Monday, November 15 Sudden destruction is to be instantly on them, . . . and they will by no means escape. —1 Thess. 5:3. Imagine that the nations have just made their long-awaited proclamation of “peace and security.” They may boast that the world has never been so safe. The nations will want us to think that they have the world situation under control. But they have absolutely no control over what will follow. “Babylon the Great” will ...
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Sunday, November 14 Look! a great crowd. —Rev. 7:9. The apostle John received an exciting prophetic vision. In it, angels are told to hold back the destructive winds of the great tribulation until the final sealing of a group of slaves. (Rev. 7:1-3) That group is made up of 144,000 who will rule with Jesus in heaven. (Luke 12:32; Rev. 7:4) Then John mentions another group, so vast that he exclaims: “Look!” —an expression that may ...
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Wednesday, November 10 They will become one flock, one shepherd. —John 10:16. Not all who have the hope of living in heaven are part of “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45-47) Just as in the first century, Jehovah and Jesus today are using a few brothers to feed, or teach, many. Only a few anointed Christians in the first century were used to write the Christian Greek Scriptures. Today, only a few anointed Christians ...
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Saturday, November 6 Jehovah is my helper; I will not be afraid. —Heb. 13:6. When our enemies ban our worship, they hope to make us afraid to serve Jehovah. In addition to the ban, they may circulate false stories, send officials to search our homes, drag us to court, or even imprison some of us. They hope that we will be terrified because they managed to put a small number of us in prison. If ...
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Tuesday, November 2 They will gather his chosen ones together. —Matt. 24:31. In recent years, the number of those partaking at the Memorial has been going up. Do we need to worry about this? No. “Jehovah knows those who belong to him.” (2 Tim. 2:19) Unlike Jehovah, the brothers who count the number of those partaking at the Memorial do not know who truly is anointed. So the number includes those who think that they are ...
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Tuesday, October 26 Against you —you above all— I have sinned. —Ps. 51:4. If you commit a serious sin, do not try to cover the error. Instead, openly confess your sin to Jehovah in prayer. You will then begin to feel some relief from the anxiety caused by a guilty conscience. But if you want to restore your friendship with Jehovah, you need to do more than pray. You need to accept discipline. When Jehovah ...
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Friday, September 24 Mind your own business. —1 Thess. 4:11. A person does not inherit his heavenly hope from his family. He receives it from God. (1 Thess. 2:12) So avoid asking questions that could hurt others. For example, we would not ask the wife of an anointed brother how she feels about the prospect of living forever on earth without her husband. After all, we can be absolutely sure that in the new world, Jehovah will ...
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Monday, September 13 Everyone proud in heart is detestable to Jehovah. —Prov. 16:5. Elders work hard for the benefit of their brothers and sisters. And they do not let their authority make them unduly proud. Instead, they treat the congregation tenderly. (1 Thess. 2:7, 8) Their deep love and humble attitude affect how they speak to others. Andrew, an experienced elder, says: “I have found that the brothers and sisters generally respond well to an elder’s kindness ...
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Tuesday, September 7 Even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are happy. —1 Pet. 3:14. Never allow anything that mere humans say or do to make you feel ashamed of being one of Jehovah’s Witnesses. (Mic. 4:5) Consider the example set by the apostles in Jerusalem just after Jesus was put to death. They knew how much the Jewish religious leaders hated them. (Acts 5:17, 18, 27, 28) Yet, every day they continued to ...
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Sunday, September 5 Stop being molded by this system of things. —Rom. 12:2. Paul was concerned because some Christians were apparently being influenced by the unwholesome reasonings and philosophies promoted by Satan’s world. (Eph. 4:17-19) That can happen to any one of us. In a desperate attempt to turn us away from Jehovah, Satan, the god of this system of things, uses various tactics. One of them is that of exploiting any tendency we may ...
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Friday, September 3 The existing authorities stand placed in their relative positions by God. —Rom. 13:1. Do elders comply with secular laws about reporting an allegation of child abuse to the secular authorities? Yes. In places where such laws exist, elders endeavor to comply with secular laws about reporting allegations of abuse. Such laws do not conflict with God’s law. (Acts 5:28, 29) So when they learn of an allegation, elders immediately seek direction on how ...
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Saturday, August 7 We are not ignorant of [Satan’s] designs. —2 Cor. 2:11. Satan appeals to natural desires. We have a natural desire to learn skills that can help us provide for ourselves and our families. (1 Tim. 5:8) Often, we can gain those skills by attending school and being diligent students. But we must be cautious. The educational system in many countries teaches students not only practical skills but also human philosophy. Students are encouraged to question the ...
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Wednesday, July 28 As these things start to occur, stand up straight and lift up your heads, because your deliverance is getting near. —Luke 21:28. At some point, the people whose religions were destroyed may resent the fact that Jehovah’s Witnesses keep practicing their religion. We can only imagine the uproar that this might create, including on social media. The nations and their ruler, Satan, will hate us for having the only surviving religion. They ...
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Tuesday, July 27 You put to the test those who say they are apostles. —Rev. 2:2. Anointed ones do not expect others to treat them in a special way. (Phil. 2:2, 3) They know that when Jehovah anointed them, he did not let everyone else know about it. So an anointed person is not surprised if some do not believe right away that he has been anointed. He realizes that the Bible tells us not to ...
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Sunday, July 25 Children are an inheritance from Jehovah. —Ps. 127:3, ftn. Parents may at times feel overwhelmed by the challenges they face, but children are a gift from Jehovah. He is always available to help. He willingly listens to the prayers of parents. And he answers those prayers by means of the Bible, our publications, and the example and advice of other mature parents in the congregation. It has been said that raising children ...
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Wednesday, July 21 This is what the Sovereign Lord Jehovah says. —Ezek. 2:4. During the great tribulation, the message that we proclaim will likely change. Currently, we are preaching the good news of the Kingdom and we are endeavoring to make disciples. But at that time, we may well deliver a message as hard-hitting as hailstones. (Rev. 16:21) We may proclaim the impending doom of Satan’s world. In time, we will find out exactly what ...
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Sunday, July 18 Jehovah’s day is coming exactly as a thief in the night. —1 Thess. 5:2. In the short time remaining before his “day” begins, Jehovah expects us to keep busy in the preaching work. We need to make sure that we are “having plenty to do in the work of the Lord.” (1 Cor. 15:58) When Jesus spoke about all the significant things that would happen during the last days, he added: “Also, in all ...
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Wednesday, July 14 These are the ones who come out of the great tribulation, and they have washed their robes and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. —Rev. 7:14. Since 1935, Jehovah’s Witnesses have understood that the great crowd of John’s vision is made up of a group of faithful Christians who have the prospect of living forever on earth. (Rev. 7:9, 10) In order to survive the great tribulation, the great crowd ...
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Saturday, July 10 Trembling at men is a snare, but the one trusting in Jehovah will be protected. —Prov. 29:25. We can build up our courage now by publicly preaching the good news of God’s Kingdom. Why so? Because preaching teaches us to trust in Jehovah and overcome any fear of man. Just as our muscles are strengthened when we exercise, our courage is strengthened when we preach from house to house, in public places, ...
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Wednesday, July 7 You will come against them like a storm, . . . you and all your troops and many peoples with you. —Ezek. 38:9. God will not allow the nations to destroy his people. They proudly bear his name, and they have obeyed his command to flee from Babylon the Great. (Acts 15:16, 17; Rev. 18:4) They have also worked hard to help others flee from her. So Jehovah’s servants will not “receive part of her ...
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Saturday, June 19 You are not in darkness, so that the day should overtake you as it would thieves. —1 Thess. 5:4. In his exhortation, the apostle Paul mentions “Jehovah’s day.” (1 Thess. 5:1-6) As used in this context, this refers to the time period that begins with the attack on “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion, and ends with Armageddon. (Rev. 16:14, 16; 17:5) Paul also tells us how we can make sure that we ...
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Friday, June 11 You will be hated by all the nations on account of my name. —Matt. 24:9. When persecuted, pray to Jehovah, “pour out your heart like water,” and tell your loving Father about all your fears and anxieties. (Lam. 2:19) The more you pray this way, the closer you will feel to Jehovah. (Rom. 8:38, 39) Be convinced that the blessings of God’s Kingdom will come true. (Num. 23:19) If your faith in such ...
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Sunday, June 6 If you are doing what is bad, be in fear.—Rom. 13:4. Child abuse is a grave sin. The child abuser hurts the child in devastating ways. He betrays the child’s trust, robbing the child of his or her security. Children must be protected from such a wicked deed, and those who have been victimized by it need comfort and help. (1 Thess. 5:14) When someone who is a part of the congregation becomes ...
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Sunday, May 30 He will be filled with holy spirit even from before birth. —Luke 1:15. Throughout the Bible, there are many examples of men of faith who received holy spirit; yet, they did not have the hope of living in heaven. David was guided by holy spirit. (1 Sam. 16:13) Holy spirit helped him to understand the deep things about Jehovah and also directed him to write parts of the Bible. (Mark 12:36) Even so, ...
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Monday, May 24 You will be able to extinguish all the wicked one’s burning arrows. —Eph. 6:16. Satan, “the father of the lie,” uses those under his control to spread lies about Jehovah and about our brothers and sisters. (John 8:44) For instance, apostates publish lies and distort facts about Jehovah’s organization on websites and through television and other media. Those lies are among Satan’s “burning arrows.” How should we respond if someone confronts us ...
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Friday, May 21 Whenever it is that they are saying, “Peace and security!” then sudden destruction is to be instantly on them. —1 Thess. 5:3. World leaders sometimes use similar expressions when they talk about stabilizing relationships between nations. However, the announcement of “peace and security” that the Bible describes will be different. Why? When this happens, people may think that world leaders have succeeded in making the world a safer, more secure place. But in ...
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Wednesday, May 19 Keep in expectation of it! For it will without fail come true. —Hab. 2:3. We naturally long for the good things that Jehovah has promised. However, when the fulfillment of our expectations appears to be delayed, it may dampen our enthusiasm. We could even lose heart. (Prov. 13:12) This happened at the beginning of the 20th century. At that time, many anointed Christians expected to receive their heavenly reward in 1914. When that ...
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Tuesday, May 18 I [will] sanctify myself through you before their eyes, O Gog. —Ezek. 38:16. Gog will trust in his “arm of flesh” —his military might. (2 Chron. 32:8) We will trust in Jehovah our God —a stand that will seem foolish to the nations. After all, the gods of the once powerful Babylon the Great did not save her from “the wild beast” and its “ten horns”! (Rev. 17:16) So Gog will expect an easy victory. “Like ...
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Monday, May 17 Go on carrying the burdens of one another. —Gal. 6:2. Commendably, many congregations and individuals do what they can to enable those in full-time service to remain in their assignments. They do so by encouraging them to continue their work, by giving them financial or other material support, or by helping them to care for their family members back home. If those in full-time service receive a new assignment to your congregation, ...
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Wednesday, May 12 Be in subjection to the older men. . . . Clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because God opposes the haughty ones. —1 Pet. 5:5. Avoid being presumptuous. If we heed the direction we receive from trusted, responsible brothers, we will avoid problems. For example, in a land where the work is under ban, the responsible brothers had directed that the publishers not leave printed literature in the ministry. Yet, a pioneer brother in ...
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Tuesday, May 11 It is enough! Now, O Jehovah, take my life away. —1 Ki. 19:4. Elijah became afraid when Queen Jezebel threatened to kill him. So he fled to the area of Beer-sheba. He became so discouraged that “he asked that he might die.” What made him feel that way? Elijah was an imperfect man, “a man with feelings like ours.” (Jas. 5:17) Perhaps he felt overwhelmed by stress and physical exhaustion. It seems that Elijah ...
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Monday, May 10 Look out that no one takes you captive by means of the philosophy and empty deception according to human tradition. —Col. 2:8. Satan wants to turn us against Jehovah. To achieve his goal, he tries to influence our thinking, in effect, to bring our mind into captivity and make it obedient to him. He tries to persuade or to deceive us into following him by appealing to our desires. (Col. 2:4) Are ...
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Saturday, May 8 Watch that among you there is no one who is sexually immoral. —Heb. 12:16. Jehovah God hates all forms of wickedness. (Ps. 5:4-6) How he must hate child sexual abuse —an especially repugnant wicked deed! In imitation of Jehovah, we as his Witnesses abhor child abuse and do not tolerate it in the Christian congregation. (Rom. 12:9) Any act of child abuse is absolutely opposed to “the law of the Christ”! (Gal ...
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Wednesday, May 5 Let no one lead you astray. —2 Thess. 2:3. Satan blurs people’s view of Jehovah. After the death of Jesus’ apostles, some who claimed to be Christians began to spread false teachings. (Acts 20:29, 30) These apostates started to blur the identity of the only true God. For example, they stopped using the divine name in their copies of the Bible and preferred such expressions as “Lord.” By removing God’s personal name and replacing ...
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Tuesday, May 4 If anyone wants to come after me, let him disown himself. —Matt. 16:24. When you make a dedication, you approach Jehovah in earnest prayer and tell him that you will use your life to serve him forever. When you dedicate yourself to God, you “disown” yourself. You now belong to Jehovah, which is a great privilege. (Rom. 14:8) You are telling him that from now on, you will be focused on serving ...
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Friday, April 23 The one who endures to the end will be saved. —Matt. 24:13, ftn. Our endurance does not depend on favorable circumstances. We can strengthen our endurance by relying on Jehovah. (Rom. 12:12) Jesus’ promise in today’s text means that we must remain faithful despite any challenges we face. By enduring each trial now, we can become stronger before the outbreak of the great tribulation. As with endurance, true courage comes from relying ...
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Thursday, April 22 Know this, that in the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here. —2 Tim. 3:1. Were you born after the year 1914? If so, you have lived your entire life during “the last days” of the present system of things. All of us have heard about the events that Jesus foretold for this time. These include wars, food shortages, earthquakes, pestilences, an increasing of lawlessness, and the persecution of ...
