Bible Commentaries

Zechariah 9:8 — preparatory dispensation was sown, to be fostered, grow and ripen with the harvest of the Gospel.For now have I seen with Mine eyes - This is the counterpart of what the Psalmists and pious people so often pray, “Awake to help me and behold” Psalms 59:4; “Look down from heaven, behold and visit this vine” Psalms 80:14; Psalms 9:13; “Look upon my trouble from them that hate me” “Look upon my affliction and my trouble; look upon my enemies, for they are many” Psalms 25:18-19; “Look upon my adversity

Matthew 13:18-23 — See also Mark 4:13-20; Luke 8:11-15. “Hear ye, therefore, the parable of the sower.” That is, hear the “explanation” or the “spiritual meaning” of the narrative given before. Mark adds Mark 4:13, “Know ye not this parable? And how, then, shall ye know all parables?” By which it seems

Matthew 9:14-17 — Then came the disciples of John ... - This narrative is found also in Mark 2:18-22; Luke 5:33-39. The reference here is to John the Baptist. It is probable that they had understood that John was the forerunner of the Messiah; and if such was the case, they could not account for the fact that there was such a difference between them and the

Mark 9:42-50 — subduing the lusts, enduring trials, removing offences, are the proper “preservatives” in the service of God. Doing this, you will be acceptable offerings and be saved; without this, you will be “unfit” for his eternal service and will be lost.”Mark 9:50Lost its saltness ... - See the notes at Matthew 5:13.Have salt in yourselves - Have the preserving, purifying principle always; the principles of denying yourselves, of suppressing pride, ambition, contention, etc., and thus you will be an acceptable

John 19:34 — have penetrated into the body, as he could not have stood directly under him. (3)It was probably made with a strong arm and with violence. (4)The spear of the Roman soldier was a lance which tapered very gently to a point, and would penetrate easily. (5)The wound was comparatively a large wound. It was so large as to admit the hand John 20:27; but for a lance thus tapering to have made a wound so wide as to admit the hand, it must have been at least four or five inches in depth, and must have been

Acts 1:11 — happiness, where God especially manifests his favor. The same thing is frequently designated by his sitting on the right hand of God, as emblematic of power, honor, and favor. See the Mark 16:19; Mark 14:62 notes; Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 8:1 notes; Acts 7:55 note; Romans 8:34 note; Ephesians 1:20 note.Shall so come - At the day of judgment. John 14:3, “if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again,” etc.In like manner ... - In clouds, as he ascended. See the Acts 1:9 note; 1 Thessalonians 4:16

Acts 2:19 — his wonders and his judgments that it may be called his day. Thus, it is applied to the day of judgment as the day of the Son of man; the day in which he will be the great attractive object, and will be signally glorified, Luke 17:24; 1 Thessalonians 5:2; Philippians 1:6; 2 Peter 3:12. If, as I suppose, “that notable day of the Lord” here refers to that future time when God will manifest himself in judgment, then we are not to suppose that Peter meant to say that these “wonders” would take place on

Acts 5:41 — important, that for it they were willing to endure all the afflictions and disgrace which it might involve. (3)They had been told to “expect” this, and they now rejoiced that they had This evidence that they were engaged in the cause of truth. Matthew 5:11-12; Matthew 10:17, Matthew 10:22; 2 Corinthians 12:10; Philippians 1:29; James 1:2.Religion appears to a Christian so excellent and lovely, that he is willing, for its sake, to endure trial, persecution, and death. With “all” this, it is infinite

Romans 12:3 — may evince a mind that is not conformed to the world.Through the grace - Through the favor, or in virtue of the favor of the apostolic office. By the authority that is conferred on me to declare the will of God as an apostle; see the note at Romans 1:5; see also Galatians 1:6, Galatians 1:15; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:8; 1 Timothy 1:14.Not to think ... - Not to over-estimate himself, or to think more of himself than he ought to. What is the true standard by which we ought to estimate ourselves he

Romans 6:4 — expressed by baptism, should rise to a new life, a life of holiness.Should walk - Should live, or conduct. The word “walk” is often used to express the course of a man’s life, or the tenor of his conduct; Romans 4:12; Romans 8:1 notes; 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 10:3 notes; Ephesians 2:10; Ephesians 4:1 notes, etc.In newness of life - This is a Hebraism to denote new life. We should rise with Christ to a new life; and having been made dead to sin, as he was dead in the grave, so should we rise

