Bible Commentaries

Job 39:30 — (30) Where the slain are, there is she.—Comp. Matthew 24:28, and Luke 17:37.

Proverbs 26:4 — (4) Answer not a fool.—Comp. Proverbs 1:22. According to his folly.—Do not lower yourself by disputing or arguing with him; he will not take in your meaning, and will think he has got the better of you, perhaps will insult you. It is noticeable that our Lord never answered a question which should not have been asked Him, but always put it by (e.g., Matthew 21:23, sqq.; Luke 13:23-24; Luke 23:9; John 21:21-22; Acts 1:6, sqq.).

Ezekiel 11:23 — (23) Stood upon the mountain.—This mountain, on the east of the city, is that which was afterwards known as the Mount of Olives. It is considerably higher than the city, and commands a view over its entire extent. Here the Divine glory rested after

Malachi 4:5 — (5) Elijah.—There is no more reason to suppose that this refers actually to “Elijah” the prophet, and that he is to appear upon earth, than to imagine from Hosea 3:5; Ezekiel 24:23; Ezekiel 37:24; Jeremiah 30:9; that David himself is to come again in

Matthew 24:43 — (43) But know this.—The verses from Matthew 24:42 to Matthew 24:51 have nothing corresponding to them in the reports of the discourse given by St. Mark and St. Luke, but are found almost verbatim in another discourse reported by St. Luke 12:42, et seq.

Matthew 28:6 — (6) He is not here.—It is not given to us to fix the precise moment when the grave was opened and the risen Lord came forth from it, but the indications point to the time at or about sunrise. There was an obvious fitness in the symbolism of the Resurrection

Matthew 6:27 — (27) One cubit unto his stature.—The Greek for the last word admits either this meaning (as in Luke 19:3, and perhaps Luke 2:52) or that of age (as in John 9:21; John 9:23, and Hebrews 11:24). Either gives an adequate sense to the passage. No anxiety

Deuteronomy 1:35 — (35) Surely . . . Comp. St. Luke 14:24, “None of those men which were bidden shall taste of my supper.”

Mark 16:12-13 — (12-13) After that he appeared in another form.—See Notes on Luke 24:13-35.

Mark 16:14 — (14) Afterward he appeared unto the eleven.—See Notes on Luke 24:36-43.

Mark 16:19-20 — (19-20) So then after the Lord had spoken.—See Note on Luke 24:53. St. Matthew, it will be remembered, gives no account of the Ascension. (See Note on Matthew 28:20.) St. Mark and St. Luke record it briefly. St. John implies it in his report of our

Luke 21:9 — (9) Commotions.—The word does not occur in the other Gospels, but is used by St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 14:33 (“confusion”), 2 Corinthians 6:5; 2 Corinthians 12:20 (“tumults”). Its exact meaning is unsettlement, disorder. Be not terrified.—The word is used by St. Luke only, here and in Luke 24:37, in the New Testament. By and by.—Better, as elsewhere, immediately.

Luke 22:45 — (45) He found them sleeping for sorrow.—It is, perhaps, again characteristic of St. Luke, that while the other Gospels state simply the fact that the disciples slept, he assigns it psychologically and physiologically to its cause. Prolonged sorrow has, at last, a numbing and narcotising effect. (See Note on “believing not for joy,” Luke 24:41.)

Luke 8:45 — (45) Master.—The same word as in Luke 8:24, where see Note.

John 12:47 — (47) And if any man hear my words, and believe not.—The better reading is, . . . and keep them not. (Comp., for the words “hear” and “keep,” Notes on Luke 11:28; Luke 18:21.) For the thought of the verse comp. in this Gospel, Notes on John 3:17 et seq.; 5:24, 45 et seq.; 8:15 ei seq.; and the apparently opposite assertion in John 9:39.

Acts 1:6 — (6) Lord, wilt thou at this time restore again the kingdom?—More literally, art Thou restoring . . . Before the Passion the disciples had thought that “the kingdom of God should immediately appear” (Luke 19:11). Then had come the seeming failure of those hopes (Luke 24:21). Now they were revived by the Resurrection, but were still predominantly national. Even the Twelve were thinking, not of a kingdom of God, embracing all mankind, but of a sovereignty restored to Israel.

Acts 13:38 — (38) Men and brethren.—Better, brethren, simply. Is preached . . .—The force of the Greek tense emphasises the fact that the forgiveness was, at that very moment, in the act of being proclaimed or preached. Forgiveness of sins.—This forms the key-note

Acts 2:5 — (5) There were dwelling at Jerusalem.—The phrase is one of frequent occurrence in St. Luke’s writings (Luke 13:4; Acts 1:19; Acts 4:16). As a word, it implied a more settled residence than the “sojourning” of Luke 24:18 (see Note), Hebrews 11:9, but

Judges 19:21 — (21) Gave provender unto the asses.—Notice the humane Eastern custom of attending first the wants of the animals. They washed their feet.—One of the first necessities for personal comfort after a journey in hot countries, and where only sandals are worn (Genesis 18:4; Genesis 24:32; Genesis 43:24; Luke 7:44; John 13:5; 1 Timothy 5:10).

Revelation 3:19 — (19) I rebuke and chasten.—The first word is that used in the work of the Holy Spirit (John 16:8), and signifies to bring conviction; it is not empty censure. The second word signifies to educate by means of correction. The pronoun is emphatic, “I,”