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Monday, April 19 I will show you the judgment on the great prostitute. —Rev. 17:1. Babylon the Great, the world empire of false religion, has brought much reproach on God’s name. She has taught lies about God. She has prostituted herself spiritually by forming alliances with earth’s rulers. She has used her power and influence to exploit her flocks. And she has spilled much blood, including the blood of God’s servants. (Rev. 18:24; 19:2) Jehovah will ...
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Thursday, April 15 We are [not] the masters over your faith, but we are fellow workers for your joy, for it is by your faith that you are standing. —2 Cor. 1:24. Jehovah has not given us authority to make personal decisions for others. Someone who makes needless rules is not protecting his brother’s safety —he is trying to become the master of his brother’s faith. Satan the Devil will not stop trying to persecute Jehovah’s faithful servants ...
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Wednesday, April 7 All those desiring to live with godly devotion in association with Christ Jesus will also be persecuted. —2 Tim. 3:12. In 2018, more than 223,000 publishers of the good news lived in lands where our spiritual activities were banned or severely restricted. This is not surprising. True Christians expect to be persecuted. No matter where we live, secular authorities may suddenly and unexpectedly ban us from worshipping our loving God, Jehovah. If a ...
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Wednesday, March 24 Who really is the faithful and discreet slave? —Matt. 24:45. In 1919, Jesus appointed a small group of anointed brothers as “the faithful and discreet slave.” That slave takes the lead in the preaching work and gives Christ’s followers “food at the proper time.” Satan and his world have done much to make the work of that faithful slave challenging, even impossible, to carry out from a human standpoint. Despite two world ...
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Tuesday, March 16 In the last days ridiculers will come with their ridicule. —2 Pet. 3:3. As Satan’s system nears its end, we can expect to face ever more difficult tests of loyalty to God and his Kingdom. We will likely continue to be the target of ridicule. This may especially happen as our neutrality is tested more and more. We must strengthen our loyalty now so that we will remain loyal during the great tribulation ...
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Sunday, February 21 The plans of the diligent surely lead to success. —Prov. 21:5. Jesus likened our time to “the days of Noah,” and there is no doubt that we are living in “critical times hard to deal with.” (Matt. 24:37; 2 Tim. 3:1) With that reality in mind, some couples have concluded that they would like to postpone having children so that they can devote more time to sharing in the Christian ministry. When deciding whether ...
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Friday, February 19 Come . . . into an isolated place and rest up a little. —Mark 6:31. Jesus knew that at times he and the apostles needed some rest. However, many people back then and many today can be likened to the rich man in Jesus’ illustration. That man convinced himself: “Take it easy, eat, drink, enjoy yourself.” (Luke 12:19; 2 Tim. 3:4) He set his heart on rest and pleasures. In contrast, Jesus and the apostles did ...
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Friday, February 5 We are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God. —2 Cor. 10:5. Satan is determined to change our thinking. He uses every type of reasoning to counteract the influence of the truth of God’s Word. Satan continues to ask the same question he asked Eve in the garden of Eden: “Did God really say that . . . ?” (Gen. 3:1) In the world under Satan’s control, we often hear challenging ...
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Wednesday, February 3 On the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. —Matt. 18:16. Before the elders take judicial action, why are at least two witnesses required? This requirement is part of the Bible’s high standard of justice. When there is no confession of wrongdoing, two witnesses are required to establish the accusation and authorize the elders to take judicial action. (Deut. 19:15; 1 Tim. 5:19) If the individual denies the accusation, the ...
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Sunday, January 31 Truth is not in him. —John 8:44. Satan’s lies add grief and suffering to mankind. Parents who are grieving the death of a child may be told that God has taken the child, perhaps to be an angel in heaven. Does this satanic lie lessen their pain or add to it? The false teaching of hellfire has been used to justify torture, including the burning at the stake of those who opposed ...
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Monday, January 25 They all became filled with holy spirit and started to speak in different languages. —Acts 2:4. If you were one of the disciples gathered in the upper room at Pentecost 33 C.E., there would be no question in your mind that you were anointed by holy spirit. (Acts 2:5-12) But do all those who are anointed by holy spirit receive their anointing in some spectacular manner and at the same time in their ...
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Saturday, January 16 I saw . . . a great crowd . . . standing before the throne and before the Lamb. —Rev. 7:9. In 1935, Jehovah’s Witnesses came to realize that the great crowd do not literally have to be in heaven to stand “before the throne and before the Lamb.” Rather, their position is figurative. Even though they would live on earth, the great crowd could stand “before the throne” by recognizing Jehovah’s authority and by submitting ...
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Saturday, January 9 Obey God as ruler rather than men. —Acts 5:29. How can you continue to worship Jehovah while under ban? The branch office will give the local elders instructions and practical suggestions. If the branch office cannot contact the elders, then the elders will help you and all in the congregation to continue your worship of Jehovah. They will give direction in harmony with the guidance found in the Bible and in our ...
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Monday, January 4 Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse.—2 Tim. 3:13. It is sad when humans act in a way that pleases the Devil. However, Jehovah is never blind to Satan’s tactics. He is fully aware of the pain we experience, and he can provide the comfort we need. We are blessed to serve “the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our trials so that we may be able ...
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Saturday, January 2 The Devil . . . is a liar and the father of the lie. —John 8:44. Satan’s lies about the dead slander Jehovah. Those lies include the false teaching that the dead suffer fiery torment. Such teachings slander God! How so? In effect, they attribute to him, the God of love, the personality of the Devil. How does that make you feel? More important, how does it make Jehovah feel? After all, he hates ...
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Friday, January 1 Go, . . . and make disciples of people of all the nations. —Matt. 28:19. All of God’s faithful servants want to learn how they can “fully accomplish” the ministry that they have been given to do. (2 Tim. 4:5) After all, this work is more important and more urgent than any other occupation in life. However, it can be a challenge to spend as much time in the ministry as we would like. Other ...
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Wednesday, December 30 Angels . . . did not keep their original position but forsook their own proper dwelling place. —Jude 6. A significant number of angels joined Satan’s rebellion. Prior to the Flood, Satan lured at least some of them into having immoral relations with the daughters of men. The Bible reveals this truth by symbolically portraying the dragon as dragging a third of the stars of heaven with him in his fall. (Gen. 6:1-4; Rev. 12:3, 4) When ...
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Tuesday, December 22 [You] will hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.” —Isa. 30:21. True, we do not hear God speak to us from heaven. He has, however, provided his written Word, the Bible, in which he gives us instruction. Additionally, Jehovah’s spirit moves “the faithful steward” to keep giving His servants their food supply. (Luke 12:42) What an abundance of spiritual food we receive in the form of printed ...
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Tuesday, December 15 By faith the walls of Jericho fell down after the people had marched around them for seven days. —Heb. 11:30. The Israelites were commanded not to attack Jericho but to march around the city once a day for six days and seven times on the seventh day. Some soldiers may have thought, ‘What a waste of time and energy!’ But Israel’s invisible Leader knew exactly what he was doing. Not only did ...
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Friday, December 11 At my guardpost I will keep standing. —Hab. 2:1. Habakkuk’s conversation with Jehovah gave him a calm heart. So he resolved to keep waiting confidently on Jehovah to act. This was not just a spur-of-the-moment reaction, for he repeated his resolve when he later said that he would “quietly wait for the day of distress.” (Hab. 3:16) What does Habakkuk’s resolve teach us? First, we must never stop praying to Jehovah, no ...
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Tuesday, December 8 Lord, whom shall we go away to? You have sayings of everlasting life. —John 6:68. Some today have been stumbled by an adjusted understanding of a Bible passage. Others have taken sides with apostates and other opposers who misrepresent our beliefs. As a result, some have deliberately begun “drawing away” from Jehovah and the congregation. (Heb. 3:12-14) How much better it would have been if they had maintained their faith and kept ...
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Wednesday, September 30 I will give you all this authority and their glory, because it has been handed over to me, and I give it to whomever I wish. —Luke 4:6. Satan and the demons use not only governments but also false religion and the commercial system to mislead “the entire inhabited earth.” (Rev. 12:9) Through false religion, Satan promotes lies about Jehovah. In addition, the Devil seems determined to make as many people as possible forget ...
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Sunday, September 27 I have great grief and unceasing pain in my heart. —Rom. 9:2. Paul felt discouraged by the Jews’ negative reaction to the Kingdom message. Even so, he did not give up on them. Note what he further said in his letter to the Christians in Rome about his feelings toward those Jews: “The goodwill of my heart and my supplication to God for them are indeed for their salvation. For I bear ...
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Saturday, September 26 The sons of the true God began to notice that the daughters of men were beautiful. —Gen. 6:2. Perhaps Satan tempted the disloyal angels not only with the opportunity for immoral sex but also with the promise of seizing power over mankind. His purpose may have been to disrupt the arrival of the promised ‘offspring of the woman.’ (Gen. 3:15) In any case, Jehovah ended all such plots by bringing the Flood ...
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Friday, September 25 Is it lawful to pay head tax to Caesar or not? —Matt. 22:17. The party followers of Herod who raised this issue hoped that if Jesus denounced the tax, he might be accused of sedition. If Jesus said that taxation was a necessary burden, he could lose the support of his followers. Jesus was careful to remain neutral on the taxation issue. Of course, Jesus knew that corruption was common among tax ...
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Modesty is good. It is important to recognize our limitations both in our abilities and in our authority. True modesty comes from recognizing divine supremacy and authority. In his presentation, Mark Sanderson noted a couple of Bible examples. One of modesty and one of presumptuousness. David displayed modesty by not taking vengeance on Saul, who was seeking to kill him. It was unthinkable for David to harm Jehovah’s anointed king. David knew it was ...
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Tuesday, September 22 Jehovah knows those who belong to him. —2 Tim. 2:19. How can we strengthen our resolve to seek Jehovah’s recognition and not that of the world? To do so, we need to remember two important facts. First, Jehovah always gives recognition to those who serve him faithfully. (Heb. 6:10; 11:6) He deeply appreciates every one of his servants, and he views it as “unrighteous” to ignore those who are faithful to him. He is “aware of the way ...
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Monday, September 21 Jehovah your God you should fear, him you should serve, to him you should cling. —Deut. 10:20. The Bible accounts about the disobedience of Cain, Solomon, and the Israelites at Mount Sinai have a noteworthy element in common. These individuals had opportunity to “repent . . . and turn around.” (Acts 3:19) Clearly, Jehovah is not quick to give up on those who take a false step. In Aaron’s case, Jehovah extended forgiveness. Today, ...
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Saturday, September 12 How long must I ask for help from violence, but you do not intervene? —Hab. 1:2. Habakkuk lived during a very difficult and challenging time. He was deeply saddened because he was surrounded by wicked, violent people. When would their wickedness end? Why did Jehovah take so long before acting? All Habakkuk saw was injustice and oppression practiced by his own countrymen. He felt helpless. So in the midst of this dark ...
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Sunday, September 6 The Law has a shadow of the good things to come. —Heb. 10:1. The Law specifically protected those who could not protect themselves, such as orphans, widows, and foreign residents. The judges in Israel were told: “You must not pervert the judgment of the foreign resident or of the fatherless child, and you must not seize the garment of a widow as security for a loan.” (Deut. 24:17) Jehovah showed tender personal ...
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Wednesday, September 2 No man can come to me unless the Father, who sent me, draws him. —John 6:44. We can play a part in helping others learn about God, but we do not play the most important part. (1 Cor. 3:6, 7) Jehovah is the one who draws people. In the end, each individual will respond to the good news based on his or her heart condition. (Matt. 13:4-8) Remember that most people did not accept ...
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Tuesday, September 1 Though you never saw him, you love him. —1 Pet. 1:8. Jesus showed fellow feeling for Martha and Mary. When he saw their grief over the death of their brother, Lazarus, “Jesus gave way to tears.” (John 11:32-35) He did not weep just because he had lost the company of a close friend. After all, he knew that he was going to resurrect Lazarus. Rather, Jesus wept because he understood and was touched ...
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Sunday, August 30 Old men and young together. Let them praise the name of Jehovah. —Ps. 148:12, 13. If you are a Christian youth, why not make it your aim to take an interest in older ones? You might respectfully ask them to relate an experience from their years of service. You will find this very upbuilding, and both you and they will be even more motivated to let the light of truth shine. And all ...
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Friday, August 21 Let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall. —1 Cor. 10:12. As Paul pointed out, even true worshippers could become involved in wrong practices. Those who give in to temptation may think that they still have a good standing with Jehovah. But merely wanting to be Jehovah’s friend or claiming to be loyal to him does not always mean that one is actually approved by Jehovah. (1 Cor ...
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Thursday, August 20 We should no longer be . . . carried here and there . . . by means of the trickery of men. —Eph. 4:14. A story that is only 10 percent true is 100 percent misleading. Consider what happened to the Israelites dwelling on the western side of the Jordan River in the days of Joshua. (Josh. 22:9-34) They received a report that the Israelites living on the eastern side had constructed a large, impressive altar. That portion of ...
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Tuesday, August 11 I will walk in your truth. —Ps. 86:11. How can we strengthen our determination to go on walking in the truth? One way is to have as full a share as possible in teaching Bible truth to others. In this way you will keep a firm grip on our spiritual sword, which is “God’s word.” (Eph. 6:17) All of us can strive to improve our skills as teachers, “handling the word of ...
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Tuesday, August 4 Jehovah . . . has firmly established his throne for justice. —Ps. 9:7. The Mosaic Law limited the possibility that a person would be falsely accused of a crime. A defendant had the right to know who was accusing him. (Deut. 19:16-19;25:1) And before he could be convicted, at least two witnesses had to give evidence. (Deut. 17:6; 19:15) What about an Israelite who committed a crime that was seen by only one witness? He ...
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Sunday, August 2 When the Lord caught sight of her, he was moved with pity. —Luke 7:13. Jesus himself experienced some of the challenges people faced. For example, Jesus apparently grew up in a poor family. From working with his adoptive father, Joseph, Jesus learned how to do hard physical work. (Matt. 13:55; Mark 6:3) It seems that Joseph died sometime before the end of Jesus’ ministry. So Jesus likely felt the pain of losing a ...