Romans 8:29 — they were predestinated was not the external privilege of the gospel, but conformity to his Son, and salvation; see Romans 8:30. No passage could possibly teach in stronger language that it was God’s purpose to save those who will be saved. Ephesians 1:5, “having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ unto himself.” Ephesians 1:11, being predestinated according to the purpose of Him who worketh all things after the counsel of his own will.”To be conformed to the image of his

1 Corinthians 10:31 — invigorates our frame; and that strength should not be devoted to purposes of sin, and profligacy, and corruption. it is an act of high dishonor to God, when he gives us strength, that we should at once devote that strength to pollution and to sin.(5) This rule is designed to be one of the chief directors of our lives. It is to guide all our conduct, and to constitute a “test” by which to try our actions. Whatever can be done to advance the honor of God is right; whatever cannot be done with that

1 Corinthians 7:21 — pagan world. Athens, e. g., had, in her best days, 20,000 freemen, and 400,000 slaves. See the condition of the pagan world on this subject illustrated at length, and in a very learned manner, by B. B. Edwards, in the Bib. Repository for October, 1835, pp. 411-436. It was a very important subject to inquire what ought to be done in such instances. Many slaves who had been converted might argue that the institution of slavery was contrary to the rights of man; that it destroyed their equality with

1 Corinthians 7:34 — please her husband. Before her marriage she may have been distinguished for zeal, and for active efforts in every plan of doing good; subsequently, she may lay aside this zeal, and withdraw from these plans, and be as little distinguished as others.(5) Her piety may be greatly injured by false notions of what should be done to please her husband. If he is a worldly and fashionable man, she may seek to please him by “gold, and pearls, and costly array.” Instead of cultivating the ornament of “a meek

1 Corinthians 9:5 — most missionaries at the present day, that they could do more good if unmarried, than they can if burdened with the cares of families.And as the brethren of the Lord - The brothers of the Lord Jesus, James and Joses, and Simon and Judas, Matthew 13:55. It seems from this, that although at first they did not believe in him John 7:5, and had regarded him as disgraced Mark 3:21, yet that they had subsequently become converted, and were employed as ministers and evangelists. It is evident also from

2 Corinthians 5:11 — God, endeavor to persuade people to be prepared to meet Him, and to give up their account.The terror of the Lord - This is, of the Lord Jesus, who will be seated on the throne of judgment, and who will decide the destiny of all people, 2 Corinthians 5:10; compare Matthew 25:0. The sense is, knowing how much the Lord is to be feared; what an object of terror and alarm it will be to stand at the judgment-seat; how fearful and awful will be the consequences of the trial of that day. The Lord Jesus will

Galatians 2:4 — strenuously opposed it.To spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus - In the practice of the Christian religion. The liberty referred to was, doubtless, the liberty from the painful, expensive, and onerous rites of the Jewish religion; see Galatians 5:1. Their object in spying out the liberty which Paul and others had, was, undoubtedly, to be witnesses of the fact that they did not observe the special rites of the Mosaic system; to make report of it; to insist upon their complying with those customs,

Philippians 1:5 — with the scope of the Epistle, and what the apostle elsewhere says of their benefactions. He speaks particularly of their liberality, and indeed this was one of the principal occasions of his writing the Epistle; Philippians 4:10-12, Philippians 4:15-18.(2) It accords with a frequent meaning of the word rendered “fellowship” - κοινωνία koinōnia. It denotes that which is in common; that of which we participate with others, communion, fellowship; Acts 2:42; 1 Corinthians 1:9; 1 Corinthians 10:16;

Philippians 3:18 — (1)Who have never been born again; (2)Who are living in the indulgence of known sin; (3)Who manifest none of the peculiarities of those who truly love him; (4)Who have a deeper interest in worldly affairs than they have in the cause of the Redeemer; (5)Whom nothing can induce to give up their worldly concerns when God demands it; (6)Who are opposed to all the unique doctrines of Christianity; and, (7)Who are opposed to all the special duties of religion, or who live in the habitual neglect of them.It

Hebrews 4:16 — forgiven. All that needs to be done is to plead the merits of our Great High Priest, and God is ready to pardon. Who would not be glad to be able to pay a debt in a manner so easy? Yet how few there are who are willing to pay the debt to justice thus!(5) It is easy to obtain all the grace that we need. We have only to “ask for it” - and it is done. How easy then to meet temptation if we would! How strange that any should rely on their own strength, when they may lean on the arm of God!(6) If people