Daniel 5:27
Verse
Context
Sermons
Chuck Smith
J.C. Hibbard
James Bourne
Edward Payson
Martin Knapp
John Gifford BellettSummary
Commentary
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
weighed in the balances--The Egyptians thought that Osiris weighed the actions of the dead in a literal balance. The Babylonians may have had the same notion, which would give a peculiar appropriateness to the image here used. found wanting--too light before God, the weigher of actions (Sa1 2:3; Psa 62:9). Like spurious gold or silver (Jer 6:30).
John Gill Bible Commentary
TEKEL,.... As for the meaning of this word, and what it points at, it is this: thou art weighed in the balances: of justice and truth, in the holy righteous law of God; as gold, and jewels, and precious stones, are weighed in the scales by the goldsmith and jeweller with great exactness, to know the worth of them: and art found wanting; found to be adulterated gold, reprobate silver, bad coin, a false stone; found to be a worthless man, a wicked prince, wanting the necessary qualifications of wisdom, goodness, mercy, truth, and justice. The Scriptures of truth, the word of God, contained in the books of the Old and New Testament, are the balances of the sanctuary, in which persons, principles, and practices, are to be weighed; and sad it is where they are found light and wanting: men, both of high and low degree, when put here, are lighter than vanity. The Pharisee, or self-righteous person, when weighed in the balance of God's law, which is holy, just, and good, will be found wanting of that holiness and righteousness he pretends to, and appear to be an unholy and an unrighteous man; his righteousness, neither for the matter of it, nor manner of performing it, being agreeable to that law, and so no righteousness in the sense of it, Deu 6:25, it being imperfect, and so leaves him to the curse of it, Gal 3:10, and not being performed in a pure and spiritual manner that it requires, is rejected by it; and miserable will be the case of such a man at the day of judgment, when his works will be found wanting, and not answerable to the demands of a righteous law, and he without the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness, and so naked and speechless. The hypocrite, and formal professor, when weighed in the balance of the Scripture, will be found wanting the true grace of God; his faith will appear to be feigned, and his hope groundless, and his love to be in word and in tongue only, and not at all to answer to the description of true grace given in the word of God; and bad will it be with such persons at last, when at the bridegroom's coming they will be destitute of the oil of true and real grace; only have that which is counterfeit, and the mere lamp of an outward profession, which will then stand them in no stead, or be of any avail unto them: in the same balances are the doctrines and principles of men to be weighed; and, such as are according to them are solid and weighty, and are comparable to gold, silver, and precious stones; but such as are not are light, and like wood, hay, and stubble, which the fire of the word will reveal, try, and burn up, not being able to stand against it; and if these are weighed in the balances, they will be found wanting of real truth and goodness, and be but as chaff to wheat; and what is the one to the other? there is no comparison between them; and dreadful will be the case of false teachers, that make and teach an abomination and a lie; and of those that are given up to believe them, these will not be able to stand the trying hour of temptation, and much less the last and final judgment. Sad for preachers of the word to be found wanting in their ministry, and hearers to be wanting in their duty; not taking care neither what they hear, nor how they hear, or whether they put in practice the good they do hear.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
5:27 Tekel means ‘weighed’—you . . . have not measured up: Babylon’s king would be destroyed because he did not measure up to God’s demand for righteousness and mercy (see 4:27; 5:22-24).
Daniel 5:27
Daniel Interprets the Handwriting
26And this is the interpretation of the message: MENE means that God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. 27TEKEL means that you have been weighed on the scales and found deficient.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
Weighed and Found Wanting
By Chuck Smith2.1K32:29Christian LifeNUM 6:24DAN 4:33DAN 5:5DAN 5:18DAN 5:23DAN 5:27MAT 6:33In this sermon, Daniel preaches to Belshazzar, the grandson of Nebuchadnezzar, about the consequences of pride and disobedience to God. He reminds Belshazzar of how Nebuchadnezzar was humbled by God and lived like a wild animal for seven seasons until he acknowledged God's sovereignty. Belshazzar, however, has not learned from his grandfather's experience and has defiled the sacred vessels from Jerusalem by using them for his own pleasure and worshiping false gods. Daniel warns Belshazzar that his kingdom is coming to an end and emphasizes the importance of being prepared to meet God, as we will all face His judgment eventually.
(Daniel: The Man God Uses #1) Christ the Goal
By Ed Miller1.4K1:12:46ChristDAN 1:8DAN 2:21DAN 3:25DAN 4:37DAN 5:27DAN 6:10DAN 9:3In this sermon, the speaker makes three non-controversial observations about the book of Daniel. These observations are agreed upon by people who love the Lord. The first observation is that God's people are in captivity. The second observation is that even the best of God's people are a mess. The third observation is that God wants to make Himself known in history and He chooses to use His people, despite their flaws. The speaker emphasizes the importance of understanding the character of Daniel and how it can help us understand God's heart in the rest of the prophets.
Prerequisites for Approaching God
By J.C. Hibbard48756:15PrayerEXO 27:1DAN 5:27MAT 6:33MRK 16:15JHN 8:36HEB 3:21PE 3:18In this sermon, the preacher discusses the concept of time running out and the importance of not neglecting things that should not be neglected. He emphasizes the need for a real harvest of souls and encourages the congregation to bring their unsaved friends to the church. The preacher also mentions the upcoming TV program and urges everyone to tune in. He then quotes several scriptures, including 1 Peter 3:18, which highlights how Christ suffered for sins to bring us to God. The sermon concludes with the reminder to come boldly to the throne of grace and find mercy and grace in times of need.