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Friday, July 31 Jehovah is the Spirit, and where the spirit of Jehovah is, there is freedom. —2 Cor. 3:17. To enjoy and benefit from that freedom, we must ‘turn to Jehovah,’ that is, come into a personal relationship with him. (2 Cor. 3:16) The Israelites in the wilderness did not view Jehovah’s dealings with them in a spiritual way. It was as if their hearts and minds were veiled and hardened, focused only on using their ...
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Thursday, July 30 You must assist those who are weak and must keep in mind the words of the Lord Jesus, when he himself said: “There is more happiness in giving than there is in receiving.” —Acts 20:35. Jesus Christ, through his anointed brothers and supportive “princes” of the other sheep, provides encouragement and guidance to despondent and discouraged ones in this time of need. That is as it should be, for these elders are ...
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Wednesday, July 29 You are from your father the Devil, . . . a liar and the father of the lie. —John 8:44. Whether called pastors, priests, rabbis, swamis, or by some other title, religious leaders abound in the world today. Like their first-century counterparts, they are “suppressing the truth” from God’s Word and have “exchanged the truth of God for the lie.” (Rom. 1:18, 25) They promote such false teachings as “once saved, always saved,” the immortality ...
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Monday, July 27 Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you. —Jas. 4:7. Only three books of the Hebrew Scriptures, 1 Chronicles, Job, and Zechariah, mention Satan, which means “Resister.” Why was little said about our enemy prior to the arrival of the Messiah? Apparently, Jehovah did not want to give Satan undue prominence by devoting large portions of the Hebrew Scriptures to discussing him and his activity. Jehovah’s primary purpose for inspiring that section ...
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Wednesday, July 15 His face shone as the sun, and his outer garments became brilliant. —Matt. 17:2. Jesus had invited Peter, James, and John to accompany him up into a high mountain. While there, they saw a remarkable vision. Jesus’ face shone brightly and his clothes glistened. Two figures, representing Moses and Elijah, began talking to Jesus about his coming death and resurrection. (Luke 9:29-32) Next, a bright cloud covered them, and they heard a ...
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Saturday, July 11 The days of my people will be like the days of a tree. —Isa. 65:22. Will the time come when our days “will be like the days of a tree”? Some trees live thousands of years. Humans would have to be healthy in order to have lifespans of such length. If they could live in the conditions that Isaiah foretold, it would be a dream come true, a paradise! And that prophecy ...
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Friday, July 10 Happy are those conscious of their spiritual need. —Matt. 5:3. Unlike the animals, you have a spiritual need, which only your Creator can satisfy. (Matt. 4:4) When you listen appreciatively to him, you gain insight, wisdom, and happiness. God satisfies your spiritual need by means of his Word and the abundance of spiritual food that he provides through “the faithful and discreet slave.” (Matt. 24:45) And how varied and rich that food ...
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Thursday, July 9 I will fortify you, yes, I will help you. —Isa. 41:10. Isaiah had already described how Jehovah would fortify, or strengthen, his people, saying: “Jehovah will come with power, and his arm will rule for him.” (Isa. 40:10) The Bible often uses the word “arm” symbolically to signify power. So the statement that Jehovah’s “arm will rule” reminds us that Jehovah is a powerful King. He used his unbeatable strength to support and defend ...
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Wednesday, July 8 Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things. Enter into the joy of your master. —Matt. 25:21. Even before Jehovah’s Son came to earth and set a perfect example of how to impart encouragement, faithful servants of Jehovah were conscious of the need to be encouraging. When threatened by the Assyrians, Hezekiah assembled the military chiefs and the people of ...
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Tuesday, July 7 The whole world is lying in the power of the wicked one. —1 John 5:19. Satan wants us to become like him —a rebel who ignores Jehovah’s standards and is motivated by selfishness. He surrounds us with people who are already corrupted by him and hopes that they will “spoil” or “corrupt” the way we think and act. (1 Cor. 15:33; ftn.) Satan also tries to infect our heart by getting us to trust ...
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Monday, July 6 Let us consider one another so as to incite to love and fine works. —Heb. 10:24. To attend meetings regularly, we may need to demonstrate courage in the face of difficult circumstances. Some of our brothers and sisters attend meetings despite being burdened by grief, discouragement, or health problems. Others courageously attend meetings despite strong opposition from family members or governmental authorities. Think for a moment about how our example affects our ...
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Sunday, July 5 He let himself be afflicted, but he would not open his mouth. —Isa. 53:7. When we are under stress, it is difficult to be meek. Our words may become harsh and our tone cold. If you have ever felt stressed, consider the example of Jesus. During the final months of his life on earth, Jesus was under intense stress. He knew that he would be executed and that he would suffer terribly ...
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Saturday, July 4 All things are naked and openly exposed to the eyes of the one to whom we must give an account. —Heb. 4:13. Under the Mosaic Law, appointed older men were responsible for handling not only spiritual matters but also civil and criminal cases. Consider a few examples. If an Israelite killed someone, he was not arbitrarily executed. The elders of his city would investigate the circumstances before deciding if the death penalty ...
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Wednesday, July 1 Keep perceiving what the will of Jehovah is. —Eph. 5:17. We are living in “critical times” that are “hard to deal with,” and life is going to become even more difficult before a new day dawns and true peace is restored to this earth. (2 Tim. 3:1) So we do well to ask ourselves, ‘Where am I looking for help and direction?’ Centuries ago, a psalmist acknowledged the need for us to raise ...
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Tuesday, June 30 Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs it down, but a good word cheers it up. —Prov. 12:25. Paul showed that even one who has the responsibility of encouraging others needs to be built up himself. To Christians living in Rome, he wrote: “I am longing to see you, that I may impart some spiritual gift to you for you to be made firm; or, rather, that we may have an interchange of ...
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Monday, June 29 These are the ones who . . . bear fruit with endurance. —Luke 8:15. If you have ever felt discouraged when preaching in less responsive territories, you will relate to the apostle Paul. During his approximately 30-year-long ministry, he helped numerous individuals to become disciples of Christ. (Acts 14:21; 2 Cor. 3:2, 3) Still, he did not succeed in moving many Jews to become true worshippers. On the contrary, most rebuffed Paul, and some even persecuted him ...
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Sunday, June 28 The serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die.” —Gen. 3:4. Adam no doubt knew that serpents cannot talk. So he may have surmised that a spirit creature had spoken with Eve through the serpent. (Gen. 3:1-6) Adam and Eve knew virtually nothing about this spirit. Even so, Adam made a conscious choice to turn his back on his loving heavenly Father and join this stranger in resisting God’s will ...
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It was a bad idea to add daily comments into one long post. It makes for slow loading for those with slow connections, and it works against good search engine practices. So, I will be posting individual articles from now on, as before.  Saturday, June 27 Accept . . . the sword of the spirit, that is, God’s word. —Eph. 6:17. The sword used by Roman infantrymen at the time Paul wrote his letter was about 20 inches ...
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Friday, June 26 The hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he has offered a sacred service to God. —John 16:2. That warning was true of those who murdered the disciple Stephen, and it has been true of others like them. (Acts 6:8, 12; 7:54-60) How ironic that in committing such evil crimes as murder, religious fanatics violate the very laws of the One whom they claim to worship! (Ex. 20:13) Clearly, their consciences ...
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I suspended the Daily Commentary feature a year and a half ago, which was my commentary based upon the Watchtower’s Daily Text. But today’s Daily Text is just too much. Here it is Spreading lies has become commonplace in today’s society. As stated in the article “Why We Lie” by Y. Bhattacharjee, “lying has come to be recognized as a deeply ingrained human trait.” People often resort to lying either to protect themselves or to promote ...
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Tuesday, December 12 Let them praise your great name.—Ps. 99:3. Unlike some religious people who mistakenly think that they will praise God once they have left the earth and gone to heaven, all of Jehovah’s Witnesses realize the need to praise him here and now on the earth. We thereby follow the example of the faithful servants of Jehovah described at Psalm 99:1-3, 5. As that psalm indicates, Moses, Aaron, and Samuel offered their full support to the arrangement ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Sunday, December 10 Lord, are you restoring the kingdom to Israel at this time?—Acts 1:6. Before Jesus ascended to heaven, his apostles asked the above. Jesus’ answer showed that it was not the time for them to know when God’s Kingdom would start ruling. He told his disciples to focus on the important witnessing work that they needed to do. (Acts 1:7, 8) Nevertheless, Jesus taught his followers ...
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Thursday, December 7 Take your stand against [Satan], firm in the faith.—1 Pet. 5:9. Satan is at war with the anointed remnant and the “other sheep.” The Devil’s goal is to devour as many of Jehovah’s servants as he can in the short time that he has left. Can we win our fight against Satan? Yes! The Bible says: “Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.” Many scoff at the idea that Satan even exists. To them, ...
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Saturday, December 2 I have come . . . to do, not my own will, but the will of him who sent me.—John 6:38. Imagine that a friend gives you a car as a gift. He hands you the title and says: “I will keep the keys. And I will be the one who drives the car, not you.” How would you feel? Now think about what Jehovah rightfully expects of a person who ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Thursday, November 30 I rejoiced before him all the time.—Prov. 8:30. Jesus joyfully worked alongside his Father, rejoicing both in what he accomplished and in the knowledge that Jehovah was fond of him. What, though, about us? Jesus said that there is happiness both in giving and in receiving. It brought us joy to receive the truth, and it brings us joy to share the truth with others ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Monday, November 27 The naive person believes every word, but the shrewd one ponders each step.—Prov. 14:15. Sadly, in this greedy world, there are those who seize on people’s illness as an opportunity to make money. Other individuals or companies stress the use of products that are high-priced in order to make large profits. To a sick person who desperately seeks relief or a way to ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Wednesday, November 22 Draw close to God, and he will draw close to you.—Jas. 4:8. By continuing to ponder over spiritual things, we will maintain our enthusiasm for the truth. Thus we will be a source of refreshment to our brothers and to the interested ones we meet in the field service. Meditating deeply on God’s greatest gift, the ransom sacrifice of Jesus, will help us to ...
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Monday, November 20 Your servants have come . . . out of regard for the name of Jehovah your God, because we have heard about his fame and about all he did.—Josh. 9:9. The Gibeonites wisely recognized Israel’s backer to be the true God. Rahab too perceived God’s hand in the events of her day. After learning about how Jehovah rescued his people, she told two Israelite spies: “I do know that Jehovah will give you the ...
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Sunday, November 12 The heavens are my throne, and the earth is my footstool.—Isa. 66:1. Besides referring to the earth, the term “footstool” is also employed figuratively in the Hebrew Scriptures to describe the ancient temple used by the Israelites. Located on the earth, the temple served as the center of true worship. For that reason, it was truly beautiful in Jehovah’s eyes and its very existence glorified the place for Jehovah’s feet. Today the center of ...
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Saturday, November 11 The name of God is being blasphemed among the nations because of you.—Rom. 2:24. What a privilege it is for us not only to know God’s personal name but also to bear it as “a people for his name.” We implore our heavenly Father: “Let your name be sanctified.” Your making such a request may move you to ask Jehovah to help you to avoid doing or saying anything that would ...
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Tuesday, November 7 Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.—Jas. 4:7. As we near the end of this system of things, Satan wants us to relax our guard, to “be kind” to ourselves by carving out a niche in this world, thus losing our sense of urgency. Do not let that happen to you! Instead, “keep on the watch.” Never believe Satan’s deceptive propaganda that the end is far off—or that it is not ...
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Monday, October 30 You people must be born again.—John 3:7. Before receiving this personal witness from God’s spirit, anointed Christians cherished an earthly hope. They longed for the time when Jehovah would cleanse this earth, and they wanted to be part of that blessed future. Perhaps they even pictured themselves welcoming back their loved ones from the grave. They looked forward to living in the homes that they built and eating the fruitage of ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Saturday, October 28 Do not drink water any longer, but take a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent cases of sickness.—1 Tim. 5:23. We do not live at a time when a fellow Christian can use “gifts of healing” to cure us. But some well-intentioned brothers give unsolicited health recommendations. Granted, someone might simply offer general, practical suggestions. Paul did so when Timothy was ...
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Friday, October 27 O Jehovah, open my lips, so that my mouth may declare your praise.—Ps. 51:15. Speech is part of our daily life, but we do not need to talk all the time. In fact, the Bible says that there is “a time to be silent.” Maintaining silence when others are speaking can be a mark of respect. Controlling our tongue to keep quiet about a confidential matter gives evidence of discretion and discernment ...
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Sunday, October 22 The righteous one will live by reason of faith.—Gal. 3:11. We must never doubt that if we follow God’s direction, it will turn out for our good. It is vital that we put faith in the One who can really help. Paul reminds us that God is “the one who can, according to his power that is operating in us, do more than superabundantly beyond all the things we ask or conceive.” Jehovah’s ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Saturday, October 21 There will be no dew or rain except by my word!—1 Ki. 17:1. In Israel’s early history, people had the opportunity to see and hear about how God acted in Israel’s behalf. Jehovah miraculously delivered his people out of Egypt, and then king after king fell before them. Israel’s opponents refused to acknowledge that God was fighting for Israel, and that led to their defeat ...
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Friday, October 20 I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.—Jer. 10:23. From the Bible we learn that humans are not created with the right of self-determination, to be independent of God, and that ignoring this fundamental truth will have sad consequences. This is critically important to our welfare. Only by recognizing God’s authority can we enjoy ...
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Commentary on the daily text of Jehovah's Witnesses Wednesday, October 18 [Noah] proved himself faultless among his contemporaries.—Gen. 6:9. Noah lived in an evil world but had no desire to make its inhabitants his close friends. He did not seek the companionship of ungodly people. He and the seven members of his family occupied themselves with the doing of God-given work, which included building an ark. Meanwhile, Noah was also “a preacher of righteousness.” (2 Pet. 2:5) ...
