Bible Commentaries

Matthew 5:4 — 4. Blessed are they that mourn: for they shall be comforted—This "mourning" must not be taken loosely for that feeling which is wrung from men under pressure of the ills of life, nor yet strictly for sorrow on account of committed sins. Evidently it is

Luke 14:28 — peace," :-), two things are taught: (1) Better not begin ( :-), than begin and not finish. (2) Though the contest for salvation be on our part an awfully unequal one, the human will, in the exercise of that "faith which overcometh the world" (1 John 5:4), and nerved by power from above, which "out of weakness makes it strong" (Hebrews 11:34 1 Peter 1:5), becomes heroical and will come off "more than conqueror." But without absolute surrender of self the contest is hopeless (Luke 14:33).

John 13:22 — was only anxious to purge himself and know if he could be the wretch. Their putting it at once to Jesus Himself, as knowing doubtless who was to do it, was the best, as it certainly was the most spontaneous and artless evidence of their innocence. (4) Jesus, apparently while this questioning was going on, added, "The Son of man goeth as it is written of Him, but woe unto that man by whom the Son of man is betrayed! It had been good for that man if he had not been born" (Matthew 26:24). (5) "Judas," last

Romans 7:6 — 6. But now—On the same expression, see on :-, and compare James 1:15. we are delivered from the law—The word is the same which, in James 1:15- : and elsewhere, is rendered "destroyed," and is but another way of saying (as in Romans 7:4) that "we were slain to the law by the body of Christ"; language which, though harsh to the ear, is designed and fitted to impress upon the reader the violence of that death of the Cross, by which, as by a deadly wrench, we are "delivered from the law."

1 Corinthians 10:3 — alike had "the same" spiritual privilege of the manna (compare :-). It was "spiritual meat" or food; because given by the power of God's spirit, not by human labor [GROTIUS and ALFORD] :-, "born after the Spirit," that is, supernaturally. Psalms 78:24, "corn of heaven" (Psalms 105:40). Rather, "spiritual" in its typical signification, Christ, the true Bread of heaven, being signified (Psalms 105:40- :). Not that the Israelites clearly understood the signification; but believers among them would feel

1 Corinthians 16:1 — 1. collection for the saints—at Jerusalem (Romans 15:26) and in Judea (Acts 11:29; Acts 11:30; Acts 24:17; compare 2 Corinthians 8:4; 2 Corinthians 9:1; 2 Corinthians 9:12). He says "saints" rather than "the poor," to remind the Corinthians that in giving, it is to the Lord's people, their own brethren in the faith. Towards the close of the national

1 Corinthians 16:5 — journey, and also that there had been some indecisiveness in the apostle's plan [PALEY]. In accordance with his second plan, we find him in Macedonia when Second Corinthians was written (2 Corinthians 2:13; 2 Corinthians 8:1; 2 Corinthians 9:2; 2 Corinthians 9:4), and on his way to Corinth (2 Corinthians 12:14; 2 Corinthians 13:1; compare Acts 20:1; Acts 20:2). "Pass through" is opposed to "abide" (Acts 20:2- :). He was not yet in Macedonia (as Acts 20:2- : shows), but at Ephesus; but he was thinking of passing

2 Corinthians 1:12 — interests, or employs unchristian means, or relies on human means more than on the Divine Spirit, is "fleshly wisdom." in the world—even in relation to the world at large, which is full of disingenuousness. more abundantly to you-ward— (2 Corinthians 2:4). His greater love to them would lead him to manifest, especially to them, proofs of his sincerity, which his less close connection with the world did not admit of his exhibiting towards it.

