Esther 3:7-10 ESV

7 In the first month, which is the month of Nisan, in the twelfth year of King Ahasuerus, they cast Pur (that is, they cast lots) before Haman day after day; and they cast it month after month till the twelfth month, which is the month of Adar. 8 Then Haman said to King Ahasuerus, “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws, so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. 9 If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” 10 So the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. 11 And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.”

AN EVIL PLOT

Haman cast lots. Why? According to the Talmud, "When the lot [cast by Haman] fell on the month of Adar, he greatly rejoiced, saying: ‘The lot has fallen for me upon the month of Moses’ death.’" This is what I’ve been saying all along, exulted Haman. Moses might have given Israel the Torah, the document that so endears them to G‑d, but Moses, too, is mortal. Moses, too, is part of the physical, rational reality—a reality transcended by the "lot" reality I have accessed. My lots indicate that I have superseded Moses—superseded Israel’s merit in the eyes of God. What Haman failed to realize, adds the Talmud, was that while Adar was the month of Moses’ passing, it was also the month of Moses’ birth. In the final analysis, the import of Haman’s lots was the very opposite of what he had understood. [chabad.org/holidays/purim/article]

In an air of confidence, Haman influenced the king in a subtle way. He said “There is a certain people scattered abroad and dispersed among the peoples in all the provinces of your kingdom. Their laws are different from those of every other people, and they do not keep the king's laws so that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” Noticeably, he highlighted the cultural uniqueness and difference. He punctuated it with a lie that it is not to the king's profit to tolerate them. Is being different always mean against?

Moreover, he enticed the king with material benefits by saying, “ If it please the king, let it be decreed that they be destroyed, and I will pay 10,000 talents of silver into the hands of those who have charge of the king's business, that they may put it into the king's treasuries.” The love of money, indeed, is the root of evil.

As prey led into a snare, the king took his signet ring from his hand and gave it to Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, the enemy of the Jews. And the king said to Haman, “The money is given to you, the people also, to do with them as it seems good to you.” Let’s not forget the warning from Paul, who said, “those who want to get rich fall into temptation and a snare and many foolish and harmful desires which plunge men into ruin and destruction.”[1 Tim 6:9]

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Esther 3:1-6 ESV

After these things King Ahasuerus promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha, and advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. 2 And all the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. 3 Then the king's servants who were at the king's gate said to Mordecai, “Why do you transgress the king's command?” 4 And when they spoke to him day after day and he would not listen to them, they told Haman, in order to see whether Mordecai's words would stand, for he had told them that he was a Jew. 5 And when Haman saw that Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage to him, Haman was filled with fury. 6 But he disdained to lay hands on Mordecai alone. So, as they had made known to him the people of Mordecai, Haman sought to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus.

A STRONG CONVICTION

It happened that King Ahasuerus had promoted Haman the Agagite, the son of Hammedatha. He advanced him and set his throne above all the officials who were with him. All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him.

This promotion had fuelled Haman’s pride. His authority was overhelming for him that it made him haughty or arrogant. He loved the praise of man. As Solomon said, “It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one's own glory.”[Prov 25:27] And, he was wicked ruler too. Solomon had warned, “when the wicked rule, the people groan.”[Prov 29:2b]

All the king's servants who were at the king's gate bowed down and paid homage to Haman, for the king had so commanded concerning him. But Mordecai did not bow down or pay homage. The king’s servants took notice and confronted him saying, “Why do you transgress the king's command?” Mordecai did not bother but they were persistent.

Mordecai told them that it’s because he is a Jew. He stood to what a faithful Jew fears and believes, that is, Yahweh. As Moses said,

“I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery.

“You shall have no other gods before me.

“You shall not make for yourself a carved image, or any likeness of anything that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. You shall not bow down to them or serve them, for I the Lord your God am a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children to the third and the fourth generation of those who hate me, but showing steadfast love to thousands of those who love me and keep my commandments.”[Ex 20:2-6]

The servants told Haman. Haman was filled with fury. This caused him to hate the Jews. He then, harbored a personal vendetta to destroy all the Jews, the people of Mordecai, throughout the whole kingdom of Ahasuerus. Did Mordecai know the cost for standing strong on his convictions? Perhaps. But one thing for sure, Mordecai sought to follow his convictions not conveniences or comfort. Otherwise, he could have folloed the crowd.

