Bible Commentaries

Ezekiel 1:11 — stretched upward; two [wings] of every one [were] joined one to another, and two covered their bodies. And their wings were stretched upward. — Faces and wings are both turned toward God, at whose beck and obedience the holy angels wholly are; Psalms 103:20 or hereby may be imported the swiftness, sublimeness, and equality of their service. Two wings of every one. — See on Ezekiel 1:9 . And two covered their bodies. — See on Isaiah 6:2 .

Ezekiel 1:23 — And under the firmament [were] their wings straight, the one toward the other: every one had two, which covered on this side, and every one had two, which covered on that side, their bodies. Were their wings straight, — sc., When they flew; for at other times they covered their bodies with them, Ezekiel 1:11 in reverence to Christ their Creator and Lord. The one toward the other. — They serve the Lord Christ with one shoulder or consent; they do all mind the same thing.

Ezekiel 1:25 — And there was a voice from the firmament that [was] over their heads, when they stood, [and] had let down their wings. And there was a voice from the firmament, — i.e., From above the firmament, even from Christ on the throne. When they stood. — When all was hushed. So Revelation 8:1 , there was half-an-hour’s silence in heaven, that is, in the Church on earth, when the seventh seal was opened. Sedate and silent spirits are fittest to hear Christ’s voice. Job 4:16

Ezekiel 12:1 — The word of the LORD also came unto me, saying, The word of the Lord also came unto me. — This variety of visions shows the great unbelief of the people, whose captivity and calamity is here further described and assured by a new type, which is set out in Ezekiel 12:1-6:, and then applied in Ezekiel 12:7-16 . One sermon pegs in another, and the man of God must stick to his work, and επιστηθι , stand over it. 2 Timothy 4:2

Ezekiel 16:46 — left hand. — Thou art well set up therewhile, well neighboured. That dwelleth at thy right hand. — That did do so, but new dwelleth with devils; being "thrown out for an example, suffering the vengeance of eternal fire." Judges 1:7

Ezekiel 47:13 — This [shall be] the border, whereby ye shall inherit the land according to the twelve tribes of Israel: Joseph [shall have two] portions. This shall be the border. — Here the prophet returneth again to the dividing of the land, begun Ezekiel 45:1-2 , …, having hitherto interposed many most memorable matters, and of great use to the Church. Joseph shall have two portions. — He had so by his father’s will, and for his two sons adopted by his father.

Daniel 1:16 — Thus Melzar took away the portion of their meat, and the wine that they should drink; and gave them pulse. Thus Melzar took away. — See on Daniel 1:14 . And gave them pulse. — This slender diet was some help to their studies; for leaden bellies make leaden wits, γαστηρ παχεια λεπτον ου

Daniel 6:28 — So this Daniel prospered in the reign of Darius, and in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. So this Daniel prospered. — And still solicited the Church’s cause. And in the reign of Cyrus the Persian. — Under whom he affronted the counsellors hired against the returned Jews. Ezra 4:5 ; cf. Ezra 10:1 ; cf. Ezra 10:3 He lived also under Cambyses, but was out of credit with that rakeshame. One who covers himself with shame; an ill-behaved, disorderly, or dissolute fellow. ŒD

Amos 1:12 — But I will send a fire upon Teman, which shall devour the palaces of Bozrah. But I will send a fire — A fierce enemy, ut supra. The inhabitants of Teman and Bozra, together with other the posterity of Esau, were famous for power and policy, Obadiah 1:8-9 Jeremiah 49:7 Isaiah 34:6 . But there is no wisdom, might, nor counsel against the Lord, Proverbs 21:30-31 . He can make fools and babies of the Church’s enemies: he can fire out their malice.

Zechariah 4:8 — people’ s distrust and infidelity. Against which the prophet here produceth his warrant, God’s own word; q.d. "This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation." "This is a pillar and ground of truth." See Trapp on " 1 Timothy 3:15 "

Matthew 14:18 — He said, Bring them hither to me. Bring them hither to me — Bring we all we have and are to Christ, that he may take off the curse and add the blessing. What the apostle saith of meat and marriage, is true of the rest, "all things are sanctified by the word and prayer," 1 Timothy 4:3 . To teach the people this it was, that the fruit of the trees was not to be eaten till the trees were circumcised, Leviticus 19:23 .

Mark 4:28 — For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. First the blade, then the ear — And the husbandman looks upon it with delight, in the hope of a harvest; so doth God take in good part our weak beginnings, while we strive to be better: his blessing is upon our very buds,Isaiah 44:3; Isaiah 44:3 . The first springs in the womb of grace are precious to him, Ephesians 2:1 .

Luke 2:40 — And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him. And the grace of God was upon him — Without measure: so that of his overflow we have all received "grace for grace," John 1:16 . He had a fulness, not repletive only, but diffusive too; not of plenty only, but of bounty also; not only of abundance, but of redundance. He was anointed with the oil of gladness, not only above, but for his fellows.

John 10:7 — Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. I am the door — Heaven door, so Christ is pleased to call himself, because "through him we have an access by one Spirit unto the Father," Ephesians 2:18 ; and, "in him we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him," Ephesians 3:12 . Why our Saviour compares himself to these ordinary and obvious objects of our senses. See Trapp on " John 15:1 "

John 14:13 — And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. That I will do — An undoubted argument of Christ’s Divinity, that he hears and grants prayers. When the people, in Ahab’s time, saw God answering Elijah by fire from heaven, they cried out, "The Lord he is God, the Lord he is God," 1 Kings 18:39 ; "O thou that hearest prayers" is a description the Psalmist gives of God, Psalms 65:2 .

John 14:18 — comfortless — Orphans, or darkling, ορφανους ab ορφνη , tenebrae. I your Lord am taken indeed from your head for a while, but you shall have the supply of my Spirit, Philippians 1:19 . And I, even I, will come again to you ere long; yea, I am now upon the way; I come to fetch you, I come to meet you, I come, I come, ερχομαι , Dedit me in viam.

John 14:22 — Judas saith unto him, not Iscariot, Lord, how is it that thou wilt manifest thyself unto us, and not unto the world? How is it that thou wilt manifest, … — Many a wise question the disciples ask him in this chapter; and yet our Saviour bears with their rudeness, and gently instructs them, preaching as they were able to hear, Mark 4:33 . So did Paul, 1 Corinthians 9:22 . So must all ministers, 2 Timothy 2:25 , if they mean to do good on it.

John 17:16 — not of the world, even as I am not of the world. They are not of the world, … — Here indeed they have their commoration, but their conversation is in heaven, πολιτευμα , Philippians 2:21: they are clothed with the Sun of righteousness, and have the moon (all earthly things) under their feet, Revelation 12:1 . Pearls, though they grow in the sea, yet they have affinity with the heaven, the beauty and brightness whereof they resemble:

John 8:1 — Jesus went unto the mount of Olives. Jesus went unto the mount of Olives — His usual oratory. There he prayed by night, and then early in the morning he came again into the temple to preach. Thus he divided his time between praying and preaching. So did the ministers of the Old Testament, Deuteronomy 33:10 , and of the New, Acts 6:2 . So must all who will do good of it; since Paul may plant, Apollos water, but God only gives increase, 1 Corinthians 3:6 .

John 8:46 — Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? Which of you convinceth me of sin — q.d. Have you anything against my life, that ye thus stiffly refuse to receive my doctrine? Do not (as every minister should do) vivere concionibus, concionari moribus, live sermons, as well as preach them? Paul knew nothing by himself, 1 Corinthians 4:4 . And Chrysostom saith that the souls and lives of ministers should be purer than the sunbeams.