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Sunday, October 15 They are no part of the world, just as I am no part of the world.—John 17:16. We should not be surprised if the world hates us for our neutral stand; Jesus warned us that it would. Most opposers do not appreciate the importance of the issues involved in Christian neutrality. For us, though, these are matters of utmost importance. Loyalty to Jehovah requires that we be steadfast in the face of ...
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Saturday, October 14 There will be great tribulation.—Matt. 24:21. Although we do not fully understand all that will happen during that time of test, we can expect that it will involve some measure of sacrifice. In the first century, Christians had to leave behind their possessions and endure hardships in order to survive. To remain faithful, will we be willing to experience material loss? Will we be ready to do whatever is required of us ...
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Friday, October 13 Deliver us from the wicked one.—Matt. 6:13. To live in harmony with the request “deliver us from the wicked one,” we must strive to be “no part of [Satan’s] world.” We must “not love either [Satan’s] world or the things in the world.”  Doing so is an ongoing struggle. What a relief it will be when Jehovah answers this request by removing Satan and causing his wicked world to pass away! We ...
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Wednesday, October 11 One man was there who had been sick for 38 years.—John 5:5. Just north of the temple at Jerusalem was a pool known as Bethzatha. Large crowds of sick and infirm people would gather there, hoping that they would be miraculously cured. Moved with pity, Jesus approached a man who had been sick longer than Jesus had been alive on earth.  Jesus inquired if he wanted to get well. The response was ...
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Monday, October 9 He will crush your head, and you will strike him in the heel.—Gen. 3:15. Abel likely gave much thought to that promise and realized that someone would be ‘struck in the heel’ so that mankind could be lifted to perfection such as that enjoyed by Adam and Eve before they sinned. Abel had faith based on God’s promise, and Jehovah therefore accepted his sacrifice. Noah survived the Deluge because of his faith. After the ...
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Commentary on the Watchtower's Daily Text Friday, October 6 This is my Son, the beloved, whom I have approved.—Matt. 3:17. Brothers who are learning to serve in the congregation should be taught to think in terms of Bible principles. For example, suppose an elder asks a brother to keep the entranceway to the Kingdom Hall clean in appearance and safe for walking. He could consider Titus 2:10 and explain how the brother’s work to enhance the Kingdom ...
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Commentary on the Watchtower Daily Text Tuesday, October 3 Saul . . . spoke to Jonathan his son and to all his servants about putting David to death.—1 Sam. 19:1. Because Saul was determined to kill David, Jonathan faced a conflict of loyalties. Although he had made a covenant with David, Jonathan was also submissive to his father. But Jonathan knew that God was with David and not with Saul. Therefore, Jonathan put loyalty to David ahead of ...
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Sunday, October 1 Those whom he foreordained are the ones he also called.—Rom. 8:30. Jehovah began choosing anointed ones after Jesus’ death and resurrection, and it seems that all in the first-century Christian congregation were anointed. From the first century until the beginning of the last days, the vast majority of those who claimed to follow Christ were false Christians; Jesus likened them to “weeds.” Even so, Jehovah continued to anoint some faithful ones throughout ...
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Tuesday, September 12 Let your name be sanctified.—Matt. 6:9. Many people can recite the Lord’s Prayer from memory. In our door-to-door ministry, we often refer to this prayer to help householders understand that God’s Kingdom is a real government that is going to bring wonderful changes to our earth. Or we may refer to the first request in the prayer to show that God has a personal name, which is to be sanctified, or “treated ...
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Monday, September 11 The crowd felt amazement as they saw the speechless speaking and the maimed being made sound and the lame walking and the blind seeing.—Matt. 15:31. God’s power enabled Jesus Christ to perform a wide variety of astounding miracles. He cured not only leprosy but also every sort of disease and every sort of infirmity among the people. To perform such acts of compassion, Jesus needed no organ donors for transplants. He healed ...
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Friday, September 8 He will crush your head.—Gen. 3:15. When Jesus was born, Satan knew that this newborn child would grow up to become the promised Messiah. Would Satan reason that taking the life of a baby was going too far? Satan has no noble code of ethics. And with regard to the child Jesus, Satan did not hesitate to act. How? King Herod was greatly upset when astrologers inquired about “the one born king of ...
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Tuesday, September 5 Scrolls were opened.—Rev. 20:12. The Bible informs us that scrolls will be opened to give us directions in new world living. By studying these, all people, including resurrected ones, will be able to know God’s will for them. These scrolls will surely give us further insight into Jehovah’s mind. Guided by an ever-increasing understanding of God’s inspired Word along with what will be revealed in the new scrolls, inhabitants of the earthly ...
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Monday, September 4 Let anyone hearing say, “Come!” and let anyone thirsting come; let anyone who wishes take life’s water free.—Rev. 22:17. As members of the Christian congregation, how can we succeed in giving this invitation? Only by being “harmoniously joined together and made to cooperate.”  To share the message of the Kingdom good news with as many people as possible, we need to carry out our preaching work in an organized manner. Therefore, we ...
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Saturday, September 2 For the sake of his great name, Jehovah will not abandon his people.—1 Sam. 12:22. Although God had anointed Saul to be king, Saul later became disobedient and was rejected by Jehovah. Since God did not immediately remove Saul from the throne, his misconduct tested his subjects and all who were close to him. They faced the challenge of being loyal to God while the king, who sat on “Jehovah’s throne,” followed a wayward ...
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Thursday, August 31 Jehovah knows those who belong to him.—2 Tim. 2:19. In recent years, we have seen an increase in the number of those partaking at the Memorial of Christ’s death. That trend contrasts with the decrease in the number of partakers that we saw for many decades. Should this increase trouble us? No. Let us consider some key factors to keep in mind. Those taking the count at the Memorial cannot judge ...
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Tuesday, August 29 You received a spirit of adoption as sons, by which spirit we cry out: “Abba, Father!”—Rom. 8:15. Those who have received this special invitation from God do not need another witness from any other source. They do not need someone else to verify what has happened to them. Jehovah leaves no doubt whatsoever in their minds and hearts. The apostle John tells such anointed Christians: “You have an anointing from the holy ...
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Sunday, August 27 The earth will certainly be filled with the knowledge of Jehovah as the waters cover the sea.—Isa. 11:9. In many lands, Bibles are expensive and not readily available, so just receiving a Bible is a great blessing. A report from Rwanda stated: “For a long time, many people with whom the brothers were studying had not progressed because they had no Bibles. They could not afford to purchase the local church edition ...
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Sunday, August 13 In that day each of the prophets will be ashamed of his vision when he prophesies; and they will not wear an official garment of hair in order to deceive.—Zech. 13:4. Will the destruction of the religions of Babylon the Great result in the death of all the former members of those religions? Apparently not. Some of the clergy will abandon their religious course and deny that they were ever part of ...
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Wednesday, August 9 Oppose the Devil, and he will flee from you.—Jas. 4:7. How can we fight Satan and win? Jesus told his disciples: “By your endurance you will preserve your lives.” Nothing that any human can do will cause us permanent harm. Nobody can take away our precious friendship with God unless we allow that to happen. Even the death of Jehovah’s servants does not score a victory for Satan, for Jehovah will see to it ...
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Commentary on the Daily text of Jehovah's Witnesses Sunday, July 30 The spirit itself bears witness with our spirit that we are God’s children.—Rom. 8:16. God’s original purpose was for mankind to live forever here on earth. (Gen. 1:28; Ps. 37:29) The selection of some to go to heaven to rule as kings and priests is not the norm. It is an exceptional arrangement. This calling causes a profound change in the thinking, outlook, and hope ...
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Sunday, July 23 Give us more faith.—Luke 17:5. What can you do to build and maintain strong faith? Do not be satisfied with only what you learned up to the point of your baptism. Take note of fulfilled prophecies in the Bible because these can provide you with powerful reasons for having faith. You can also use God’s Word as a measuring rod to see if your faith matches the description of what is expected of ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Saturday, July 15 Then there will be great tribulation.—Matt. 24:21. How will the great tribulation begin? The book of Revelation answers by describing the destruction of “Babylon the Great.” (Rev. 17:5-7) How appropriate that all false religion is likened to a prostitute! The clergy have prostituted themselves with the leaders of this wicked world. Instead of loyally supporting Jesus and his Kingdom, they have given their support ...
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Tuesday, July 11 Those who are sexually immoral, idolaters, adulterers, men who submit to homosexual acts, men who practice homosexuality, thieves, greedy people, drunkards, revilers, and extortioners will not inherit God’s Kingdom.—1 Cor. 6:9, 10. If you struggle with temptation to engage in sexual immorality, what can you do? Acknowledge your weakness.Pray to God for strength. Avoid situations that could lead to immorality. And when a temptation arises, reject it without delay. Jesus set a powerful example for us ...
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Monday, June 19 Pay attention to yourselves that your hearts never become weighed down . . . and suddenly that day be instantly upon you as a snare.—Luke 21:34, 35. Events on the world scene clearly indicate that Bible prophecy is now being fulfilled and that the end of this wicked system of things is imminent. Therefore, we should not assume that much time is needed for the state of this world to develop to the point where ...
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Saturday, June 17 You will be like God, knowing good and bad.—Gen. 3:5. Today, all must decide whether they believe that God’s way of doing things is superior to Satan’s or vice versa. In all sincerity, do you take Jehovah’s side by choosing to obey his laws and standards instead of doing things your own way? Do you see his Kingdom as the only answer to mankind’s woes? Or do you believe that man is ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Friday, June 16 The king finds pleasure in a servant who acts with insight.—Prov. 14:35. It is an honor to be allowed by Jehovah to contribute to the beauty of our spiritual paradise. We do that by zealously preaching the Kingdom good news and making more disciples. Each time we help a person progress to Christian dedication, we have worked to extend the borders of the spiritual ...
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Commentary on Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Tuesday, June 6 Who of you wanting to build a tower does not first sit down and calculate the expense to see if he has enough to complete it?—Luke 14:28. Every year thousands of young people around the world get baptized. Christian parents and elders in the congregation want to make sure that such young ones make a decision that is not only voluntary but also well-founded. The steps of ...
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Commentary on Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Friday, June 2 Tongues as if of fire . . . came to rest on each one of them.—Acts 2:3. If you were one of the disciples who experienced that, you would never forget that day. There would be no question in your mind that you were anointed by holy spirit, especially if you also received the miraculous gift of speaking in a foreign language.  But do all those who are ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Wednesday, May 31 Let your brotherly love continue.—Heb. 13:1. We need to develop our brotherly love now, for it will help us during whatever tests and trials we may face in the future. Even now, before the outbreak of the great tribulation, we have a strong need for brotherly love. Many of our brothers have been adversely affected by earthquakes, floods, hurricanes, tsunamis, or other natural disasters ...
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Commentary on the Daily Text of Jehovah's Witnesses Monday, May 29 I am with you.—Matt. 28:20. Over the years our King has given us tools to use to help prepare the hearts of millions to receive the Kingdom message. Some tools were useful for perhaps a decade or so, while others have proved to be of timeless value. But all these tools have allowed us to develop our skills as evangelizers in some way. One ...
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Thursday, May 25 All the things that were written beforehand were written for our instruction.—Rom. 15:4. Imagine the following scenes that reveal Elijah’s implicit trust in Jehovah. When Elijah informed King Ahab of Jehovah’s intention to bring about a drought, he confidently declared: “As surely as Jehovah . . . is living, . . . there will be no dew or rain except by my word!” (1 Ki. 17:1) Elijah believed that Jehovah would ...
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Saturday, May 20 Keep in expectation.—Hab. 2:3. The prophet Habakkuk was commissioned to foretell the destruction of Jerusalem. By the time he arrived on the scene, warnings of that city’s desolation had already been sounded for years. Conditions had reached the point where ‘the wicked surrounded the righteous and justice was perverted.’ So it is not surprising that Habakkuk asked: “How long, O Jehovah, must I cry for help?” Jehovah assured his faithful prophet that the ...
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Friday, May 5 God put Abraham to the test.—Gen. 22:1. Picture an elderly man trudging up a mountainside. He is making what must be the hardest journey of his life. It is not his age that makes this trek so daunting. Abraham may be about 125 years old, but he is still vigorous. Following him is a younger man, perhaps 25 years of age. It is his son Isaac, who is carrying firewood. Abraham has ...
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Thursday, May 4 Whoever eats the loaf or drinks the cup of the Lord unworthily will be guilty respecting the body and the blood of the Lord.—1 Cor. 11:27. What point is the apostle Paul here making? An anointed Christian would partake unworthily if he did not maintain a good relationship with Jehovah. Such a warning helps anointed Christians to remember that they have not yet taken hold of the reward. They need to ...
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Wednesday, May 3 They all became filled with holy spirit.—Acts 2:4. The year was 33 C.E., and it was the day of Pentecost. In an upper room in Jerusalem, a group of about 120 Christians were gathered together, “persisting in prayer.”  What was about to happen to them fulfilled a prophecy uttered by the prophet Joel.  God’s holy spirit was poured out on that group of Christians who were gathered in the upper room.  They started to ...
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Sunday, April 30 This is my name forever.—Ex. 3:15. Those who study ancient Hebrew Bible manuscripts, such as the Dead Sea Scrolls, are struck by the many occurrences of the Tetragrammaton—the four Hebrew letters that represent God’s name. The divine name appears not only in those ancient Hebrew manuscripts but also in some copies of the Greek Septuagint from the second century B.C.E. through the first century C.E. Despite the clear evidence that the personal ...
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Friday, April 28 Wicked men and impostors will advance from bad to worse.—2 Tim. 3:13. History has demonstrated beyond any doubt the truthfulness of what the Bible says: “I well know, O Jehovah, that man’s way does not belong to him. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.” No, Jehovah did not create humans with the ability or the right to direct their affairs independent of him. In addition to showing ...
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Wednesday, April 26 Without faith it is impossible to please God well.—Heb. 11:6. Have you ever thought, ‘Am I the kind of person Jehovah will want to save during the great tribulation and bring into the new world?’ One very important requirement is that we cultivate strong faith. The apostle Peter drew special attention to the importance of faith when he spoke of its “tested quality” that “may be found a cause for praise and ...