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-Esther 2:19-23 ESV

19 Now when the virgins were gathered together the second time, Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate. 20 Esther had not made known her kindred or her people, as Mordecai had commanded her, for Esther obeyed Mordecai just as when she was brought up by him. 21 In those days, as Mordecai was sitting at the king's gate, Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. 22 And this came to the knowledge of Mordecai, and he told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. 23 When the affair was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. And it was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

DO RIGHT

Since Mordecai sat within the king’s gate, it indicated that he was associated with the decision-makers and men of influence in the kingdom. He felt responsible to do whatever was right to honor the king. He had no indifferent attitude in which he did not care what would happen to the king and the kingdom where he was a foreigner or captive. As Peter said, ‘Fear God, honor the king.”

Bigthan and Teresh, two of the king's eunuchs, who guarded the threshold, became angry and sought to lay hands on King Ahasuerus. Thus, when Mordecai knew about this assassination plot, he did not turn a deaf ear. He told it to Queen Esther, and Esther told the king in the name of Mordecai. The case was investigated and found to be so, the men were both hanged on the gallows. We get the idea that they were hanged on a tree probably refers not to hanging with a rope around the neck, but to impalement on a stake, much like crucifixion. And, this was recorded in the book of the chronicles in the presence of the king.

We don’t do good just for the sake of reward, do we? But, God used this good deed for Mordecai as recorded as basis for the king to defend him when he was wrongly accused by Haman. Definitely God is just. As Heb 6:10 says, “For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

And as Paul has admonished us, ” Therefore, ‘let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.’[Gal 6:9,10]

As the saying goes, ‘It’s always the right time to do the right thing.’

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Est 2:12-18 ESV

12 Now when the turn came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months under the regulations for the women, since this was the regular period of their beautifying, six months with oil of myrrh and six months with spices and ointments for women— 13 when the young woman went in to the king in this way, she was given whatever she desired to take with her from the harem to the king's palace. 14 In the evening she would go in, and in the morning she would return to the second harem in custody of Shaashgaz, the king's eunuch, who was in charge of the concubines. She would not go in to the king again, unless the king delighted in her and she was summoned by name.

15 When the turn came for Esther the daughter of Abihail the uncle of Mordecai, who had taken her as his own daughter, to go in to the king, she asked for nothing except what Hegai the king's eunuch, who had charge of the women, advised. Now Esther was winning favor in the eyes of all who saw her. 16 And when Esther was taken to King Ahasuerus, into his royal palace, in the tenth month, which is the month of Tebeth, in the seventh year of his reign, 17 the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. 18 Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. He also granted a remission of taxes to the provinces and gave gifts with royal generosity.

CHOSEN AND CROWNED

The time came for each young woman to go in to King Ahasuerus, after being twelve months of beauty treatments—six months with oil of myrrh, followed by six months with special perfumes and ointments. She could choose whatever clothing or jewelry she wanted to take from the harem. After this first meeting,

She would be brought to the second harem, where the king’s wives lived. There she would be under the care of Shaashgaz, the king’s eunuch in charge of the concubines. She would never go to the king again unless he had especially delighted in her and requested her by name. In other words, this was their only opportunity to see the king personally.

When it was Esther’s turn to go to the king, she accepted the advice of Hegai, the eunuch in charge of the harem. She asked for nothing except what he suggested, and she was admired by everyone who saw her. Esther had such natural beauty and charm that she required no special adornments to make her more attractive.

"Both Josephus and the Jewish Rabbis exaggerated the beauty of Esther and elaborated on her virtues and piety. The Rabbis held that Esther was one of the four most beautiful women in history along with Sarah, Rahab, and Abigail (Megillah 15a). Josephus maintained that Esther ’surpassed all women in beauty’ in the entire habitable world." [by Dr. Constable quoting Yamauchi, "The Archaeological . . .," p. 106. See Josephus, 11:7, for his account of the story of Esther.]

God has ‘chosen us in Him[Christ]’ [Eph 1:4] There is no way God would be delighted in us, sinners. However Christ’s righteousness is clothed upon us. As Paul declared, “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.”[2 Cor 5:21] Thus, we only became attractive and acceptable because of Christ. In God’s sight it appears that we are flawless, that we never had committed any sin at all. We are declared righteous.

The king set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti. Then the king gave a great feast for all his officials and servants; it was Esther's feast. 

