Bible Commentaries

Psalms 73:3 — 3-9. The prosperous wicked are insolently proud (compare Psalms 5:5). They die, as well as live, free from perplexities: pride adorns them, and violence is their clothing; indeed they are inflated with unexpected success. With all this—

Psalms 73:9 — 3-9. The prosperous wicked are insolently proud (compare Psalms 5:5). They die, as well as live, free from perplexities: pride adorns them, and violence is their clothing; indeed they are inflated with unexpected success. With all this—

Leviticus 12:8 — 8. bring two turtles, &c.—(See on Leviticus 5:6). This was the offering made by Mary, the mother of Jesus, and it affords an incontestable proof of the poor and humble condition of the family (Leviticus 5:6- :).

Isaiah 42:7 — 7. blind—spiritually (Isaiah 42:16; Isaiah 42:18; Isaiah 42:19; Isaiah 35:5; John 9:39). prison— (Isaiah 61:1; Isaiah 61:2). darkness—opposed to "light" (Isaiah 42:6; Ephesians 5:8; 1 Peter 2:9).

Isaiah 57:9 — 9. the king—the idol which they came to worship, perfumed with oil, like harlots (Jeremiah 4:30; Ezekiel 23:16; Ezekiel 23:40). So "king" means idol (Amos 5:26; Zephaniah 1:5); (malcham meaning "king") [ROSENMULLER]. Rather, the king of Assyria or Egypt, and other foreign princes, on whom Israel relied, instead of on God; the "ointment" will thus refer to the presents (Zephaniah 1:5- :), and perhaps the

Isaiah 8:16 — explains what in Daniel was left unexplained (compare Daniel 8:26; Daniel 12:9). "The words are closed up and sealed till the time of the end"; but Daniel 12:9- :, "Seal not the sayings of the prophecy . . . for the time is at hand" (compare Revelation 5:1; Revelation 5:5; Revelation 5:9), testimony—attested by Uriah and Zechariah (Isaiah 8:2). law—the revelation just given, having the force of a law. disciples—not as MAURER, Uriah and Zechariah (compare John 7:17; John 15:15).

Daniel 2:21 — times . . . seasons—"He herein gives a general preparatory intimation, that the dream of Nebuchadnezzar is concerning the changes and successions of kingdoms" [JEROME]. The "times" are the phases and periods of duration of empires (compare Daniel 7:25; 1 Chronicles 12:32; 1 Chronicles 29:30); the "seasons" the fitting times for their culmination, decline, and fall (Ecclesiastes 3:1; Acts 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:1). The vicissitudes of states, with their times and seasons, are not regulated by chance

Hosea 12:12 — yourselves on the great name of "Israel," forget not that your progenitor was the same Jacob who was a fugitive, and who served for Rachel fourteen years. He forgot not ME who delivered him when fleeing from Esau, and when oppressed by Laban (Genesis 28:5; Genesis 29:20; Genesis 29:28; Deuteronomy 26:5). Ye, though delivered from Egypt (Deuteronomy 26:5- :), and loaded with My favors, are yet unwilling to return to Me. country of Syria—the champaign region of Syria, the portion lying between the Tigris

Hosea 9:3 — 3. return to Egypt—(See on :-). As in Hosea 11:5 it is said, "He shall not return into . . . Egypt." FAIRBAIRN thinks it is not the exact country that is meant, but the bondage state with which, from past experience, Egypt was identified in their minds. Assyria was to be a second Egypt to them. Hosea

Micah 6:5 — 5. what Balak . . . consulted—how Balak plotted to destroy thee by getting Balaam to curse thee ( :-). what Balaam . . . answered—how the avaricious prophet was constrained against his own will, to bless Israel whom he had desired to curse for the sake of

Malachi 3:4 — 4. as in the days of old— (Malachi 1:11; Malachi 2:5; Malachi 2:6). The "offering" (Mincha, Hebrew) is not expiatory, but prayer, thanksgiving, and self-dedication (Romans 12:1; Hebrews 13:15; 1 Peter 2:5).

Matthew 22:4 — those Gospel calls after Christ's death, resurrection, ascension, and effusion of the Spirit, to which the parable could not directly allude, but when only it could be said, with strict propriety, "that all things were ready." Compare 1 Corinthians 5:7; 1 Corinthians 5:8, "Christ our Passover is sacrificed for us; therefore, let us keep the feast"; also 1 Corinthians 5:8- :, "I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread which

Luke 12:46 — 46. cut him in sunder—a punishment not unknown in the East; compare :-, "sawn asunder" (1 Samuel 15:33; Daniel 2:5). the unbelievers—the unfaithful, those unworthy of trust (Daniel 2:5- :), "the hypocrites," falsely calling themselves "servants."

Luke 16:8 — 8. the lord—evidently the steward's lord, so called in Luke 16:3; Luke 16:5. commended, c.—not for his "injustice," but "because he had done wisely," or prudently with commendable foresight and skilful adaptation of means to end. children of this world—so Luke 20:34; compare Luke 20:34- : ("their portion in this life");

John 7:21 — 21-24. I have done one work, c.—Taking no notice of the popular appeal, as there were those there who knew well enough what He meant, He recalls His cure of the impotent man, and the murderous rage it had kindled (John 5:9 John 5:16; John 5:18). It may seem strange that He should refer to an event a year and a half old, as if but newly done. But their present attempt "to kill Him" brought up the past scene vividly, not only to Him, but without doubt to them, too, if

John 7:23 — 21-24. I have done one work, c.—Taking no notice of the popular appeal, as there were those there who knew well enough what He meant, He recalls His cure of the impotent man, and the murderous rage it had kindled (John 5:9 John 5:16; John 5:18). It may seem strange that He should refer to an event a year and a half old, as if but newly done. But their present attempt "to kill Him" brought up the past scene vividly, not only to Him, but without doubt to them, too, if

John 7:3 — 3-5. His brethren said—(See on :-). Depart . . . into Judea, c.—In John 7:5 this speech is ascribed to their unbelief. But as they were in the "upper room" among the one hundred and twenty disciples who waited for the descent of the Spirit after the

Acts 28:8 — historian's style has been observed here.) to whom Paul entered in, and prayed—thereby precluding the supposition that any charm resided in himself. and laid his hands on him, and healed him—Thus, as our Lord rewarded Peter for the use of his boat (Luke 5:3; Luke 5:4, &c.), so Paul richly repays Publius for his hospitality. Observe the fulfilment here of two things predicted in Luke 5:4- : —the "taking up serpents," and "recovering of the sick by laying hands on them."

Galatians 2:5 — 5. Greek, "To whom not even for an hour did we yield by subjection." ALFORD renders the Greek article, "with THE subjection required of us." The sense rather is, We would willingly have yielded for love [BENGEL] (if no principle was at issue), but not

Colossians 3:14 — addresses, Colossians 3:12, "elect of God, holy . . . beloved," and Colossians 3:12- :; so that there is no plea here for Rome's view of justification by works. Love and its works "perfect," that is, manifest the full maturity of faith developed (Matthew 5:44; Matthew 5:48). Love . . . be ye perfect, c. (James 2:21 James 2:22; 1 John 2:5). "If we love one another, God's love is perfected in us" (Romans 13:8; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; 1 Timothy 1:5; 1 John 4:12). As to "bond," compare 1 John 4:12- :, "knit