Grietje Commelin 
“Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire” (Matthew 7:19) When John the Baptist begins his ministry, he compares people to fruit trees. Later on, Jesus does the same. The point of comparison is that trees can be recognized by their fruit, and people can be recognized … Lees meer
Background and setting The book of Jonah is a short narrative book about a prophet who doesn’t really act like a prophet of God at all. The story shows us how merciful God is, by contrasting His mercy with Jonah’s hunger for revenge. The story is probably written between the 8th and 3th century BC. … Lees meer
“There shall come forth a shoot from the stump of Jesse, and a branch from his roots shall bear fruit. And the Spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him” (Isaiah 11:1-2) All through the Old Testament, people are hoping for the Messiah. He is the Redeemer God has promised to the first humans after … Lees meer
“Let the field exult, and everything in it! Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy” (Psalm 96:12) Throughout the Bible, people are called to praise God. He is the great Creator of heaven and earth, He has the whole world in his hand, and He is good and gracious towards sinful … Lees meer
“He plants a cedar and the rain nourishes it. Then it becomes fuel for a man… And the rest of it he makes into a god, his idol, and falls down to it and worships it” (Isaiah 44:14-17) Throughout history, people have made and worshiped idols. These could take many different forms, but in the … Lees meer
“And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon” (1 Kings 4:25) In the Bible we read a lot about the people of Israel. Their history was pretty turbulent: they were enslaved in Egypt, camped for about … Lees meer
“And Judah and Israel lived in safety, from Dan even to Beersheba, every man under his vine and under his fig tree, all the days of Solomon” (1 Kings 4:25) In the Bible we read a lot about the people of Israel. Their history was pretty turbulent: they were enslaved in Egypt, camped for about … Lees meer
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, ‘Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree’” (Galatians 3:13). In Israel, very serious crimes were punishable by death. On some occasions, we read that somebody was hanged on a tree. Such a man was “cursed … Lees meer
“When you besiege a city for a long time, making war against it in order to take it, you shall not destroy its trees by wielding an axe against them. You may eat from them, but you shall not cut them down. Are the trees in the field human, that they should be besieged by … Lees meer