Esther 2:8-11 ESV

8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. 9 And the young woman pleased him and won his favor. And he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem. 10 Esther had not made known her people or kindred, for Mordecai had commanded her not to make it known. 11 And every day Mordecai walked in front of the court of the harem to learn how Esther was and what was happening to her.

THE FAVOR

Many beautiful women were gathered in Susa, the citadel. Among them was Esther. They were taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women. Esther pleased him and won his favor. As a consequence, he quickly provided her with her cosmetics and her portion of food, and with seven chosen young women from the king's palace, and advanced her and her young women to the best place in the harem.

How did Esther win his favor? Solomon said, “When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.”[Prov 16:7] Definitely, it was God’s unseen hand that moved in and touched the hearts of the people around her. Like Joseph, when he became one of Potiphar’s slave, he found his favor. He was accused unjustly and was placed in prison. Even there, he found favor from the prison authorities.

Esther must be a teachable and submissive lady. He had submitted faithfully to the authority of her guardian, Mordecai. He had cautioned her not to divulged to anyone about who she was and what she was doing to anyone. He saw to it that he knows the whereabouts of his daughter by walking in front of the court of the harem every day.

A person who genuinely trusts the Lord is peaceful, is he not? When we put our problems and predicaments in His hands, God does pour His peace in our hearts, does He not? We won’t neither be manipulative in our dealings nor unwise for we know God is in absolute control. Why did Hegai or anyone did not ask her if she was Jewish or not? Why they did not check her background? Esther needed not to tell anybody. She just needed to be silent. Should they had asked, Esther could have told him honestly? But, they did not.

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Esther 2:1-8 ESV

After these things, when the anger of King Ahasuerus had abated, he remembered Vashti and what she had done and what had been decreed against her. 2 Then the king's young men who attended him said, “Let beautiful young virgins be sought out for the king. 3 And let the king appoint officers in all the provinces of his kingdom to gather all the beautiful young virgins to the harem in Susa the citadel, under custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch, who is in charge of the women. Let their cosmetics be given them. 4 And let the young woman who pleases the king be queen instead of Vashti.” This pleased the king, and he did so.

5 Now there was a Jew in Susa the citadel whose name was Mordecai, the son of Jair, son of Shimei, son of Kish, a Benjaminite, 6 who had been carried away from Jerusalem among the captives carried away with Jeconiah king of Judah, whom Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon had carried away. 7 He was bringing up Hadassah, that is Esther, the daughter of his uncle, for she had neither father nor mother. The young woman had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at, and when her father and her mother died, Mordecai took her as his own daughter. 8 So when the king's order and his edict were proclaimed, and when many young women were gathered in Susa the citadel in custody of Hegai, Esther also was taken into the king's palace and put in custody of Hegai, who had charge of the women.

AN OPPORTUNITY

“In the middle of difficulty lies opportunity”, said Albert Einstein. Indeed, it’s only in the darkest night, that one could go star gazing. Esther [Hadassah] lost her parents and was an exile. She was survived by her distant uncle, Mordecai, who adopted her as his own daughter. This scenario cast a gloom of hopelessness for Esther.

What would be the future of the young woman like her? However, shew has had a beautiful figure and was lovely to look at. Everything seemed bleak until the opportunity came. The anger of the king subsided and the thought of who would replace Queen Vashti was discussed. The king’s young men suggested for a search in the whole kingdom. The king would choose who among the beautiful young virgins brought to the harem in Susa the citadel, and they would be under the custody of Hegai, the king's eunuch.

One of the beautiful girls brought in was Esther. God had allowed this opportune time when Mordecai and Esther did not expect. As believers of Yahweh, both had hoped that God would bring them back to the Promised land. God is always the unseen guide of the people behind the scenes as well as the scenes that unfold in history. As Solomon declared, “He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.”[Ecc 3:11]

For having God in our side, let’s always be filled with optimism. As David had expressed his faith, saying, “I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living!”[Psa 27:13]

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AN INSULT

At the seventh day of merriment, the king having been drunk, demanded from his eunuchs to bring Queen Vashti. This was “in order to display her beauty to the people and nobles, for she was lovely to look at” (v.11). However, Queen Vashti refused to come before the king and his men; “then the king became furious and burned with anger” (v.12).

Why did Vashti refuse to appear? A variety of theories have emerged. According to verse 11, Queen Vashti was told to appear “wearing her royal crown,” and one rabbinical tradition suggests this as the king’s instruction to wear only her royal crown. In other words, she has to appear in the nude. According to this tradition, Queen Vashti refused because she did not want to be put on display before a group of salacious, drunken men. However, this view is not found in the biblical text, nor can it be supported by history.

