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10,045 illustrations — Lessons from history, biography, and world events
They streamed into the wilderness seeking baptism as a *talisman*, a magical protection against coming judgment.
SermonWise.ai generates complete sermon outlines for any passage across 17 theological traditions.
Yet when the king summoned the priests to execute this noble purpose, a striking contrast emerged: the eager sovereign confronted by sluggards.
All knowledge deserves respect—no kind of learning should be despised.
First, *Satan* (Hebrew: adversary, opponent) is not mere allegory but a real spiritual being, the prince of darkness and accuser of mankind (Job 1:7; Revelation 12:9).
Yet the mind claims a sovereignty over the body that the body can never assert in return.
Joseph Exell's Victorian exposition clarifies what spiritual liberty truly means.
Exell's commentary on Proverbs 20:17, the love of pleasure stands as "the secret of the failure of nine-tenths of our unsuccessful young men." The wise man identifies pleasure—particularly when pursued as *hedone* (self-gratification)—as fundamentally opposed to material and spiritual prosperity.
Exell's Victorian commentary illuminates three fatal substitutes for love-driven charity.
Some possess remarkable skill in dwelling exclusively upon dark things: black aspects, wintry phases, deprivations, bereavements, losses.
The Pharisees came, bound by scrupulous external observance and self-satisfied pride.
Mystery envelops human existence—commonest objects raise unanswerable questions—yet from this unknowable realm emerge four irreversible certainties.
You cannot bring forth the best in someone if you do not believe the best exists within him.
There is more hope of a fool than of him." The Scriptures overflow with denunciations against human self-sufficiency, and Solomon's writings particularly stigmatize the absurdity and guilt of a self-willed, self-sufficient spirit.
Exell's 1887 commentary illuminates this paradox of proximity: practical presence surpasses emotional kinship when assistance is required.
First, men cannot walk in good ways unless they leave the bad ones.
Skinner's rendering exposes the active betrayal—these are not merely failed guides but active corruptors.
Cleanse Thou me from secret faults." — Psalm 19:12 Sin possesses a remarkable tenacity and cunning.
Behold, I stand at the door, and knock.—The Guest of the heart. I. THE STRANGER-GUEST WANTING TO COME IN. When a stranger comes to your door, it matters greatly whether he be mean or great. Who is this Visitor? He...
Thomson illustrated through his experience managing laborers in Palestine.
He writes, "These things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes." Rather than naming the false teachers at Corinth who had created divisions, Paul applies his corrective principles to himself and Apollos—respected...
THE WISE MAN "He dealeth with knowledge." This declaration implies two critical truths.
It is through blindness and inconsonsideration that any man becomes entangled in the snares of the foolish woman.
The coward's shame lies not in what he speaks, but in what he leaves unsaid—his refusal to act.
He returned from spiritual captivity as Ezra had returned from bodily captivity, and to his renewed mind all things appeared new.