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Commentary on daily text for Jehovah's Witnesses Friday, April 21 Keep on the watch.—Mark 13:35. Upon recognizing that Christ’s presence began in 1914, Jesus’ followers rightly prepared for a possible early arrival of the end. They did so by intensifying their Kingdom-preaching work. Jesus indicated that he might come later—“at dawn or early in the morning.” If that happened, how were his followers to respond? He said: “Keep on the watch.” So a long wait ...
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Commentary on the daily text of Jehovah's Witnesses Monday, April 3 [Timothy] will remind you of my methods in connection with Christ Jesus, just as I am teaching everywhere in every congregation.—1 Cor. 4:17. Recently, a group of elders who are successful in helping brothers to grow spiritually were asked what approach they use when training others. Though the circumstances of these brothers vary greatly, the advice they gave was strikingly similar. What does ...
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Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Sunday, March 26 We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.—Zech. 8:23. If it is not possible to know with certainty the names of all spiritual Israelites on earth today, how can members of the other sheep “go with” them? Notice what the prophecy in Zechariah states concerning the figurative ten men. These ones would “take firm hold of the robe of a ...
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Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Sunday, March 12 Keep in expectation of it!—Hab. 2:3. For the composite sign of Christ’s presence to serve its purpose, the fulfillment of it would have to be obvious enough to command the attention of those who have been obeying Jesus’ counsel to “keep on the watch.” And that has been the case since 1914. From that time onward, the features of the sign have been undergoing fulfillment. Clearly, we are now ...
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Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Saturday, March 11 Unless Jehovah builds the house, it is in vain that its builders work hard on it.—Ps. 127:1. Jehovah’s organization goes to tremendous lengths to provide and help finance modest Kingdom Halls. The work of designing, building, and remodeling them is handled by unpaid volunteers. Since November 1, 1999, more than 28,000 beautiful new centers of pure worship have been provided for congregations worldwide. That means that for 15 years, ...
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Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Thursday, March 2 Your own ears will hear a word behind you saying, “This is the way. Walk in it.”—Isa. 30:21. You no doubt agree that the Bible contains God’s message for mankind in general. But does the Bible also convey how you in particular can draw closer to Jehovah? Indeed it does. How? As you regularly read and study the Bible, consider your response to what it says and give ...
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Jehovah's Witnesses Daily Text Sunday, February 26 Ruthless men seek my life.—Ps. 54:3. Abner supported Saul’s efforts to kill David, even though Abner knew that God had chosen David to rule as king of Israel. After Saul’s death, Abner could have shown humility and proved his loyalty to God by supporting David, not Saul’s son Ish-bosheth. Later, when Abner had relations with King Saul’s concubine, he may have been seeking the throne for himself.  Similarly, ...
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Saturday, February 25 [Ahaz] burned up his sons in the fire.—2 Chron. 28:3. Ahaz’s son Hezekiah might easily have grown up to be a bitter, angry man who turned against God. Others who have endured far less have become “enraged against Jehovah” or embittered toward his organization. And some people are convinced that their unwholesome family background dooms them to lead a bad life, perhaps to repeat their parents’ mistakes. Are such notions correct? Hezekiah’s life record ...
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Friday, February 24 [My word] will have sure success in what I send it to do.—Isa. 55:11. Think about how the preaching of the good news fits in with Jehovah’s loving purpose for humankind. He purposed that humans would inhabit the earth without ever dying; though Adam sinned, Jehovah did not change His mind. Instead, he arranged for humans to be delivered from condemnation to sin and death. Working along with that purpose, Jesus came ...
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Thursday, February 23 I have other sheep, which are not of this fold; those too I must bring in, . . . and they will become one flock, one shepherd.—John 10:16. Do those of the other sheep need to know the names of all those who are anointed today? The short answer is no. Why not? Because even if someone has received the heavenly calling, that person has received only an invitation, not a final confirmation of ...
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Tuesday, February 21 The desolating of [Jerusalem] has drawn near.—Luke 21:20. Seeing Jerusalem “surrounded by encamped armies,” just as Jesus had prophesied, Christians in Judea, and especially those living in Jerusalem, had to act decisively. Jesus had warned them that they would need to flee as soon as they saw these events start to unfold. In the 28 years since Jesus had uttered that prophecy, the faithful Jewish Christians living in Israel had already faced ...
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Sunday, February 19 Who really is the faithful and discreet slave whom his master appointed over his domestics, to give them their food at the proper time?—Matt. 24:45. When early in the last century a small group of diligent Bible students was appointed as “the faithful and discreet slave,” much of their communication with the “domestics” was in English. That “slave” has put forth great effort to make spiritual food available in more and more ...
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Friday, February 10 In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.—2 Tim. 3:1. The Bible indicates that wickedness will greatly increase “in the last days.” So we can expect that world conditions, bad as they are now, will continue to decline. But how bad do you expect conditions to become before “the great tribulation”? For example, do you expect that there will be a war in every country, no food on anyone’s table, ...
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Wednesday, February 8 I [will] sanctify myself through you before their eyes, O Gog.—Ezek. 38:16. Shortly before the remaining ones of the 144,000 are taken to heaven, Gog will attack God’s people. What reaction does this provoke? On earth, God’s people will appear to be defenseless. They will obey the instructions given in the days of King Jehoshaphat: “You will not need to fight this battle. Take your position, stand still, and see the salvation of ...
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Tuesday, February 7 I will glorify the place for my feet.—Isa. 60:13. The expression “spiritual paradise” has become a part of our theocratic vocabulary. It describes our unique, spiritually rich environment, or condition, which allows us to enjoy peace with God and with our brothers. Of course, we should not conclude that the terms “spiritual paradise” and “spiritual temple” are the same. The spiritual temple is God’s arrangement for true worship. The spiritual paradise serves ...
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This is the first of what I hope to be regular weekly, "Sunday Talks." Sorry for the less than optimal sound quality. The little clip on microphone I was wearing picked up some background noise, so I had to use the audio recorded from the shotgun mic on the camera, which was sub par. Hopefully I'll get the mic situation fixed for next Sunday. I think I'll just go with a microphone stand. All relationships ...
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Saturday, January 28 Let me pin him to the ground with the spear just once, and I will not need to do it twice.—1 Sam. 26:8. When Abishai crept into Saul’s camp, he did not have his loyalties in the proper order. Out of loyalty to David, Abishai was eager to kill King Saul, but David restrained him, realizing that it would be wrong to lift one’s hand “against the anointed of Jehovah.” From that incident, we ...
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Friday, January 27 Your people will be my people, and your God my God.—Ruth 1:16. Note Ruth’s love for Jehovah. The landowner Boaz later praised Ruth for seeking refuge under Jehovah’s wings. That may remind us of a baby bird taking refuge under the wings of a powerful, protective parent. Jehovah became such a parent to Ruth. He rewarded her for her faith, and she never had any reason to regret her decision. Today, many learn about ...
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Wednesday, January 25 We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you people.—Zech. 8:23. Speaking of the time in which we are living, Jehovah foretold: “In those days ten men out of all the languages of the nations will take hold, yes, they will take firm hold of the robe of a Jew, saying: ‘We want to go with you, for we have heard that God is with you ...
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Sunday, January 22 The word of our God endures forever.—Isa. 40:8. Thousands of fragments, manuscripts, and ancient translations have been compared and painstakingly studied by Bible scholars. This study validated the contents of the vast majority of Bible passages. The few verses about which there is a degree of uncertainty do not change the overall message. A study of ancient manuscripts convinces sincere Bible students that they have what Jehovah originally inspired Bible writers to ...
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Saturday, January 21 They are rendering [God] sacred service day and night.—Rev. 7:15. When the last days began in 1914, there were only a few thousand servants of Jehovah worldwide. Motivated by love for neighbor, and with the backing of God’s spirit, a small remnant of anointed Christians persevered in the Kingdom-preaching work. As a result, today a great crowd with an earthly hope is being gathered. Our ranks have grown to about 8,000,000 Witnesses ...
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Thursday, January 12 Keep on the watch.—Matt. 24:42. That admonition in itself is a good reason to remain in expectation—Jesus told us to do so! In this regard, Jehovah’s organization has set an example. Its publications have consistently exhorted us to “await and keep close in mind the presence of the day of Jehovah” and to fix our hope on God’s promised new world. Although keeping in expectation was appropriate for Christians living centuries ago, ...
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Tuesday, January 10 At that time the righteous ones will shine as brightly as the sun in the Kingdom of their Father.—Matt. 13:43. Does this mean that there will be a “rapture” of the anointed ones? Many in Christendom believe, according to this teaching, that Christians will be bodily caught up from the earth. Then, they expect that Jesus will visibly return to rule the earth. However, the Bible clearly shows that “the sign of ...
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Monday, January 9 I will move on to supernatural visions and revelations of the Lord.—2 Cor. 12:1. Less than a century after the Christian congregation was established, a foretold apostasy began to develop.  Thereafter, it became increasingly difficult to identify who was truly serving God at his spiritual temple. Only centuries later did the time arrive for Jehovah to clarify matters by means of his newly enthroned King, Jesus Christ. By 1919, those approved by Jehovah and ...
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Commentary on daily text of Jehovah's Witnesses Sunday, January 8 Woe for the earth and for the sea, because the Devil has come down to you, having great anger, knowing that he has a short period of time.—Rev. 12:12. In 1914, war broke out between nations of Europe—a war that spread and engulfed the whole world. By the time it ended in 1918, terrible food shortages had been experienced and there was a flu epidemic ...
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Saturday, January 7 No resident will say: “I am sick.”—Isa. 33:24. If we maintain our Christian integrity, we may well witness one of the greatest miracles of all time—the miracle of surviving the great tribulation. Soon after the war of Armageddon, more miracles will occur, restoring humans to good health.  Imagine watching people discard eyeglasses, canes, crutches, wheelchairs, hearing aids, and the like. Armageddon survivors will have work to do. They can move forward with ...
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Wednesday, January 4 Take your stand against [Satan].—1 Pet. 5:9. As servants of Jehovah, we are not among those who are misled into thinking that Satan does not exist. We know that the Devil is real, for it was Satan who spoke to Eve through a serpent.  Satan taunted Jehovah regarding Job.  It was Satan who tried to tempt Jesus.  And after the birth of God’s Kingdom in 1914, it was Satan who began “to wage ...
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Wednesday, December 14 Keep on the watch.—Matt. 25:13. Because Jesus directed the parable of the ten virgins to his anointed followers, should we conclude that this passage contains no benefit for Christ’s “other sheep”? Far from it! Remember, the message of the parable is simple: “Keep on the watch.” Does that apply only to the anointed? Jesus once said: “What I say to you, I say to all: Keep on the watch.” Jesus requires all his followers ...
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Sunday, December 11 The Kingdom of the heavens is like a dragnet let down into the sea and gathering fish of every kind.—Matt. 13:47. Jesus likened the preaching of the Kingdom message to all mankind to the lowering of a large dragnet into the sea. Just as such a net indiscriminately catches large numbers of “fish of every kind,” our preaching work attracts millions of people of all kinds. Not all those attracted to the truth ...
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Thursday, December 8 Take your stand against him, firm in the faith.—1 Pet. 5:9. To do that, we need to prepare our mind and heart, to train ourselves now to do what is right. We do not know what our spiritual warfare may involve in the future. Therefore, would it not be wise to do some significant training during a time of relative peace? Paul wrote to the Corinthians: “Keep testing whether you are in the ...
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Sunday, December 4 In no way are we giving any cause for stumbling, so that no fault may be found with our ministry.—2 Cor. 6:3. In today’s crime-filled world, many householders are suspicious of strangers. We should avoid adding to such suspicion. For example, suppose we approach a house and knock on the front door. If no one answers, we could be tempted to look through the window or walk around the property, searching for the ...
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Saturday, December 3 Fear God and give him glory, because the hour of judgment by him has arrived.—Rev. 14:7. Now is the time to declare that message. We must warn our neighbors to get out of Babylon the Great, so that they do not “receive part of her plagues.”  The “other sheep” join anointed Christians in begging those who are alienated from God to “become reconciled” to him. We are convinced that “the hour of judgment” ...
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Thursday, December 1 “You are my witnesses,” declares Jehovah.—Isa. 43:10. The Israelites worshipped their God, Jehovah, whereas the other nations worshipped their own deities. At the time of the prophet Isaiah, Jehovah compared the world situation to that of a court trial. He challenged the gods of the nations to produce witnesses to confirm their divinity. The gods of the nations were unable to produce any evidence of their godship. They were mere idols that were ...
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Wednesday, November 30 He will put the sheep on his right hand, but the goats on his left.—Matt. 25:33. Today, we have a clear understanding of the illustration of the sheep and the goats. Regarding the identity of those mentioned, Jesus is “the Son of man,” the King. Those referred to as “my brothers” are spirit-anointed men and women, who will rule with Christ from heaven. “The sheep” and “the goats” represent individuals from all nations ...
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Tuesday, November 29 Do not be afraid. I will help you.—Isa. 41:13. Jehovah purposed that his people proclaim the good news on an unprecedented scale in our day, and nothing can prevent him from accomplishing that purpose. Just as he delivered the ancient nation of Israel from Babylon, Jehovah has rescued his present-day servants from “Babylon the Great,” the world empire of false religion.  He has taught us for our own good, has blessed us ...
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Saturday, November 26 Many peoples will go and say: “Come, let us go up to the mountain of Jehovah, to the house of the God of Jacob.”—Isa. 2:3. The flocking of many humans to worship Jehovah with his people in this time of the end was foretold by two ancient prophets. Isaiah prophesied the above. Likewise, the prophet Zechariah foretold that “many peoples and mighty nations will come to seek Jehovah of armies in Jerusalem ...
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Friday, November 25 We are overturning reasonings and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.—2 Cor. 10:5. We need to be vigilant in guarding against attacks on our spirituality. Has the world’s view of material pursuits made inroads into our lives? The things we love are usually evident by our thoughts and actions. Jesus said: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” To determine where our heart is leading us, it ...