While nothing more specific is conclusive, the context, particularly the reference to her beauty has indicated that her attendance at the feast was sought to entertain the men in some way. It is likely that she refused to appear for she would be humiliated in some way. The king and his men had been feasting and drinking for seven days. Thus, they did not have noble intentions in calling her to the party.

Her refusal had cost her crown. One of the king’s wise men, named Memucan, saw a dangerous precedent being set: “Queen Vashti has done wrong, not only against the king but also against all the nobles and the peoples of all the provinces of King Xerxes. For the queen’s conduct will become known to all the women, and so they will despise their husbands and say, ‘King Xerxes commanded Queen Vashti to be brought before him, but she would not come.’ This very day the Persian and Median women of the nobility who have heard about the queen’s conduct will respond to all the king’s nobles in the same way. There will be no end of disrespect and discord” (v.16–18). Such a bad example as Queen Vashti had set must be dealt with harshly, according to Memucan. Xerxes agreed with his adviser’s appraisal, and the result was that Vashti was never again to come before the king. Her royal position as queen was to be given to another “who is better than she” (v.19) This better queen happened to be Esther.

The feeling of insult is rooted in a proud spirit, is it not? The king and his leaders felt their authority was trampled upon. How different is our Lord Jesus who came as a meek lamb. He yielded his authority and right in order to die at the cross. “He committed no sin, neither was deceit found in his mouth. When he was reviled, he did not revile in return; when he suffered, he did not threaten, but continued entrusting himself to him who judges justly. He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness. By his wounds you have been healed.”[1 Pet 2:22-24]Otherwise, there would never be salvation.

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Est 1:1-9 ESV

Now in the days of Ahasuerus, the Ahasuerus who reigned from India to Ethiopia over 127 provinces, 2 in those days when King Ahasuerus sat on his royal throne in Susa, the citadel, 3 in the third year of his reign he gave a feast for all his officials and servants. The army of Persia and Media and the nobles and governors of the provinces were before him, 4 while he showed the riches of his royal glory and the splendor and pomp of his greatness for many days, 180 days. 5 And when these days were completed, the king gave for all the people present in Susa the citadel, both great and small, a feast lasting for seven days in the court of the garden of the king's palace. 6 There were white cotton curtains and violet hangings fastened with cords of fine linen and purple to silver rods and marble pillars, and also couches of gold and silver on a mosaic pavement of porphyry, marble, mother-of-pearl, and precious stones. 7 Drinks were served in golden vessels, vessels of different kinds, and the royal wine was lavished according to the bounty of the king. 8 And drinking was according to this edict: “There is no compulsion.” For the king had given orders to all the staff of his palace to do as each man desired. 9 Queen Vashti also gave a feast for the women in the palace that belonged to King Ahasuerus.

A SHOW OFF

According to gotquestions.org, that in the Hebrew text, the king’s name is Ahasuerus (preserved in the KJV and ESV). Nothing is mentioned of a king named Ahasuerus from secular sources, and the names of all the Persian kings from this time period are known. Most commentators equate Esther’s king with Xerxes I (485–465 BC), son of Darius I, the fourth emperor of the Achaemenid Empire—thus the translation in some modern versions. (There is some evidence to show that the Hebrew name Ahasuerus can be easily derived from the Persian name.) The Septuagint (Greek translation of the Old Testament) uses the name Artaxerxes, which further complicates the issue, for there were two Persian rulers by that name: Artaxerxes I (465–424 BC) and Artaxerxes II (404–359 BC).

Undoubtedly, there are many skeptics who simply view Esther as a fiction. However, those who accept the historicity of the book of Esther, Xerxes I is the most likely fit the description about King Ahasuerus. What we know of the character of Xerxes I fits with what we see in the book of Esther. Xerxes had a summer palace in Susa. He was known for his drinking, lavish banquets, harsh temper, and sexual appetite.

We re introduced this King Ahasuerus as one who reigned from India to Ethipia in over 127 provinces. In the third year of his reign, he called and gave a feast for all his officials and servants at his palace at Susa, the capital city of the Medo-Persian Empire. As a note, extravagant feastings and revelries were always a show off of the world.

