Bible Commentaries

Luke 1:9 — (Exodus 30:7.) The order of courses among the priests had been appointed by David, as we have already explained; and, consequently, what is here stated as to incense was expressly enjoined by the law of God. The other matters had been arranged by David, (1 Chronicles 24:3,) that each family might have its own turn, though David ordained nothing which was not prescribed by the law: he only pointed out a plan by which they might individually perform the service which God had commanded. The word temple

Luke 13:31 — this title, but because she was one of the true and actual members of the Church. Here we perceive also what Paul tells us, that some are delivered to Satan for the destruction of the flesh, that the spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus, (1 Corinthians 5:5.) And the length of time points out to us that, though the Lord does not immediately relieve our distresses, yet we ought not to despair. It is difficult to ascertain the precise time when this happened, farther than that Christ was

Luke 24:44 — Prophets, he adds, in the third place, the Psalms, which, though they might with propriety have been reckoned among the Prophets, have, something distinct and peculiar to themselves. Yet the division into two par which we have seen elsewhere, (Luke 16:16; John 1:45,) embraces notwithstanding the whole of Scripture.

John 12:38 — 38.That the saying of Isaiah the prophet might be fulfilled. John does not mean that the prediction laid a necessity on the Jews; for Isaiah (Isaiah 53:1; Romans 10:16) uttered nothing but what the Lord revealed to him from the secret treasures of his purpose. Indeed, it must have happened, though the prophet had not spoken of it; but as men would not have known what should take place, if God had not

John 17:17 — 17.Sanctify them by thy truth. This sanctification includes the kingdom of God and his righteousness; that is, when God renews us by his Spirit, and confirms in us the grace of renewal, and continues it to the end. He asks, first, therefore, that the

John 20:14 — 14.And seeth Jesus standing It may be asked, Whence arose this mistake, that Mary does not recognize Jesus, with whom she must have been intimately acquainted? Some think that he appeared in a different form, but I think that the fault lay rather in the

John 5:23 — out of the way to seek God. Hence so many pretended deities, hence so many perverse modes of worship. We shall never, therefore, find the true God but in Christ, nor shall we ever worship Him aright but by kissing the Son, as David tells us, (Psalms 2:12;) for, as John elsewhere declares, He who hath not the Son hath not the Father, (1 John 2:23.) Mahometans and Jews do indeed adorn with beautiful and magnificent titles the God whom they worship; but we ought to remember that the name of God, when

John 6:7 — 7.Two hundred denarii. As the denarius, according to the computation of Budaeus, is equal to four times the value of acarolus and two deniers of Tours, this sum amounts to thirty-five francs, or thereby. (119) If you divide this sum among five thousand men, each hundred of them will have less than seventeenpence sterling (120) If we now add about a thousand of women and children, it will be found that Philip allots to each person about the sixth part of

Acts 11:1 — 1.And the apostles. Whereas Luke declareth that the fame of one house which was converted was spread abroad everywhere amongst the brethren, that did arise by reason of admiration; for the Jews accounted it as a monster that the Gentiles should be gathered

Acts 4:20 — they cannot but speak. For the gospel of Christ is now in hand, wherein consisteth both the glory of God and the salvation of men. It is an unmeet thing, and sacrilegious wickedness, that the same should be suppressed by prohibitions and menacings (216) of men; for God commandeth that his gospel be preached, especially since they did know that they were chosen to be witnesses and preachers of Christ, and that God had opened their mouth. Therefore, whosoever putteth them to silence, he endeavoreth

Acts 8:39 — servants of Christ learn hereby to serve him freely, or rather let them so serve men for nothing that they hope for a reward from heaven. The Lord granteth leave, indeed, to the ministers of the gospel to receive a reward at their hands whom they teach, (1 Corinthians 9:9,) but he forbiddeth them therewithal to be hirelings which labor for lucre’s sake, (John 10:12.) For this must be the mark whereat they must shoot, to gain the men themselves to God. Rejoicing. Faith and the knowledge of God bring

Romans 12:4 — same time intimates, how much diligence there ought to be in all, so that they may contribute to the common good of the body according to the faculties they possess. (385) (385) The Apostle pursues this likeness of the human body much more at large in 1 Corinthians 12:12. There are two bonds of union; one, which is between the believer and Christ by true faith; and the other, which is between the individual member of a church or a congregation and the rest of the members by a professed faith. It is

Romans 5:1 — 1.Being then justified, etc. The Apostle begins to illustrate by the effects, what he has hitherto said of the righteousness of faith: and hence the whole of this chapter is taken up with amplifications, which are no less calculated to explain than to

1 Corinthians 10:10 — 10.Neither murmur ye Others understand this to be the murmuring that arose, when the twelve, who had been sent to spy out the land, disheartened, on their return, the minds of the people. But as that murmuring was not punished suddenly by any special

1 Corinthians 11:26 — it is necessary for us to have some symbol of his presence, by which our minds may exercise themselves. (697) “Que de nostre part le recognoissions;” — “That we, on our part, may recognise it.” (698) From, εὐχαριστήσας, (having given thanks,) which is made use of by Paul, and also by the Evangelists, (see Harmony, vol. 3, p. 205, n. 1,) in their account of the original appointment of the Supper.

2 Corinthians 11:4 — through whom God has bestowed upon you so many and so distinguished benefits?” Such is the reverence that is shown even at this day by Papists towards their pretended Bishops. For while they are oppressed by their excessively harsh tyranny, (810) they submit to it without difficulty; but, at the same time, do not hesitate to treat Christ himself with contempt. (811) The expressions — another Christ, and another gospel, are made use of here in a different sense from what they bear in

2 Corinthians 4:3 — detracts nothing from the clearness of his gospel; for the sun is not less resplendent, that the blind do not perceive his light. (435) But some one will say that this applies equally to the law, for in itself it is a lamp (436) to guide our feet, (Psalms 119:105,) enlightens the eyes, (Psalms 19:8,) etc., and is hid only from those that perish. I answer that, when Christ is included in the law, the sun shines forth through the midst of the clouds, so that men have light enough for their use; but when

2 Corinthians 5:4 — admits, that we have naturally an aversion to the quitting of this life, considered in itself, as no one willingly allows himself to be striped of his garments. Afterwards, however, he adds, that the natural horror of death is overcome by confidence; (515) as an individual will, without any reluctance, throw away a coarse, dirty, threadbare, and, in one word, tattered garment, with the view of his being arrayed in an elegant, handsome, new, and durable one. Farther, he explains the metaphor by saying

2 Corinthians 5:6 — confidence; for the reason, why unbelievers are constantly in a ferment of anxiety, or obstinately murmur against God, is, that they think they will ere long cease to exist, and they place in this life the highest and uppermost summit of their felicity. (517) We, on the other hand, live in the exercise of contentment, (518) and go forward to death with alacrity, (519) because a better hope is laid up for us. We are absent from the Lord Scripture everywhere proclaims, that God is present with us: Paul

2 Corinthians 9:5 — 5.As a blessing, not in the way of niggardliness In place of blessing, some render it collection. I have preferred, however, to render it literally, as the Greeks employed the term εὐλογίας to express the Hebrew word ברכה, (beracah,) which is used in the sense of a blessing, that is, an invoking of prosperity, as well as in the sense of beneficence. (711) The