Bible Commentaries

Luke 2:21 — Verse Luke 2:21. When eight days were accomplished — The law had appointed that every male should be circumcised at eight days old, or on the eighth day after its birth, Genesis 17:12; and our blessed Lord received circumcision in token of his subjection to the law, Galatians 4:4; Galatians 5:3.His name was called JESUS — Galatians 5:3- : and John 1:29.

Luke 4:7 — Verse Luke 4:7. If thou - wilt worship me — This temptation is the last in order, as related by Matthew; and it is not reasonable to suppose that any other succeeded to it. Luke has here told the particulars, but not in the order in which they took place. See every circumstance of this temptation considered and explained in the notes on Matthew 4:1-11.

John 1:50 — Verse John 1:50. Because I said - I saw thee, &c.] As thou hast credited my Divine mission on this simple proof, that I saw thee when and where no human eye, placed where mine was, could see thee, thy faith shall not rest merely upon this, for thou shalt see greater things than these - more numerous and express proofs of my eternal power and Godhead.

John 16:1 — Verse John 16:1. These things have I spoken — Particularly what is mentioned in the two last chapters.Be offended. — Ἱνα μη σκανδαλισθητε, That ye should not be stumbled. May not fall away from the faith, nor receive any injury to your souls, as that man does to his body who stumbles, or falls over a stone, or block, in the way which he has not discovered.

John 4:1 — Verse John 4:1. Jesus made and baptized, c.] These seem to be quoted as the very words which were brought to the Pharisees and, from our Lord's conduct after this information, we may take it for granted that they were so irritated that they were determined to seek an occasion to take away his life; in consequence of which, leaving Judea, he withdrew into Galilee.

Acts 15:32 — Verse 32. Judas and Silas, being prophets — That is, being teachers in the Church. This signification of the word prophet we have often already seen. See the notes on Acts 11:27; Acts 13:1.Exhorted the brethren — To abide steadily attached to God, and to each other, in peace, love, and unity.And confirmed them.] In the blessed truths they had already received.

1 Corinthians 10:2 — Verse 1 Corinthians 10:2. And were all baptized unto Moses — Rather INTO Moses-into the covenant of which Moses was the mediator; and by this typical baptism they were brought under the obligation of acting according to the Mosaic precepts, as Christians receiving Christian baptism are said to be baptized INTO Christ, and are thereby brought under obligation to keep the precepts of the Gospel.

1 Corinthians 11:29 — Verse 29. Eateth and drinketh damnation — κριμα, Judgment, punishment; and yet this is not unto damnation, for the judgment or punishment inflicted upon the disorderly and the profane was intended for their emendation; for in 1 Corinthians 11:32, it is said, then we are judged, κρινομενοι, we are chastened, παιδευμεθα, corrected as a father does his children, that we should not be condemned with the world.

1 Corinthians 14:13 — Verse 1 Corinthians 14:13. Pray that he may interpret. — Let him who speaks or reads the prophetic declarations in the Old Testament, in that tongue in which they were originally spoken and written, pray to God that he may so understand them himself, and receive the gift of interpretation, that he may be able to explain them in all their depth and latitude to others.

1 Corinthians 14:8 — Verse 1 Corinthians 14:8. If the trumpet give an uncertain sound — If, when the soldier should prepare himself for the battle, the trumpet should give a different sound to that which is ordinarily used on such occasions, the soldier is not informed of what he should do, and therefore does not arm himself; consequently, that vague, unintelligible sound of the trumpet, is of no use.

1 Corinthians 14:9 — Verse 1 Corinthians 14:9. Likewise ye — If ye do not speak in the Church so as to be understood, your labour is useless; ye shall speak into the air-your speech will be lost and dissipated in the air, without conveying any meaning to any person: there will be a noise or sound, but nothing else. Gifts of that kind, thus used, are good for nothing.

1 Corinthians 8:5 — Verse 1 Corinthians 8:5. There be that are called gods — There are many images that are supposed to be representations of divinities: but these divinities are nothing, the figments of mere fancy; and these images have no corresponding realities.Whether in heaven or in earth — As the sun, moon, planets, stars, the ocean, rivers, trees, &c. And thus there are, nominally, gods many, and lords many.

Galatians 5:7 — Verse 7. Ye did run well — Ye once had the faith that worked by love-ye were genuine, active, useful Christians.Who doth hinder — Who prevented you from continuing to obey the truth? Ye could only be turned aside by your own consent. St. Paul here, as in 1 Corinthians 9:24, compares Christianity to a race. See the notes on the above text.

Hebrews 4:4 — Verse Hebrews 4:4. For he spake in a certain place — This certain place or somewhere, που, is probably Genesis 2:2; and refers to the completion of the work of creation, and the setting apart the seventh day as a day of rest for man, and a type of everlasting felicity. See the notes on "Genesis 2:1", &c., and see here "Hebrews 2:6".

James 5:18 — Verse 18. And he prayed again — This second prayer is not mentioned in the history in express words, but as in 1 Kings 18:42, it is said, He cast himself down upon the earth, and put his face between his knees; that was probably the time of the second praying, namely, that rain might come, as this was the proper posture of prayer.

1 John 2:4 — Verse 1 John 2:4. He that saith, I know him — This is a severe blow against those false teachers, and against all pretenders to religious knowledge, who live under the power of their sins; and against all Antinomians, and false boasters in the righteousness of Christ as a covering for their personal unholiness. They are all liars, and no truth of God is in them.

2 John 1:3 — Verse 2 John 1:3. Grace be with you — This is addressed to her, her household, and probably that part of the Church which was more immediately under her care.The Son of the Father — The apostle still keeps in view the miraculous conception of Christ; a thing which the Gnostics absolutely denied; a doctrine which is at the ground work of our salvation.

Jude 1:19 — Verse Jude 1:19. Who separate themselves — From the true Church, which they leave from an affectation of superior wisdom.Sensual — ψυχικοι. Animal-living as brute beasts, guided simply by their own lusts and passions, their Bible being the manifold devices and covetousness of their own hearts; for they have not the Spirit-they are not spiritually minded; and have no Holy Ghost, no inspiration from God.

Revelation 1:19 — Verse Revelation 1:19. Write the things which thou hast seen — These visions and prophecies are for general instruction, and therefore every circumstance must be faithfully recorded. What he had seen was to be written; what he was about to see, relative to the seven Churches, must be also written; and what he was to see afterwards, concerning other Churches and states, to be recorded likewise.

Revelation 20:1 — Verse Revelation 20:1. An angel came down from heaven — One of the executors of the Divine justice, who receives criminals, and keeps them in prison, and delivers them up only to be tried and executed.The key of the prison and the chain show who he is; and as the chain was great, it shows that the culprit was impeached of no ordinary crimes.