What could we expect from a pagan empire with a pagan king? These material things aren’t evil by themselves, are they? It’s the use and abuse of things that does reveal the true nature of man’s heart, doesn’t it? Believers even may struggle about the stewardship of material things. Why? Possessions and power are appealing to the flesh. Thus, John has warned us, “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.”[1 John 2:15-17].

The pursuit of power and material possessions is a snare. According to Paul, “Those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 

Acts 28:25-31 ESV

25 And disagreeing among themselves, they departed after Paul had made one statement: “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet:

26 “‘Go to this people, and say,

“You will indeed hear but never understand,

and you will indeed see but never perceive.”

27 For this people's heart has grown dull,

and with their ears they can barely hear,

and their eyes they have closed;

lest they should see with their eyes

and hear with their ears

and understand with their heart

and turn, and I would heal them.’

28 Therefore let it be known to you that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will listen.”

30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

HARDENED AND BLINDED

While many believed the gospel, a lot also rejected it. Why? It wasn’t because Paul was neither clear nor convincing or persuasive. He was even willing to be condemned to hell if that's what it would take for them to believe the gospel(Rom9:1–5). In every place, Paul has prioritized the Jews. Every time he enters a new city, he first goes to the synagogue or the place of meeting and introduce to the Jews and devout Gentiles to Jesus. In almost every city, some Jews committed to Jesus, but most don't. This broke Paul's heart.

The Jews were hardened and blinded. They were slighted when Paul quoted Isaiah’s prophecy. That is, “The Holy Spirit was right in saying to your fathers through Isaiah the prophet.” They have eyes and ears but were not able to see and hear the gospel. Their hearts were dull, ears covered and eyes closed. Paul increasingly realizes that Israel in the church age is better represented by the prophecy in Isaiah 6:9–10, a people who see but don't understand, with dull hearts and deaf ears.

Impliedly, when Paul was trying to convince the Jewish leaders in Rome about Jesus, he had included references to Isaiah's prophecies about the Messiah. It was to King Ahaz that Isaiah said, "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel" (Isa 7:14), "Immanuel" meaning "God with us." Furhermore, Isaiah prophesied the Messiah would come from Galilee (Isa 9:1–7). Like King Ahaz, the Jews who reject their Messiah choose to worship false gods despite God's presence with them. We are not told what "gods" the Jews in Rome favored. It might be their position in the synagogue or the renewed but fragile peace with the Roman government who now allowed the Jews' presence in the capital.

Thus today, let’s not slack from our faithful preaching of the gospel. But, let’s ferventlypray also for the Holy Spirit to open the eyes of the unsaved. He can only open their blinded eyes. As Paul had exhorted us, “And even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing. 4 In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.[2 Cor 4:3,4]

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 Acts 28:23-24 ESV

23 When they had appointed a day for him, they came to him at his lodging in greater numbers. From morning till evening he expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. 24 And some were convinced by what he said, but others disbelieved.

PREACHING IN SEASON AND OUT OF SEASON

Paul was in a house arrest. But, he transformed his prison cell into a preaching center. When Paul was physically bound, the word of the Lord wasn’t. Why was he in a house arrest wherein people could visit him? Was this favor from The Roman court due to the instrumentality of the centurion, who endeared and respected Paul? Perhaps. But, this was the providence of God apparently.

A large number of people from morning till evening came to him. The only thing they knew about this movement was that it was denounced everywhere. Thus, their curiosity was aroused so they came to find out. The gospel had certainly spread abroad and was very often not accepted by local Jewish leaders. Paul was an infamous and hated figure among Jews in several places. Most significantly, he was despised in the province of Asia in southwest modern-day Turkey. Jews in this region were among the first to condemn Christianity before it had even spread beyond Jerusalem (Acts 6:8–14).

He expounded to them, testifying to the kingdom of God and trying to convince them about Jesus both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets. Paul's exposition about the kingdom of God was very important. To the Jews, it includes the fulfillment of the Abrahamic and Davidic covenants when Jews will be blessed above all other nations. Paul needs to explain that a large factor is the part of the Abrahamic covenant where Jews bless the world (Gen 22:18). This blessing is Jesus, a Jew, providing salvation to all who will believe (Gal 3:16, 22, 25–29).

He said to Timothy to preach the word in season and out of season. This was his desire and fulfilled here. Earlier, he had expressed unequivocably, “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.”[Acts 20:24] Thus, he expressed joy even when he was despised, he writes, “Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”[Phil 1:15-18] In short, Paul at whatever circumstance, whether free or not, was always ready to preach the gospel.

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