Bible Commentaries

Matthew 13:44 — 44. Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field—no uncommon thing in unsettled and half-civilized countries, even now as well as in ancient times, when there was no other way of securing it from the rapacity of neighbors or marauders.

Matthew 22:4 — 4. my oxen and my fatlings are killed, and all things are ready; come unto the marriage—This points to those Gospel calls after Christ's death, resurrection, ascension, and effusion of the Spirit, to which the parable could not directly allude, but when

Luke 10:33 — 33. Samaritan—one excommunicated by the Jews, a byword among them, synonymous with heretic and devil (John 8:48; see on Luke 10:1). had compassion—His best is mentioned first; for "He who gives outward things gives something external to himself, but he who imparts compassion and tears gives him something from his very self" [GREGORY THE GREAT, in TRENCH]. No

John 15:2 — vitally and spiritually connected with Christ, or but externally and mechanically attached to Him. The fruitless He "taketh away" (see on :-); the fruitful He "purgeth" (cleanseth, pruneth)—stripping it, as the husbandman does, of what is rank (Mark 4:19), "that it may bring forth more fruit"; a process often painful, but no less needful and beneficial than in the natural husbandry.

John 7:38 — 38. as the scripture hath said—These words belong to what follows, "Out of his belly, as the scripture hath said, shall flow," c. referring not to any particular passage, but to such as Isaiah 58:11 Joel 3:18; Zechariah 14:8; Ezekiel 47:1-12; in most of which the idea is that of waters issuing from beneath the temple, to which our Lord compares Himself and those who believe in Him. out of his belly—that is, his inner man, his soul, as in Ezekiel 47:1-26.47.12- :. rivers

Acts 9:2 — Gospel had penetrated; and Saul, flushed with past successes, undertakes to crush it out. that if he found any of this way, whether men or women—Thrice are women specified as objects of his cruelty, as an aggravated feature of it (Acts 8:3; Acts 22:4; Acts 9:2; and here).

2 Corinthians 11:23 — abundantly" (English Version, less accurately, "more frequent"). :- records one case of his imprisonment with stripes. CLEMENT OF ROME [First Epistle to the Corinthians] describes him as having suffered bonds seven times. in death oft— (2 Corinthians 4:10; Acts 9:23; Acts 13:50; Acts 14:5; Acts 14:6; Acts 14:19; Acts 17:5; Acts 17:13).

Colossians 4:5 — 5. (See on :-.) in wisdom—practical Christian prudence. them . . . without—Those not in the Christian brotherhood (1 Corinthians 5:12; 1 Thessalonians 4:12). The brethren, through love, will make allowances for an indiscreet act or word of a brother; the world will make none. Therefore be the more on your guard in your intercourse with the latter, lest you be a stumbling-block to their conversion. redeeming

1 Thessalonians 3:3 — ELSNER and BENGEL, "cajoled out of his faith." In afflictions, relatives and opponents combine with the ease-loving heart itself in flatteries, which it needs strong faith to overcome. yourselves know—We always candidly told you so (1 Thessalonians 3:4; Acts 14:22). None but a religion from God would have held out such a trying prospect to those who should embrace it, and yet succeed in winning converts. we—Christians. appointed thereunto—by God's counsel (1 Thessalonians 5:9).

1 Thessalonians 5:13 — original. Let there not only be peace between ministers and their flocks, but also no party rivalries among yourselves, one contending in behalf of some one favorite minister, another in behalf of another (Mark 9:50; 1 Corinthians 1:12; 1 Corinthians 4:6).

2 Thessalonians 1:12 — glorification; compare :-, "The Lord of hosts shall be . . . a crown of glory and . . . a diadem of beauty unto . . . His people," with Isaiah 62:3, "Thou (Zion) shalt be a crown of glory in the hand of the Lord, and a royal diadem," c. (John 21:10 Galatians 1:24; 1 Peter 4:14). The believer's graces redound to Christ's glory, and His glory, as their Head, reflects glory on them as the members. the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ—There is but one Greek article to both, implying the inseparable unity

1 Timothy 2:4 — 4. "Imitate God." Since He wishes that all should be saved, do you also wish it; and if you wish it, pray for it. For prayer is the instrument of effecting such things [CHRYSOSTOM]. Paul does not say, "He wishes to save all"; for then he would have saved

Hebrews 1:10 — contend that the Father was principally intended" [BENGEL]. laid the foundation of—"firmly founded" is included in the idea of the Greek. heavens—plural: not merely one, but manifold, and including various orders of heavenly intelligences (Ephesians 4:10). works of thine hands—the heavens, as a woven veil or curtain spread out.

Hebrews 10:4 — 4. For, c.—reason why, necessarily, there is a continually recurring "remembrance of sins" in the legal sacrifices ( :-). Typically, "the blood of bulls," &c., sacrificed, had power but it was only in virtue of the power of the one real antitypical

Hebrews 6:11 — persevere in the same diligence with a view to the full assurance of HOPE unto the end. They needed, besides love, patient perseverance, resting on hope and faith (Hebrews 10:36; Hebrews 13:7). Compare "the full assurance of faith," Hebrews 10:22; Romans 4:21; 1 Thessalonians 1:5. unto the end—the coming of Christ.

2 Peter 1:11 — grace hereafter shall correspond to the work of grace here. abundantly—Greek, "richly." It answers to "abound," 2 Peter 1:5- :. If these graces abound in you, you shall have your entrance into heaven not merely "scarcely" (as he had said, 1 Peter 4:18), nor "so as by fire," like one escaping with life after having lost all his goods, but in triumph without "stumbling and falling."

1 John 4:6 — 6. We—true teachers of Christ: in contrast to them. are of God—and therefore speak of God: in contrast to "speak they of the world," 1 John 4:5. knoweth God—as his Father, being a child "of God" (1 John 2:13; 1 John 2:14). heareth us—Compare 1 John 2:14- :, "Every one that is of the truth, heareth My voice." Hereby— (1 John 2:14- :); by their confessing, or not confessing, Jesus; by

Revelation 1:17 — Lord Jesus did at the Transfiguration to the three prostrate disciples, of whom John was one, saying, Be not afraid. The "touch" of His hand, as of old, imparted strength. unto me—omitted in the oldest manuscripts. the first . . . the last— (Isaiah 41:4; Isaiah 44:6; Isaiah 48:12). From eternity, and enduring to eternity: "the First by creation, the Last by retribution: the First, because before Me there was no God formed; the Last, because after Me there shall be no other: the First, because from

Revelation 22:1 — 1. pure—A, B, Vulgate, and HILARY 22, omit. water of life—infinitely superior to the typical waters in the first Paradise ( :-); and even superior to those figurative ones in the millennial Jerusalem (Ezekiel 47:1; Ezekiel 47:12; Zechariah 14:8), as the matured fruit is superior to the flower. The millennial waters represent full Gospel grace; these waters of new Jerusalem represent Gospel glory perfected. Their continuous flow from God, the Fountain of life,

Revelation 4 overview — CHAPTER 4 :-. VISION OF GOD'S THRONE IN HEAVEN; THE FOUR AND TWENTY ELDERS; THE FOUR LIVING CREATURES. Here begins the Revelation proper; and first, the fourth and fifth chapters set before us the heavenly scenery of the succeeding visions, and God on