Letter 69
By James Bourne0DAN 5:27HEB 12:2HEB 12:24James Bourne preaches about the spiritual battle against sin and the importance of enduring hardships as a good soldier of Christ. He emphasizes the need to cling to God in the midst of trials, acknowledging that the struggles we face are meant to draw us closer to Him. Bourne encourages his cousin to find strength in looking to Jesus, who endured the cross for our sins, and to trust in the promise of God's constant presence and faithfulness.
Men Tried and Found Defective
By Edward Payson0ISA 64:6DAN 5:27MAT 5:20LUK 18:9ROM 3:23EPH 2:8PHP 3:8JAS 2:101JN 1:8Edward Payson preaches about the story of Belshazzar from the book of Daniel, emphasizing the consequences of provoking God and failing to glorify Him. He challenges the congregation to examine their lives and acknowledge their shortcomings before God's judgment. Payson highlights that no one can meet God's perfect standard through their own efforts, but salvation is found in accepting the righteousness of Christ through faith. He warns against self-righteousness and urges humility and repentance as the way to receive God's grace and mercy.
To Whom Shall We Liken Him?
By Martin Knapp0JOS 1:91KI 18:362KI 2:14ISA 6:8JER 20:9EZK 3:8DAN 5:27MAT 3:2LUK 3:3ACT 9:3Martin Knapp preaches about the remarkable similarities between Mr. Weber and various biblical figures, highlighting his evangelistic zeal, family's conversion, deliverance mission, and prevailing prayer like Elijah. Mr. Weber's life reflects characteristics of Joshua, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Elijah, Elisha, Ezekiel, Daniel, John the Baptist, Paul, and other evangelists, showing his dedication to God's work and the challenges faced in spreading the Gospel. Despite misunderstandings and persecutions, Mr. Weber's impactful ministry has led to numerous conversions and spiritual transformations, echoing the sacrifices and successes of past evangelists.
Belshazzar's Feast in Its Application to the Great Exhibition
By John Gifford Bellett0DAN 5:27John Gifford Bellett preaches on the moral corruption witnessed by Jeremiah in Jerusalem, the discipline experienced by Ezekiel among the remnant, and Daniel's placement among the Gentiles in Babylon. The first six chapters of Daniel reveal the progression of Gentile iniquity through the stories of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, and Darius, showcasing persecution, idolatry, self-indulgence, and self-exaltation. Belshazzar's feast symbolizes the present easy, self-indulgent, and worldly moment, where the rejection of Christ is forgotten, and man glorifies in the world's capabilities. The sermon emphasizes the importance of being separated from the world, like Daniel, and having a single eye focused on Christ to discern the true nature of worldly events and avoid being ensnared by the spirit of the last days.
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
- Tyndale
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
weighed in the balances--The Egyptians thought that Osiris weighed the actions of the dead in a literal balance. The Babylonians may have had the same notion, which would give a peculiar appropriateness to the image here used. found wanting--too light before God, the weigher of actions (Sa1 2:3; Psa 62:9). Like spurious gold or silver (Jer 6:30).
John Gill Bible Commentary
TEKEL,.... As for the meaning of this word, and what it points at, it is this: thou art weighed in the balances: of justice and truth, in the holy righteous law of God; as gold, and jewels, and precious stones, are weighed in the scales by the goldsmith and jeweller with great exactness, to know the worth of them: and art found wanting; found to be adulterated gold, reprobate silver, bad coin, a false stone; found to be a worthless man, a wicked prince, wanting the necessary qualifications of wisdom, goodness, mercy, truth, and justice. The Scriptures of truth, the word of God, contained in the books of the Old and New Testament, are the balances of the sanctuary, in which persons, principles, and practices, are to be weighed; and sad it is where they are found light and wanting: men, both of high and low degree, when put here, are lighter than vanity. The Pharisee, or self-righteous person, when weighed in the balance of God's law, which is holy, just, and good, will be found wanting of that holiness and righteousness he pretends to, and appear to be an unholy and an unrighteous man; his righteousness, neither for the matter of it, nor manner of performing it, being agreeable to that law, and so no righteousness in the sense of it, Deu 6:25, it being imperfect, and so leaves him to the curse of it, Gal 3:10, and not being performed in a pure and spiritual manner that it requires, is rejected by it; and miserable will be the case of such a man at the day of judgment, when his works will be found wanting, and not answerable to the demands of a righteous law, and he without the wedding garment of Christ's righteousness, and so naked and speechless. The hypocrite, and formal professor, when weighed in the balance of the Scripture, will be found wanting the true grace of God; his faith will appear to be feigned, and his hope groundless, and his love to be in word and in tongue only, and not at all to answer to the description of true grace given in the word of God; and bad will it be with such persons at last, when at the bridegroom's coming they will be destitute of the oil of true and real grace; only have that which is counterfeit, and the mere lamp of an outward profession, which will then stand them in no stead, or be of any avail unto them: in the same balances are the doctrines and principles of men to be weighed; and, such as are according to them are solid and weighty, and are comparable to gold, silver, and precious stones; but such as are not are light, and like wood, hay, and stubble, which the fire of the word will reveal, try, and burn up, not being able to stand against it; and if these are weighed in the balances, they will be found wanting of real truth and goodness, and be but as chaff to wheat; and what is the one to the other? there is no comparison between them; and dreadful will be the case of false teachers, that make and teach an abomination and a lie; and of those that are given up to believe them, these will not be able to stand the trying hour of temptation, and much less the last and final judgment. Sad for preachers of the word to be found wanting in their ministry, and hearers to be wanting in their duty; not taking care neither what they hear, nor how they hear, or whether they put in practice the good they do hear.
Tyndale Open Study Notes
5:27 Tekel means ‘weighed’—you . . . have not measured up: Babylon’s king would be destroyed because he did not measure up to God’s demand for righteousness and mercy (see 4:27; 5:22-24).