2 Corinthians 7:10 — or tends to it (the same Greek word is in Romans 13:10). The "sorrow of the world" (that is, such as is felt by the worldly) "worketh out," as its result at last, (eternal) death (the same Greek verb is in Romans 13:10- :; also see on 2 Corinthians 4:17). repentance . . . not to be repented of—There is not in the Greek this play on words, so that the word qualified is not "repentance" merely, but "repentance unto salvation"; this, he says, none will ever regret, however attended with "sorrow" at

Ephesians 2:15 — commandments contained in—Greek, "the law of the commandments (consisting) in ordinances." This law was "the partition" or "fence," which embodied the expression of the "enmity" (the "wrath" of God against our sin, and our enmity to Him, Romans 8:3- :) (Romans 4:15; Romans 5:20; Romans 7:10; Romans 7:11; Romans 8:7). Christ has in, or by, His crucified flesh, abolished it, so far as its condemning and enmity-creating power is concerned (Romans 8:7- :), substituting for it the law of love, which is the everlasting

1 Thessalonians 2:6 — object from which it was to come. The former means "originating from"; the latter means "on the part of." Many teach heretical novelties, though not for fain, yet for "glory." Paul and his associates were free even from this motive [GROTIUS], (John 5:44). we might have been burdensome—that is, by claiming maintenance (1 Thessalonians 2:9; 2 Corinthians 11:9; 2 Corinthians 12:16; 2 Thessalonians 3:8). As, however, "glory" precedes, as well as "covetousness," the reference cannot be restricted to

1 Timothy 1:9 — power to fulfil it; but ALFORD goes too far in speaking of the righteous man as "not morally needing the law." Doubtless, in proportion as he is inwardly led by the Spirit, the justified man needs not the law, which is only an outward rule (Romans 6:14; Galatians 5:18; Galatians 5:23). But as the justified man often does not give himself up wholly to the inward leading of the Spirit, he morally needs the outward law to show him his sin and God's requirements. The reason why the ten commandments have

Hebrews 1:4 — 4. Being made . . . better—by His exaltation by the Father (Hebrews 1:3; Hebrews 1:13): in contrast to His being "made lower than the angels" (Hebrews 1:13- :). "Better," that is, superior to. As "being" (Hebrews 1:3) expresses His essential being so

Hebrews 12:22 — applies better to the angels above, ever hymning God's praises, than to the Church, of which a considerable part is now militant on earth. Translate therefore, "to myriads (ten thousands, compare Deuteronomy 33:2 Psalms 68:17; Daniel 7:10; Judges 1:14; namely), the full festal assembly of angels, and the Church of the first-born." Angels and saints together constitute the ten thousands. Compare "all angels, all nations" Matthew 25:31; Matthew 25:32. Messiah is pre-eminently "the First-born," or "First-begotten" (Hebrews

Hebrews 7:26 — with any intemperance" [ORIGEN]. made—Jesus was higher before (John 17:5), and as the God-MAN was made so by the Father after His humiliation (compare John 17:5- :). higher than the heavens—for "He passed through [so the Greek] the heavens" (Hebrews 4:14).

Hebrews 8:11 — excluded while the covenant is being promulgated; but when once the Holy Spirit shall have fully taught all the remission of their sins and inward sanctification, then there shall be no further' need of man teaching his fellow man. Compare 1 Thessalonians 4:9; 1 Thessalonians 5:1, an earnest of that perfect state to come. On the way to that perfect state every man should teach his neighbor. "The teaching is not hard and forced, because grace renders all teachable; for it is not the ministry of the letter,

Hebrews 8:4 — 4. Implying that Christ's priestly office is exercised in heaven, not in earth; in the power of His resurrection life, not of His earthly life. For—The oldest manuscripts read, "accordingly then." if, c.—"if He were on earth, He would not even (so

Hebrews 8:9 — 9. Not according to, c.—very different from, and far superior to, the old covenant, which only "worked wrath" (Romans 4:15) through man's "not regarding" it. The new covenant enables us to obey by the Spirit's inward impulse producing love because of the forgiveness of our sins. made with—rather as Greek, "made to": the Israelites being only recipients, not coagents

James 5:4 — 4. Behold—calling attention to their coming doom as no vain threat. labourers—literally "workmen." of you kept back—So English Version rightly. Not as ALFORD, "crieth out from you." The "keeping back of the hire" was, on the part OF the rich, virtually

Revelation 6:12 — 12. As Revelation 6:4; Revelation 6:6-8, the sword, famine, and pestilence, answer to Matthew 24:6; Matthew 24:7; Revelation 6:9; Revelation 6:10, as to martyrdoms, answer to Matthew 24:9; Matthew 24:10; so this passage, Revelation 6:12; Revelation 6:17, answers to Matthew