Bible Commentaries

Psalms 119:64 — Verse Psalms 119:64. The earth is full of thy mercy — What an astonishing operation has the grace of God! In the midst of want, poverty, affliction, and bondage, it makes those who possess it happy! When Christ dwells in the heart by faith, we have nothing but goodness

Psalms 119:80 — prays that God's merciful kindness may be extended to him. But this prayer he would not presume to have offered, had he not been authorized and encouraged by God's word: "According to thy word." When God gives a promise, he binds himself to fulfil it.4. He desires to be treated as a child in the heavenly family; and therefore prays for God's fatherly mercies - his bowels of compassion.5. And he prays for them for this end, "that he may live." And here also he adds a reason why he should be heard:

Proverbs 1:4 — Verse Proverbs 1:4. To give subtilty to the simple — The word simple, from simplex, compounded of sine, without, and plica, a fold, properly signifies plain and honest, one that has no by-ends in view, who is what he appears to be; and is opposed to complex, from

Isaiah 33:24 — Verse Isaiah 33:24. And the inhabitant shall not say — This verse is somewhat obscure. The meaning of it seems to be, that the army of Sennacherib shall by the stroke of God be reduced to so shattered and so weak a condition, that the Jews shall fall upon the remains

Isaiah 41:2 — Verse Isaiah 41:2. The righteous man] The Chaldee and Vulgate seem to have read צדיק tsaddik. But Jerome, though his translation has justum, appears to have read צדק tsedek; for in his comment he expresses it by justum, sive justitiam. However, I think all interpreters

Jeremiah 23:29 — the Targumist: "Are not all my words strong, like fire?" and probably the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews read it thus, and had it in view when he wrote: "For the word of God is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword," Hebrews 4:12. This admitted, the text would read, "Is not my word powerful, like fire?" or, "Is not the power of my word like fire?" But however we understand the words, let us take heed lest we think, as some have thought and affirmed, that the sacred writings

Matthew 11:30 — infinitely happy? Taste, and know, by experience, how good the Lord is, and how worthy his yoke is to be taken, borne, and loved. This most tender invitation of the compassionate Jesus is sufficient to inspire the most diffident soul with confidence. Mark 8:34.Creeshna, the incarnate God of the Hindoos, is represented in the Geeta addressing one of his beloved disciples thus: "I am the creator of all things, and all things proceed from me. Those who are endued with spiritual wisdom, believe this, and worship

Matthew 23:21 — the Jews called שכינה Shekinah, the habitation of Jehovah. Now the Jews unanimously acknowledge that five things were wanting in the second temple, which were found in the first, viz.,1. The ark;2. The holy spirit of prophecy;3. The Urim and Thummim;4. The sacred fire; and5. The שכינה Shekinah.As the Lord had long before this time abandoned the Jewish temple, and had now made the human nature of Jesus the Shekinah, (see John 1:14, the Logos was made flesh, εσκηνωσεν, and made his tabernacle - made

Mark 7:33 — every word and voice, but what came from him.3. Spitting out he touched his tongue - to show that his mental taste and relish should be entirely changed: that he should detest those things which he before esteemed, and esteem those which he before hated.4. Looking up to heaven - to signify that all help comes from God, and to teach the new convert to keep continually looking to and depending upon him.5. He groaned - to show the wretched state of man by sins and how tenderly concerned God is for his present

Luke 23:43 — Verse 43. To-day shalt thou be with me in paradise. — Marcion and the Manichees are reported to have left this verse out of their copies of this evangelist. This saying of our Lord is justly considered as a strong proof of the immateriality of the soul;

John 19:34 — Verse 34. With a spear pierced his side — The soldier who pierced our Lord's side has been called by the Roman Catholic writers Longinus, which seems to be a corruption of λογχη, lonche, a spear or dart, the word in the text. They moreover tell us that

Acts 12:4 — Verse Acts 12:4. Four quaternions of soldiers — That is, sixteen, or four companies of four men each, who had the care of the prison, each company taking in turn one of the four watches of the night.Intending after Easter to bring him forth — μετα το τασχα,

Acts 17:1 — CHAPTER XVII. Paul and his company, passing through Amphipolis and Apollonia, come to Thessalonica, were they preach the Gospel to the Jews, several of whom believe, 1-4. Others raise a mob, and bring Jason, who had received the apostles, before the magistrates, who, having taken bail of him and his companions, dismiss them, 5-9. Paul and Silas are sent away by night unto Berea, where they preach to the Jews, who gladly

Acts 20:38 — If he be sent of God at all, he is sent to feed the flock.(2) But, in order to feed them, he must have the bread of life.(3) This bread he must distribute in its due season, that each may have that portion that is suitable to time, place, and state.(4) While he is feeding others, he should take care to have his own soul fed: it is possible for a minister to be the instrument of feeding others, and yet starve himself.(5) If Jesus Christ intrust to his care the souls he has bought by his own blood,

Romans 12:2 — TRANSFIGURARI; "I perceive myself not to be amended merely, but to be transformed:" i. e entirely renewed.By the renewing of your mind — Let the inward change produce the outward. Where the spirit, the temper, and disposition of the mind, Ephesians 4:23, are not renewed, an outward change is of but little worth, and but of short standing.That ye may prove — εις το δοκιμαζειν, That ye may have practical proof and experimental knowledge of, the will of God-of his purpose and determination, which

Romans 5:20 — various opinions concerning the true meaning of this verse, (see under Romans 5:12,) I am induced to prefer my own, as being the most simple. By law I understand the Mosaic law. By entering in, παρεισηλθεν, or, rather, coming in privily, see Galatians 2:4, (the only place where it occurs besides,) I understand the temporary or limited use of that law, which was, as far as its rites and ceremonies are considered, confined to the Jewish people, and to them only till the Messiah should come; but considered

Romans 6:6 — that henceforth we should live unto Him who died and rose again. Thus the metaphor, in all its leading senses, is complete, and applies most forcibly to the subject in question. We find that παλαιος ανθρωπος, the old man, used here, and in Ephesians 4:22, and Colossians 3:9, is the same as the flesh with its affections and lusts, Galatians 5:24; and the body of the sins of the flesh, Colossians 2:11; and the very same which the Jewish writers term אדם הקדמוני, Adam hakkadmoni, the old Adam; and which

1 Corinthians 10:4 — Verse 1 Corinthians 10:4. Spiritual drink — By the βρωμα πνευματικον spiritual meat, and πομα πνευματικον, spiritual drink, the apostle certainly means both meat and drink, which were furnished to the Israelitish assembly miraculously, as well as typically: and he appears

1 Corinthians 6:11 — Jesus for the remission of sins.2. The people who heard were convinced of the Divine truths delivered by the apostle, and flocked to baptism.3. They were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus, and thus took upon them the public profession of the Gospel.4. Being now baptized into the Christian faith, they were separated from idols and idolaters, and became incorporated with the Church of God.5. As penitents, they were led to the Lord Jesus for justification, which they received through faith in his blood.6.

Hebrews 2:3 — those types. 3. The Jewish dispensation referred chiefly to the body and outward state of man-washings and external cleansings of the flesh; the Christian, to the inward state-purifying the heart and soul, and purging the conscience from dead works.4. The Jewish dispensation promised temporal happiness; the Christian, spiritual. 5. The Jewish dispensation belonged chiefly to time; the Christian, to eternity. 6. The Jewish dispensation had its glory; but that was nothing when compared to the exceeding