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Thursday, November 24 Through one man sin entered into the world and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because they had all sinned.—Rom. 5:12. The first to die was faithful Abel. Then Adam’s other offspring grew old and died. Did they inherit sin as well as death? The apostle Paul answers: “Through the disobedience of the one man many were made sinners.”  Sin and death inherited from Adam thus became implacable enemies ...
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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 one can tell him what to do. So ...
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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. Just as five virgins were foolish and five ...
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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 fearlessly cleansed the temple, driving out those who ...
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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 Christians. He gathered “the sons of the Kingdom” ...
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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 Pontius Pilate.”  Indeed, it sometimes requires great courage ...
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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 them. At Antioch in Pisidia, for example, Paul ...
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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. He describes a time when “the Son of man” ...
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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 anger” of Satan the Devil. (Rev. 12:12) And ...
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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 for animal sacrifices. Centuries later, Jesus instituted the ...
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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. Still, when exposed to unscriptural teachings, regardless of ...
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Sunday, October 9 I will prove to be with you.—Ex. 3:12. Can you imagine how you would feel if you had to stand before the most powerful ruler on earth and speak up in behalf of Jehovah’s people? You would likely feel anxious, inadequate, and intimidated. What could you do to add power to your words as a representative of the almighty God? Moses was in that exact situation. Jehovah had told him, “the meekest ...
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Wednesday, October 5 I tell you the truth, I do not know you.—Matt. 25:12. During the great tribulation, faithful anointed ones cannot help any who had turned unfaithful. There will be no help available. It will simply be too late. What end, then, will such ones face? Jesus explains what happened when the foolish virgins went off on their futile errand: “The bridegroom came. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the ...
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Tuesday, October 4 Though you do not see him now, yet you exercise faith in him.—1 Pet. 1:8. When we become disciples of Christ, we embark on a journey. That journey can lead us to life, whether in heaven or on earth. Jesus said: “The one who has endured to the end will be saved.” Yes, if we stick to a life course of faithfulness, we can come in line for salvation. Along the way, however, we ...
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Belated commentary Friday, September 30 One thing I have asked from Jehovah—it is what I will look for—that I may dwell in the house of Jehovah all the days of my life.—Ps. 27:4. As part of Jehovah’s organization, what joy we now have in telling others about God’s promised new world!  “The meek will possess the earth,” says Psalm 37:11, “and they will find exquisite delight in the abundance of peace.” People “will build houses ...
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Thursday, September 29 There is where his weeping and the gnashing of his teeth will be.—Matt. 25:30. In the parable of the talents, the last slave buried his talent instead of doing business with it or even depositing it with the bankers. This slave showed a bad spirit, for he deliberately worked against the master’s interests. The master rightly pronounced him “wicked and sluggish.” The master took the talent away from him and gave it ...
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Tuesday, September 27 The proconsul . . . became a believer.—Acts 13:12. Because the Jews were so widely dispersed throughout the Roman world, many non-Jews became familiar with the Hebrew Scriptures. They learned that there is only one true God and that those who serve him are held to high ethical and moral standards. Moreover, the Hebrew Scriptures were filled with prophecies concerning the Messiah. Both Jews and Christians understood that the Hebrew Scriptures were the inspired ...
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Monday, September 26 I know that after my going away oppressive wolves will enter in among you and will not treat the flock with tenderness.—Acts 20:29. Toward the end of his third missionary journey, Paul warned members of God’s name people by saying the above. He added: “From among you yourselves men will rise and speak twisted things to draw away the disciples after themselves.” This foretold apostasy had clearly manifested itself by the end ...
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Saturday, September 24 As for the tree of the knowledge of good and bad, you must not eat from it.—Gen. 2:17. After Eve was created, Adam informed her of God’s command. She knew it well and was able to repeat it almost verbatim. She did so to someone who presented himself as a serpent, a cautious creature. The one behind the serpent was Satan the Devil, a spirit son of God who had allowed himself to ...
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Friday, September 23 Maintain your conduct fine among the nations, so that . . . they may be eyewitnesses of your fine works and, as a result, glorify God.—1 Pet. 2:12. We need to cultivate spiritual qualities that will help us to pass through “the great tribulation” into God’s righteous new world. Are we able to get along with people, including those whom we consider to be temperamental or overly sensitive? We do well to heed the words of ...
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Friday, September 16 Offer to God a sacrifice of praise, that is, the fruit of our lips that make public declaration to his name.—Heb. 13:15. Our lips should make public declaration to Jehovah’s holy name. Deaf brothers and sisters use sign language to render such praise to God. Housebound Christians praise him by letter writing, telephone witnessing, and preaching to attendants and visitors. Our sacrifice of praise—our giving praise to Jehovah by making known his ...
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Tuesday, September 13 Drawing near to God is good for me.—Ps. 73:28. If we ponder over what the Bible says about Jehovah’s interactions with his faithful servants of the past, we will learn countless wonderful things about our God. Thus we will come to know Jehovah very well and come to love him deeply. As a result, we will be able to draw closer to him. We should never draw away from Jehovah. If we ...
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Commentary on the daily text for Jehovah's Witnesses Saturday, September 10 The door was shut.—Matt. 25:10. Before the great tribulation starts, all the faithful anointed on earth will have received their final sealing.  From then on, their calling is sure. But think about the years before the tribulation begins. What would happen to anointed ones who failed to remain watchful, who lost their integrity? They would lose their heavenly reward. Obviously, they would receive no ...
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Thursday, September 8 Keep doing this in remembrance of me.—1 Cor. 11:24. Night has fallen, but a full moon bathes Jerusalem in soft light. It is the evening of Nisan 14, 33 C.E. Jesus and his apostles have celebrated the Passover, commemorating Israel’s deliverance from Egyptian bondage 15 centuries earlier. With 11 loyal apostles, Jesus now institutes a special meal—one that will memorialize the death he will experience before this day ends. Jesus says a blessing and ...
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Tuesday, September 6 You must be holy.—Lev. 11:45. In the book of Leviticus, holiness is referred to more often than in any other book of the Bible. Since this quality is a requirement for all genuine worshippers of Jehovah, understanding and appreciating Leviticus will help us to prove ourselves holy. The book of Leviticus, written by the prophet Moses, is part of “all Scripture” that is beneficial for teaching. Jehovah’s name appears an average of ten ...
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Sunday, September 4 This is the blood of the covenant that Jehovah has made with you.—Ex. 24:8. By means of the Law covenant, the ancient nation of Israel was set apart as God’s chosen nation. Jehovah now became ‘their Judge, their Lawgiver, and their King.’ The history of Israel provides a record of what happens when God’s righteous standards are either observed or ignored. Since the Law forbade intermarrying with pagans and participation in false ...
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Friday, September 2 Let everyone calling on the name of Jehovah renounce unrighteousness.—2 Tim. 2:19. No text in the Hebrew Scriptures matches Paul’s quote. So, what was the apostle referring to when he said the above? Immediately preceding this statement, Paul quoted from Numbers chapter 16, which relates the account of Korah’s rebellion. The Bible says that Dathan and Abiram, sons of Eliab, joined Korah as leaders of the rebellion against Moses and Aaron.  The account reads: ...
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A belated commentary Thursday, September 1 You must love Jehovah your God.—Matt. 22:37. If you have a loving relationship with Jehovah, you will be a ‘doer of the word, not a hearer only.’ A “doer” has faith that produces such works as zealous preaching activity and participation in Christian meetings. Because you really love God, you will obey Jehovah’s “perfect law,” which covers everything he requires of you.  Love for Jehovah God will cause you ...
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Wednesday, August 31 Well done, good and faithful slave! You were faithful over a few things. I will appoint you over many things.—Matt. 25:21. According to the parable of the talents, when the master comes, he finds that the first two slaves—the one given five talents and the one given two—have proved faithful, each doubling his talents. The master says the same thing to both slaves, as noted in today’s text. What, then, may we ...
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Tuesday, August 30 You see, brother, how many thousands of believers there are among the Jews, and they are all zealous for the Law.—Acts 21:20. If we are to have Jehovah’s favor and blessing as individuals, we must support his organization and accept adjustments in our understanding of the Scriptures. Consider this: After Jesus’ death, there were thousands of Jewish Christians who were zealous for the Law and found it hard to break free from ...
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Saturday, August 27 Symeon [Peter] has related thoroughly how God for the first time turned his attention to the nations to take out of them a people for his name.—Acts 15:14. At a meeting of the governing body of first-century Christians held in 49 C.E., the disciple James stated the above. This new people bearing Jehovah’s name would include both Jewish and non-Jewish believers.  Later, Peter wrote: “You were once not a people, but now you ...
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Friday, August 26 We are members belonging to one another.—Eph. 4:25. Jehovah is helping us “to serve him shoulder to shoulder.” He is training us to fit into his eternal purpose. What does that include? He purposes “to gather all things together in the Christ.” Yes, he wants to unify all willing creatures throughout the universe, and he will succeed in doing this. Does that help you to see the need to work unitedly with Jehovah’s organization? ...
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Tuesday, August 23 Let the one who thinks he is standing beware that he does not fall.—1 Cor. 10:12. Consider King David of ancient Israel. As a young person, he was victorious over the Philistine giant Goliath. David became a soldier, a king, a protector, and a decision-maker for a nation. But when David relied on himself, his heart deceived him and he committed a serious sin with Bath-sheba, even arranging to have her husband, Uriah, ...
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Monday, August 22 If errors were what you watch . . . who, O Jehovah, could stand?—Ps. 130:3. Had you been there with Moses when Aaron made a statue of a golden calf, how would you have felt about Aaron’s weak excuses? Or how would you have considered Aaron’s attitude when he criticized Moses for marrying a foreign woman?  How would you have reacted when Aaron and Moses failed to honor Jehovah at the time He miraculously provided water ...
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Sunday, August 21 This good news of the Kingdom will be preached.—Matt. 24:14. The postwar year of 1919 opened up the possibility for a worldwide witness to be given about God’s means of salvation and the good news of the established Kingdom. Anointed Christians seized this opportunity to witness, resulting in thousands more anointed ones being gathered to become Christ’s joint heirs. From the mid-1930’s onward, it became evident that Christ had started to gather ...
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Saturday, August 20 The eyes of Jehovah are on the righteous, and his ears listen to their supplication.—1 Pet. 3:12. The righteous include “a great crowd” who “come out of the great tribulation.” These survivors are not just “a crowd.” They are “a great crowd”—a very large number of people. Do you see yourself among them as a survivor of “the great tribulation”? Where do those making up the great crowd come from? They are being ...
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Thursday, August 18 The virgins who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast.—Matt. 25:10. A quality that helped those virgins to be ready was vigilance. Would it be possible for individual anointed Christians to get sleepy during a long nighttime vigil? Indeed. Note that Jesus says of the ten virgins that “they all became drowsy and fell asleep.” Jesus knew well that even a willing, eager spirit may be hampered by the ...
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Tuesday, August 16 Clothe yourselves with the tender affections of compassion.—Col. 3:12. “The tender affections of compassion” are part of the new personality that all Christians are expected to put on.  How can you cultivate tender feelings for others? Open your heart wide.  Listen carefully when someone shares his feelings and concerns. Use your imagination and ask yourself: ‘If I were in his situation, how would I feel? What would I need?’  Do you know of a ...
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Monday, August 15 The Kingdom of the heavens is like a treasure, hidden in the field . . . Again the Kingdom of the heavens is like a traveling merchant seeking fine pearls.—Matt. 13:44, 45. In these two parables, Jesus showed that the truth is found in different ways. Some people are searching for it and have gone to great lengths to find it. Others, although not searching for it, have found it—perhaps by having it brought to ...
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Belated commentary Saturday, August 13 I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring.—Gen. 3:15. How intense would this enmity be? “He (the offspring of the woman) will crush your (Satan’s) head, and you will strike him in the heel,” said Jehovah. The enmity between the serpent and the woman would be so fierce that Satan would spare no effort to obliterate her offspring. It is no wonder ...
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Friday, August 12 You will be beaten in synagogues and be put on the stand before governors and kings.—Mark 13:9. As those words indicate, some Christians will face tribulation in the form of physical persecution, perhaps at the instigation of religious or political leaders. Consider Paul’s example. Did he cower at the thought of being subjected to such persecution? Not at all. Paul bravely stood up to Satan’s frontal attacks and stated: “I do not consider ...
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Thursday, August 11 Into these very things, angels are desiring to peer.—1 Pet. 1:12. Jehovah could have had the angels do the writing of the Scriptures. After all, they have a keen interest in us and our activities. No doubt, the angels could have written down God’s message to mankind. But would they have seen things from a human perspective? Would they have been able to relate to our needs, our weaknesses, and our aspirations? No, ...
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Wednesday, August 10 Holy spirit has appointed you overseers, to shepherd the congregation of God.—Acts 20:28. It is important that we show appreciation for God’s arrangement for shepherding his flock. Christian elders are a provision from Jehovah, who always acts in our best interests. The elders are “like a hiding place from the wind, a place of concealment from the rainstorm, like streams of water in a waterless land, like the shadow of a massive ...
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Monday, August 8 Jehovah your God is with you wherever you go.—Josh. 1:9. Jehovah God really was with Joshua wherever he went. For instance, consider what happened as the Israelites were encamped near the Canaanite city of Jericho. In 1473 B.C.E., Joshua sent two men to spy out Jericho, and there they met the prostitute Rahab. She hid them on the roof of her house, concealing them from potential captors sent out by Jericho’s king. Rahab ...
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Friday, July 29 Teach me to do your will, for you are my God. Your spirit is good; may it lead me on level ground.—Ps. 143:10. Although Jehovah makes his counsel freely available, he does not force anyone to follow it. We need to ask for his holy spirit, and he will give it to us generously.  It is essential, though, that we ‘pay attention to how we listen.’ For example, it would be hypocritical ...
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Wednesday, July 27 You guide me with your advice.—Ps. 73:24. Whenever we need guidance, we can “take notice of” Jehovah by consulting his Word to find out his view of matters and by seeking to apply Bible principles.  Sometimes, though, a trialsome situation lingers. You may have a grievous personality conflict with someone in the congregation. For instance, you may be hurt by a remark that you consider to be unkind. Yet, the brother who ...
