Daily Bible Verse - 10/29/2007 - Ecclesiastes 12:13

Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.

The conclusion, when all has been heard, is: fear God and keep His commandments, because this applies to every person.

Ecclesiastes 12:13

Commentary

Solomon's final word on the issues raised in this book, as well as life itself, focus on one's relationship to God. All of the concern for a life under the sun, with its pleasures and uncertainties, was behind Solomon. Such things seemed comparatively irrelevant to him as he faced the end of his life. But death, in spite of the focused attention he had given to it in Ecclesiastes, was not the greatest equalizer. Judgment/retribution is the real equalizer as Solomon saw it, for God will bring every person's every act to judgment. Unbelievers will stand at the Great White Throne judgment (cf. Rev. 20:11-15) and believers before Christ at the Bema judgment (cf. 1 Cor. 3:10-15; 2 Cor. 5:9, 10). When all is said and done, the certainty and finality of retribution give life the meaning for which David's oft-times foolish son had been searching. Whatever may be one's portion in life, accountability to the God, whose ways are often mysterious, is both eternal and irrevocable.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Ec 12:13). Nashville: Word Pub.

Did you know?
The name of the book (Ecclesiastes) comes from the word the writer uses to describe himself: Teacher or Assembly Leader. In Greek, this word is ekklesiastes.

Miller, S. M., & Gross, P. (1998). How to get into the Bible. Includes index. (164). Nashville: T. Nelson Publishers.

Daily Bible Verse - 10/28/2007 - Colossians 1:6

that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.

Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth:

which has come to you, just as in all the world also it is constantly bearing fruit and increasing, even as it has been doing in you also since the day you heard of it and understood the grace of God in truth;

Colossians 1:6

Commentary

The gospel was never intended for an exclusive group of people; it is good news for the whole world (Matt. 24:14; 28:19, 20; Mark 16:15; Rom. 1:8, 14, 16; 1 Thess. 1:8). It transcends all ethnic, geographic, cultural, and political boundaries.

MacArthur, J. J. (1997, c1997). The MacArthur Study Bible (electronic ed.) (Col 1:6). Nashville: Word Pub.

Did you know?
In nature, a plant does not usually bear fruit and increase at the same time. Many times, it has to be pruned in order to bear fruit, for if it is allowed to grow wild, the result is that all the life of the plant goes into leaves and branches rather than into fruit. But the gospel does both at the same time. It bears fruit in the salvation of souls and in the upbuilding of the saints, and it also spreads from city to city and from nation to nation.

MacDonald, W., & Farstad, A. (1997, c1995). Believer's Bible Commentary : Old and New Testaments (Col 1:6). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.