jehovah foretold through the prophet Jeremiah that He would make with the nation of Israel “a new covenant.”  That covenant would be unlike the Law covenant in that it would make possible the forgiveness of sins without the need [...]

Monday, October 10 Renounce unrighteousness.—2 Tim. 2:19. God’s Word gives specific advice concerning the types of unrighteousness that Christians must renounce or reject. For instance, in the immediate context of 2 Timothy 2:19, we find that Paul tells Timothy “not to fight about words” and to “reject empty speeches.” Some members of the congregation were promoting apostate teachings. Today, Jehovah’s people are not often confronted with apostasy within the congregation. [...]