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Tuesday, July 26 I am engaging in the holy work of the good news of God.—Rom. 15:16. Preaching the good news contributes to the sanctification of Jehovah’s holy name. And it surely is an inestimable privilege to be entrusted with “the glorious good news of the happy God.” God wants us to maintain good spiritual health by sticking to him and supporting his organization in its various activities. Moses told the Israelites: “I take the heavens ...
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Monday, July 25 He ordered us to preach to the people and to give a thorough witness.—Acts 10:42. All of us are subject to “the law of the Christ.” That law includes all that Jesus taught. Foremost among Jesus’ teachings is that his followers should display love. And one of the primary ways we show love for God, for Christ, and for our neighbor is by preaching the good news of the Kingdom.  Jesus commanded only ...
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Sunday, July 24 That good news that you heard . . . was preached in all creation under heaven.—Col. 1:23. The common, or Koine, Greek language helped to promote good communication and unity among the early Christian congregations. Greek was widely spoken and understood. Thus, God’s servants could communicate with all kinds of people, and this contributed to the spread of the good news. Moreover, Jews living in Egypt had translated the Hebrew Scriptures into Greek. People ...
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Saturday, July 23 Every kingdom divided against itself comes to ruin.—Matt. 12:25. One of the darkest periods in human history nears. The prophet Joel describes it as “a day of darkness and gloom.”  For God’s people, it will be a time for unity. During the coming time of trouble for this system, we will have to be truly united. The spiritual unity that we will need to have among ourselves could be compared to the ...
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Thursday, July 21 People will hand you over to tribulation and will kill you, and you will be hated by all the nations.—Matt. 24:9. As followers of Christ and Witnesses of Jehovah, we are persecuted in nations around the world. This is to be expected. In the face of such hatred, however, we endure in the Kingdom-preaching work and continue to prove ourselves holy before Jehovah. Although we are honest, clean-living, and law-abiding citizens, why ...
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Sunday, July 17 For your sakes I will send to Babylon and bring down all the bars of the gates.—Isa. 43:14. In line with that prophecy, a world-shaking event happened one night early in October 539 B.C.E. While Babylon’s king and his nobles were drinking wine from holy vessels captured from Jerusalem’s temple and were praising their man-made gods, the armies of Media and Persia conquered Babylon. In 538 or 537 B.C.E., Babylon’s conqueror, Cyrus, commanded the Jews ...
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Saturday, July 16 Noah found favor in the eyes of Jehovah.—Gen. 6:8. Noah “was a righteous man” who “proved himself faultless among his contemporaries.” Because “Noah walked with the true God,” Jehovah instructed him to build a huge ark.  Its design was well-suited for the preservation of human and animal life. Obediently, “Noah did everything that Jehovah had commanded him,” and with the cooperation of his family, he completed the building work in an organized ...
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Friday, July 15 Stop judging that you may not be judged.—Matt. 7:1. Rather than being judgmental or suspicious, if a fellow believer has been weakened by personal problems, our priority should be to provide spiritual assistance. If we pause to reflect on our brothers’ circumstances, we may see their seeming frailty in a different light. Think of sisters who have been enduring family opposition for years. Some may be of humble appearance and look fragile, ...
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Commentary on daily text of Jehovah's Witnesses Wednesday, July 13 After a long time, the master of those slaves came and settled accounts with them.—Matt. 25:19. Jesus will come to settle accounts with his slaves toward the end of the great tribulation just ahead. What leads us to this conclusion? In his prophecy recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25,  Jesus repeatedly mentioned his coming. Referring to the judgment during the great tribulation, he said that people ...
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Tuesday, July 12 Let your petitions be made known to God.—Phil. 4:6. When Super Typhoon Haiyan hit the central Philippines in late 2013, Sheryl, who was only 13 years old at the time, lost virtually everything. She said: “I lost my home, and I lost most of my family.” Her father, mother, and three siblings died in the powerful storm surge. What has helped Sheryl to get through this tragedy without becoming bitter? She has ...
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Monday, July 11 Who has despised the day of small beginnings?—Zech. 4:10. There is no need for us to be overly concerned about how the Kingdom message will reach the millions who have not yet heard it. Jehovah has everything under control. But what is our work? God’s Word answers: “Sow your seed in the morning and do not let your hand rest until the evening; for you do not know which will have success, ...
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Friday, July 8 They strengthened the disciples, encouraging them to remain in the faith and saying: “We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.”—Acts 14:22. At first, that statement might seem strange. After all, the prospect of going through “many tribulations” would seem distressing, not encouraging. How is it, then, that Paul and Barnabas “strengthened the disciples” with a message that pointed to more tribulation? We can find the answer if we ...
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Thursday, July 7 I will pour out my spirit on every sort of flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.—Joel 2:28. Jesus was very kind to women. For example, consider a woman who had a flow of blood for 12 years. From behind, she approached Jesus in a crowd and touched his garment. Instead of rebuking her, Jesus kindly said: “Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed from ...
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Wednesday, July 6 Why do you judge your brother? Or why do you also look down on your brother? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.—Rom. 14:10. It would be wrong to entertain baseless suspicions about our brothers and sisters.  What is more, having a tendency to distrust the integrity of others in the congregation would be harmful to our own spirituality. Each Christian should “examine his own actions.” Because of our ...
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Monday, July 4 I will open my mouth with illustrations.—Matt. 13:35. Some believe that Satan is “in charge” of hellfire. We could ask them: “Imagine that your child has become very rebellious and is doing many bad things. How would you react?” Likely, the parent would say that he would correct his child. But what would he do if the child rejected all efforts to help him? Most parents would say that eventually they would have ...
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Sunday, July 3 If we hope for what we do not see, we keep eagerly waiting for it with endurance.—Rom. 8:25. We do not view any years in Jehovah’s service as wasted time. Rather, we are convinced that “the things seen are temporary, but the things unseen are everlasting.”  Faith allows us to discern “the convincing evidence of realities that are not seen.”  A physical person does not see the precious value of serving Jehovah ...
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Saturday, July 2 Five were discreet.—Matt. 25:2. The five discreet virgins truly prepared themselves, bringing extra oil in their flasks along with their lamps. Have faithful anointed ones likewise proved to be prepared? They have indeed! Throughout the last days, anointed Christians have acted like those discreet virgins, prepared to carry out their assignment faithfully until the end. They count the cost of faithful service, realizing from the outset that their assignment will mean giving ...
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Friday, July 1 No crushed reed will he break, and no smoldering wick will he extinguish.—Isa. 42:3. The apostle Matthew applied those words of Isaiah to Jesus.  Jesus’ tender heart moved him to speak tenderly to others, especially to the downtrodden. He spoke in a way that lifted the spirits of those who were figuratively like a bruised reed or the wick of an oil lamp about to go out. He preached a message of ...
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Thursday, June 30 You were once not a people, but now you are God’s people.—1 Pet. 2:10. Pentecost 33 C.E. was a milestone in the history of Jehovah’s people on earth. A radical change took place. On that day, by means of his spirit, Jehovah brought forth a new nation—spiritual Israel, “the Israel of God.”  For the first time since the days of Abraham, God’s people would no longer be identified by fleshly circumcision. Instead, regarding each ...
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Sunday, June 26 There will be great tribulation such as has not occurred since the world’s beginning until now, no, nor will occur again.—Matt. 24:21. The earthly part of Jehovah’s organization is moving ahead in various ways. For instance, our understanding of Bible truth is constantly becoming clearer. This is to be expected, for “the path of the righteous is like the bright morning light that grows brighter and brighter until full daylight.”  But we ...
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Saturday, June 25 The eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.—2 Chron. 16:9. God wants us to “search for what is good,” “love what is good,” and “do what is good” so that he may “show favor” to us. Think, for example, of the Hebrew midwives Shiphrah and Puah. When Israel was under the yoke of slavery in Egypt, these ...
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Thursday, June 23 A vast mixed company also went with them.—Ex. 12:38. When the Israelites left Egypt, they did not do so as various independent groups, each group going its own way. And when Moses “stretched out his hand over the sea” and Jehovah split the sea apart, Moses did not go through alone or with just a few of the Israelites. Rather, with Jehovah’s protection, the entire congregation passed through.  They displayed a spirit ...
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Wednesday, June 22 Stop keeping company with anyone called a brother who is sexually immoral.—1 Cor. 5:11. A heartrending experience for Aaron’s family is recorded at Leviticus 10:1-11. They must have been devastated when fire from heaven consumed Aaron’s sons Nadab and Abihu at the tabernacle. What a test of faith it was for Aaron and his family not to mourn their dead relatives! Are you personally proving yourself holy with regard to not associating with ...
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Tuesday, June 21 Be obedient to those who are taking the lead among you.—Heb. 13:17. Faithful servants of Jehovah have always been eager to submit to theocratic direction. We may initially lack full understanding of the reasons for carrying out our assigned work in a particular way. Nevertheless, we are fully aware of the benefits of cooperating with Jehovah in any adjustments that he sees fit to make. A strong desire to accomplish Jehovah’s will ...
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Monday, June 20 In a good pasture I will feed them.—Ezek. 34:14. Parents, do you not have a similar goal spiritually? You want to guide your children to serve Jehovah. You want your children to feel as did the psalmist who wrote: “To do your will, O my God, is my delight, and your law is deep within me.” Young ones who develop such appreciation will dedicate their life to Jehovah and get baptized. Understandably, they should ...
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Saturday, June 18 How long, O Jehovah?—Isa. 6:11. Isaiah wanted to know for how long God’s nation would remain unrepentant. God’s answer? “Until the cities crash in ruins without an inhabitant and the houses are without people and the land is ruined and desolate.” Isaiah received his commission in the last year of King Uzziah’s reign, or about 778 B.C.E. He continued his prophetic service for some 46 years until after 732 B.C.E., well into the reign of ...
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Friday, June 17 Happy is anyone who shows consideration to the lowly one.—Ps. 41:1. When we assist “the lowly one,” not only do we imitate Jehovah but we also gain his approval. Admittedly, though, a negative view of those in need may at times hold us back from assisting them. Or because we are not sure of what we should say, we may feel embarrassed and withdraw from some who are having a hard time ...
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W21ldGFzbGlkZXIgaWQ9MzQyNDRd Thursday, June 16 Lift up your eyes to heaven and see. Who has created these things?—Isa. 40:26. Regarding stars, the Houston, Texas, Chronicle reports on a recent study suggesting that there are “300 sextillion of them. . . . That is a 3 followed by 23 zeros.” The stars are organized into galaxies, each containing billions or even trillions of stars, as well as many planets. Most galaxies are further organized into groups called clusters and ...
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Tuesday, June 14 They will become one flock, one shepherd.—John 10:16. Jesus’ illustration of the sheep and the goats teaches us that those with the earthly hope have the honor of loyally supporting Jesus’ anointed brothers in the preaching and teaching work. During these critical last days, the two groups work together as “one flock” in zealously carrying out the work of making disciples. The Master rightly expects results. His faithful disciples in the first century ...
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Monday, June 13 The peace of God . . . will guard your hearts.—Phil. 4:7. Having a grateful heart can help us to cope with grievous trials. We may feel overwhelmed if we are suddenly confronted with life-altering circumstances, such as the unfaithfulness of a marriage mate, a life-threatening illness, the death of a loved one, or the devastating effects of a natural disaster. At such times, we will be comforted and strengthened by reflecting on our ...
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Saturday, June 11 You will receive power when the holy spirit comes upon you, and 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 unseen power of the Kingdom message to change people has particularly been evident in countries where the Kingdom work is legally restricted. It is hard to know how far the message has reached in such countries, ...
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Friday, June 10 You will not leave me in the Grave.—Ps. 16:10. One reason why we know that Jesus’ resurrection occurred is the zeal that his disciples showed in proclaiming it. Zealously bearing witness to the resurrection of the Christ exposed them to persecution, suffering, and death. If Jesus had not been raised up—if it was all a hoax—why would Peter risk his life to proclaim Christ’s resurrection to the religious leaders, who hated Jesus ...
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Thursday, June 9 Your throne will be firmly established forever.—2 Sam. 7:16. Jehovah made this covenant with David during David’s reign in Jerusalem, promising him that the Messiah would be his descendant.  Thus, Jehovah further narrowed the line of descent of the offspring of the woman and established that an heir of David would have “the legal right” to the throne of the Messianic Kingdom.  Through Jesus, David’s kingship “will be firmly established forever.” Yes, the ...
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Wednesday, June 8 A slave is not greater than his master. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you.—John 15:20. More than once, Paul was persecuted because of his faith.  One such incident occurred in Lystra. After healing a man who was lame from birth, Paul and his companion Barnabas were hailed as gods. The two had to beg the ecstatic crowd not to worship them! All too soon, however, Jewish opposers arrived, ...
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Tuesday, June 7 [Abigail] was discerning and beautiful.—1 Sam. 25:3. Abigail was a noteworthy woman who lived in the 11th century B.C.E. She had discernment, whereas her husband, Nabal, was harsh, worthless, and senseless. David and his men protected Nabal’s possessions for a time, but when they asked for provisions, he “screamed insults at them” and gave them nothing. This angered David so much that he planned to do away with Nabal and his men. Hearing about ...
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Monday, June 6 The eyes of Jehovah are roving about through all the earth to show his strength in behalf of those whose heart is complete toward him.—2 Chron. 16:9. Jehovah is intensely interested in those who belong to him. Therefore, we can have absolute confidence that what we do for Jehovah “out of a clean heart” is never in vain.  It is also sobering to know that Jehovah does not tolerate hypocritical worship. As his ...
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Sunday, June 5 Many are the hardships of the righteous one, but Jehovah rescues him from them all.—Ps. 34:19. Because we know that our loving God is always ready to help those who are faithful to him, we feel secure as part of ‘the flock of his pasture.’  Moreover, God’s love for us will be evident in what he will accomplish in our behalf through the Messianic Kingdom. After his chosen King, Jesus Christ, rids ...
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Saturday, June 4 Jesus spoke to the crowds by illustrations.—Matt. 13:34. Simple illustrations are often the best kind to use. For example, when explaining to a householder that God is superior to Jesus, we can mention that both God and Jesus used a family reference when describing their relationship. God referred to Jesus as his Son, and Jesus spoke of God as his Father. Next, we might ask: “If you wanted to teach me that two ...
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Thursday, June 2 The bridegroom came.—Matt. 25:10. Jesus’ prophecy recorded in Matthew chapters 24 and 25 contains eight references to his “coming”; in each case, a form of the same Greek word is used. In every instance, Jesus was referring to the time during the great tribulation when he will come to carry out the judging work and then the destruction of this world system of things. Evidently, then, this parable of the ten virgins applies ...
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Wednesday, June 1 I am longing for all of you with such tender affection as Christ Jesus has.—Phil. 1:8. Jesus felt tender compassion for others. When he saw his friend Mary and those with her weeping over the death of her brother, Lazarus, Jesus openly “gave way to tears.”  Then, likely stirred by heartfelt pity—just as when he raised a widow’s son—he resurrected Lazarus.  By means of that tender act, Jesus may have put Lazarus ...
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Monday, May 30 Keep this mental attitude in you that was also in Christ Jesus.—Phil. 2:5. What sort of disposition did Jesus have? He was humble. Humility moved him to be self-sacrificing in his ministry. Preaching to others about the good news of God’s Kingdom was foremost in his mind.  Jesus viewed God’s Word as the final authority.  He diligently studied the Holy Scriptures so that he could quote them, defend them, and explain them ...
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Sunday, May 29 Where are your gods that you made for yourself? Let them rise up if they can save you in your time of calamity.—Jer. 2:28. Israel did not prove faithful to Jehovah. They allowed themselves to be influenced by nations that worshipped gods of wood and stone. Instead of producing fine fruitage by practicing pure worship and acting as Jehovah’s faithful witnesses, Israel produced the rotten fruitage of idolatry.  Thus, Jesus told the hypocritical ...
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Thursday, May 26 If you are being reproached for the name of Christ, you are happy, because the spirit of glory, yes, the spirit of God, is resting upon you.—1 Pet. 4:14. It is good for us to remember that in the first century, genuine Christians were hated by many—if not the majority—of their contemporaries. Can the inspired words of today’s text be applied to Jehovah’s Witnesses today? Yes, indeed, because we bear witness to Jesus’ ...
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Daily Commentary Tuesday, May 24 God is a God not of disorder but of peace.—1 Cor. 14:33. Jehovah, the Creator of the universe, does things in an organized manner. His first creation was his only-begotten spirit Son, who is called “the Word” because he is God’s principal spokesman. The Word has served Jehovah for ages, for the Bible states: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” A little over 2,000 years ...
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Sunday, May 22 [He] entrusted his belongings to them.—Matt. 25:14. The parable of the talents reveals that the master gave to one slave five talents, to another two, and to still another just one. Although each slave received a different number, the master expected all of them to be diligent in using the talents, that is, in serving to the best of their ability in the ministry.  In the first century, starting at Pentecost 33 C.E., Christ’s ...
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Saturday, May 21 This good news of the Kingdom will be preached in all the inhabited earth for a witness to all the nations.—Matt. 24:14. Jesus’ disciples knew that they could not accomplish the preaching work on their own. Jesus had said that he would be with them and that the holy spirit would assist them. In some respects, circumstances existing in the world of that day may have been favorable for Kingdom preaching. The ...
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Thursday, May 19 Get out of this place, because Jehovah will destroy the city!—Gen. 19:14. In the past, Jehovah was pleased to protect his people when they unitedly helped one another to face distressing times. Modern-day servants of God, whether young or old, can learn from Bible examples. One such example involved Lot. Lot and his family were in a perilous situation because destruction was going to come on Sodom, the city where they lived ...
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Monday, May 9 Who are you to be judging your neighbor?—Jas. 4:12. Humility restrains us from overstepping our authority. If we recognize that we are not authorized to sit in judgment, we will not be quick to criticize others for their faults or question their motives. Humility helps us to avoid being “overly righteous,” looking down on those who may not have the abilities or privileges that we have.  Humble elders do not view themselves ...
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Friday, May 6 David foresaw and spoke about the resurrection of the Christ, that neither was he forsaken in the Grave nor did his flesh see corruption.—Acts 2:31. God’s Word foretold the resurrection of Jesus. For example, David wrote that God’s chief “loyal one” would not be left in the Grave.  On the day of Pentecost 33 C.E., the apostle Peter applied that prophetic verse to Jesus.  A reason why we know that Jesus was restored ...
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Thursday, May 5 I will put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring and her offspring.—Gen. 3:15. The woman producing the offspring is none other than “the Jerusalem above”—the heavenly part of God’s organization, made up of loyal spirit creatures.  As the Abrahamic covenant promised, the offspring of the woman would bring blessings to mankind. The Abrahamic covenant points to the King and to his corulers in God’s Kingdom, and it forms ...
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Wednesday, May 4 We must enter into the Kingdom of God through many tribulations.—Acts 14:22. Does it shock you that you can expect to face “many tribulations” before you gain the prize of everlasting life? Likely not. Whether you are new in the truth or you are a longtime servant of Jehovah, you know that hardship is an aspect of life in Satan’s world. Besides difficulties that are “common to men”—problems that affect all imperfect ...
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Monday, May 2 They are subverting the faith of some.—2 Tim. 2:18. Timothy and other faithful ones were likely perturbed by the actions of apostates in their midst. Some Christians may have questioned why such individuals were allowed to remain in the congregation. Faithful ones might have wondered whether Jehovah really distinguished between their resolute loyalty to him and the hypocritical worship of apostates. Paul’s letter no doubt strengthened Timothy’s faith by reminding him of what happened ...
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Sunday, May 1 May the God who gives hope fill you with all joy and peace.—Rom. 15:13. God-given hope enables us to endure tests of faith. Anointed ones who prove ‘faithful even to death will be given the crown of heavenly life.’  Integrity-keepers with an earthly hope will enjoy eternal blessings in the promised global Paradise. These prospects fill us with joy and peace, as well as love for the Giver of “every good gift ...
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Saturday, April 30 The little one will become a thousand and the small one a mighty nation. I myself, Jehovah, will speed it up in its own time.—Isa. 60:22. Worldwide, there are now well over 7,900,000 Witnesses, with millions more associating with them, especially during the annual observance of the Memorial. We do not boast in numbers, for it is ‘God who keeps making things grow.’  Nevertheless, it is evident that the great crowd is ...
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Friday, April 29 When under trial, let no one say: “I am being tried by God.”—Jas. 1:13. We may become impatient when a trialsome period seems to have no end. Suppose you are driving a car on a highway and get stuck in traffic. Trying to find another route, you might get lost or end up taking more time to reach your destination than you would had you patiently remained on course. Similarly, if you ...
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Thursday, April 28 I am with you all the days until the conclusion of the system of things.—Matt. 28:20. The anointed are spearheading the greatest preaching campaign in history. Without a doubt, Jesus is with them, guiding their efforts. The growing number of prospective sheep count it a privilege to support Christ’s brothers not only in the preaching work but also in other practical ways. For example, they give financial contributions and help to build ...
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Wednesday, April 27 You will actually drink the milk of nations.—Isa. 60:16. Many inventions of the past 200 years have helped us to accomplish our commission to make disciples. In fulfillment of the prophecy that Jehovah’s people would “drink the milk of nations,” we have made wise use of resources of the nations, such as modern technology, in order to produce the Bible and Bible literature in many languages. Clearly, we have strong evidence of ...
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Tuesday, April 26 Deaden . . . your body members . . . as respects sexual immorality, uncleanness, uncontrolled sexual passion.—Col. 3:5. The word “deaden” indicates that we must take strong measures to fight against immoral fleshly desires. We will avoid anything that might arouse in us sexual desire for someone other than our mate. As we conform our lives to God’s will, we learn to “abhor what is wicked” and “cling to what is good.” The new personality reflects ...
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Monday, April 25 You should no longer go on walking just as the nations [do].—Eph. 4:17. If we make the right decisions, we can have a satisfying life now and put ourselves in line to “inherit the earth”—to have everlasting life. There are so many wonderful blessings in store for us that we cannot even imagine them all.  Granted, God does not give us things automatically. He requires something of us.  But to serve him ...
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Sunday, April 24 Moses . . . refused to be called the son of Pharaoh’s daughter, choosing to be mistreated with the people of God rather than to have the temporary enjoyment of sin.—Heb. 11:24, 25. Moses was given the best secular education that was available in his day, but did he use it to advance his career in Egypt, make a name for himself, or acquire material possessions? No. Clearly, Moses used his spiritual education to advance ...
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Saturday, April 23 God is not unrighteous so as to forget your work.—Heb. 6:10. Jehovah remembers the loving labors of all who faithfully serve him, whether their circumstances in life permit them to do much or little. In the first century, Jesus launched a work that was to reach global proportions. His apostles took the lead in the expansion of this preaching work.  Some Christians, such as Philip, served as evangelizers and missionaries in Palestine.  ...
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Friday, April 22 Jehovah is near to all those calling on him, to all who call on him in truth.—Ps. 145:18. Put yourself in Asa’s situation. Zerah the Ethiopian has come against Judah with 1,000,000 men and 300 chariots.  How would you react to the sight of such a huge army? Outnumbered about 2 to 1, King Asa’s reaction demonstrated his close and trusting relationship with Jehovah. He fervently called out: “Help us, O Jehovah our God, ...
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Thursday, April 21 You are my witnesses.—Isa. 43:10. One way Israelite parents witnessed was by teaching their children about God’s dealings with their forefathers. For example, when being instructed to observe the Passover each year, the people were told: “When your sons ask you, ‘What does this observance mean to you?’ you must say, ‘It is the sacrifice of the Passover to Jehovah, who passed over the houses of the Israelites in Egypt when he ...
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Tuesday, April 19 He reasoned with them from the Scriptures.—Acts 17:2. How might we reason with an individual who feels that bad people should be tormented forever in hellfire? First, we could assure him that the wicked will be punished. Then, we could have him read Genesis 2:16, 17, which shows that the penalty for sin is death. We might explain that by his sin, Adam caused the entire human race to be born ...
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Monday, April 18 Do not be afraid. Stand firm and see the salvation of Jehovah.—Ex. 14:13. Your faith in the outcome of “the great and awe-inspiring day of Jehovah” will help you to “see the salvation of Jehovah” and to maintain your integrity. Prepare now for those thrilling events by continuing “steadfast as seeing the One who is invisible”!  Strengthen your friendship with Jehovah God through regular study and prayer. Moses had such a close ...
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Sunday, April 17 I must also declare the good news of the Kingdom of God to other cities.—Luke 4:43. Jesus attached great importance to his preaching and teaching work. By means of it, he cultivated a field that had rich potential. Earlier, he told his disciples: “Lift up your eyes and view the fields, that they are white for harvesting.” He had in mind the ingathering of many other honesthearted ones who would become ...
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Saturday, April 16 You will be hated.—Matt. 24:9. The early Christians benefited from Roman law, which was in force throughout the empire. Similarly, present-day Christians benefit from legal provisions. However, freedom to exercise certain rights had to be legally established in the courts. When legal action was brought against Jehovah’s people in the United States, appeals to higher courts repeatedly upheld their right to be Kingdom proclaimers. Courts of other countries have also upheld our freedom ...
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Thursday, April 14 God made you alive.—Eph. 2:1. What a contrast there is between young servants of Jehovah and youths of this world! Many who do not serve Jehovah lead a self-centered way of life, focusing only on what they want. Some researchers call them “Generation Me.” By the way they talk and dress, they give evidence of disdain for the older generation, whom they view as not “with it.” That spirit is all around ...
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Wednesday, April 13 Keep abstaining . . . from blood.—Acts 15:29. Any one of us could suddenly find ourselves facing the blood issue. Or a family member or dear friend could unexpectedly be confronted with the issue of whether to accept a blood transfusion or not. During such a crisis, decisions also need to be made regarding blood fractions and medical procedures. Therefore, it is very important to do research and prepare for a possible emergency. Along ...
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Monday, April 11 You received free, give free.—Matt. 10:8. Jehovah’s organization takes the commission to preach the good news of the Kingdom worldwide very seriously, as shown by the support given to the many translation teams around the world. Millions upon millions of tracts, brochures, and magazines have been distributed in campaigns throughout the world, without charge to the public. The expense has been covered by the voluntary donations of Jehovah’s Witnesses. As devoted ...
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Sunday, April 10 In the last days critical times hard to deal with will be here.—2 Tim. 3:1. The Bible foretold that wicked conduct would prevail in “the last days.” Human wrongdoing has become so widespread that these truly are “critical times.” Throughout mankind’s history, however, the “Sovereign Lord Jehovah” has shown favor to men and women who have trusted in him, have obeyed his laws, and have submitted to him as their Ruler.  When God ...
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Saturday, April 9 The solid foundation of God remains standing, having this seal.—2 Tim. 2:19. Paul’s word picture recorded at 2 Timothy 2:19 depicts a foundation with a message on it, as if imprinted with a seal. In ancient times, it was not uncommon to display an inscription on a building’s foundation, perhaps showing who built it or who owned it. Paul was the first Bible writer to use this particular illustration. The seal on “the ...
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Friday, April 8 By him we have life and move and exist.—Acts 17:28. Why should we love God? One reason is that Jehovah is our Creator and our Provider. He has given us our splendid earthly home.  He also provides food and other things we need in order to sustain our life. Therefore, Paul could tell the idolatrous residents of Lystra that “the living God . . . did not leave himself without witness in that ...
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Thursday, April 7 All things . . . that you want men to do to you, you also must do to them.—Matt. 7:12. What are some ways in which we follow the Golden Rule in our ministry? We treat each householder as an individual. We show respect for the householder’s home and other property. We endeavor to participate in the ministry at times when householders are most likely to be at home and receptive. And we introduce ...
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