Bible Commentaries

Matthew 25:44 — naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Lord, when saw we thee, … — They were sand blind, and could not see Christ in poor Christians, μυωπαζοντες , 2 Peter 1:9 whom they should have looked upon as the only earthly angels, the dearly beloved of Christ’s soul, Jeremiah 12:7 ; the house of his glory, Isaiah 60:7 ; an ornament of God, Ezekiel 7:20 ; a royal diadem in the hand of Jehovah, Isaiah 62:3 .

Matthew 27:18 — For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. For he knew that for envy — His sin was the greater for his knowledge,James 4:17; James 4:17 . Omne peccatum contra conscientiam aedificat ad gehennam, saith Gerson. When men imprison their light (that prophet from God), Romans 1:18 , and after conviction run away with the bit in their mouths, as it were, they run, without God’s

Mark 1:23 — out, With an unclean spirit — Gr. εν πρευματι ακαθαρτω . In an unclean spirit. An unregenerate man is in maligno positus, as St John saith of the world, 1 John 5:19 . He is inversus decalogus; whole evil is in man, and whole man in evil, till at last (without grace) he be satanized and transformed into a breathing devil. By reason of the inhabitation of unclean spirits, our spirits have in them trenches,

Mark 11:3 — And if any man say unto you, Why do ye this? say ye that the Lord hath need of him; and straightway he will send him hither. Say ye that the Lord hath need of him — See here six different arguments of our Saviour’s Deity: 1. That he knew there was such an ass colt. 2. That he sent for it. 3. Foresaw that the masters of the colt would question them that set it. 4. That he professeth himself the Lord of all. 5. That he could tell they would send the colt. 6. That accordingly

Mark 16:2 — sun. The first day of the week — της μιας σαββατων , one of the sabbaths. So the first day of the world is called, Jom echad, one day; that is, the first day, Genesis 1:5 . For as that day was initial to the world, so the day of our Lord’s resurrection is the beginning of our glorification; as in that day light was produced, so Christ rising, the light of righteousness and joy is risen to us. (Gerb. in Harm.

Mark 2:14 — And as he passed by, he saw Levi the son of Alphaeus sitting at the receipt of custom, and said unto him, Follow me. And he arose and followed him. And as he passed by he saw Levi — Our calling is of free grace, Ezekiel 16:6 ; Isaiah 65:1 . The scribes and Pharisees are let alone; and this publican called to the work. And he arose and followed him — Leaving his gainful trade, and following his own ignominy, ruin, death. Nihil hic disputat unde vivere debeat: faith

Mark 3:2 — heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. And they watched him — So carnal men do still watch and pry into professors and their conversation, εποπτευοντες , 1 Peter 3:2 , curiously observing what they may catch and carp at. But it is a brave thing to throttle envy, to stop an evil mouth, to deny them occasion to blaspheme, as Christ did; to lead convincing lives, as Bradford and Bucer did, whom neither their

Luke 12:1 — disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy. Beware of the leaven — Which our eyes cannot discern from dough by the colour, but only our palate, by the taste. Such is hypocrisy, which also, as leaven, is: 1. spreading; 2. swelling; 3. souring the meal; 4. impuring and defiling the house where it is, though it be but as much as a man’s fist.

Luke 13:23 — Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Are there few, … — Few received Christ in the flesh, John 1:12: he wondered at one good Nathanael. They are Methe mispar that look towards heaven. Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto. The most rest on that old popish rule, To follow the crowd. Are there few? — A curious question, and therefore not vouchsafed

Luke 22:32 — thy faith fail not — It is our faith that Satan chiefly assaulteth: he knows that nihil retinct qui fidem perdidit. (Seneca.) Strengthen thy brethren — So he doth notably, in both his Epistles, dooming apostates most severely, 2 Peter 2:1-22 .

Luke 3:23 — the son of Eli — That is, his son-in-law. For Eli was Mary’s natural father; and it is Mary’s genealogy that is here described; but put upon Joseph, because the Hebrews reckon not their genealogies by women, but by men only. So Ruth 1:11-13

John 10:36 — whom the Father hath sanctified, and sent into the world, Thou blasphemest; because I said, I am the Son of God? Hath sanctified and sent — Sanctified, that is, anointed, and that in both his natures, as whole Christ. For his anointing imported, 1. His consecration or ordination to the office of a Mediator, and so the Godhead also was anointed. 2. Qualification or effusion of fulness of graces; as the holy oil was compounded of divers spices, so the manhood, and that without measure, as far as

John 11:55 — passover, to purify themselves. Before the Passover, to purify themselves — They had their Parasceve and Proparasceve, their preparation and fore preparation. We must also purify ourselves before the sacrament from all filthiness of flesh and spirit, 1 Corinthians 11:27-31 , cast all the baggage into the brook Kidron (that is, the town ditch), and then kill the Passover,2 Chronicles 30:14; 2 Chronicles 30:14 . The very heathens had their coenam puram before their sacrifices.

John 11:8 — garment, at the bottom whereof was written, Death and Life, in the upper part, Summer and Winter; his bosom was open, so that his heart might be seen, whereupon was written, Longe, prope, a friend at hand and afar off. (Wilkins’ Com. in Muter. orat. 1. de laud. lit.)

John 14:8 — schools speak, in the circle wherein it runs, but only in the beams. So neither can we see God in his essence; in his Son we may, who is the resplendence of his Father’s glory, απαυγασμα , Hebrews 1:3 .

John 15:10 — commandments, and abide in his love. Even as I have kept my Father’s — Christ’s obedience must be our pattern of imitation. All his actions were either moral or mediatory. In both we are to imitate him. In the former by doing as he did,Matthew 11:29; Matthew 11:29 ; 1 Peter 2:23 . In the latter, by similitude, translating that to our spiritual life which he did as mediator; as to die to sin, to rise to righteousness.

John 17:9 — — Christ hath left us this prayer here recorded, as a pattern of that intercession he incessantly maketh for us at the right hand of his heavenly Father. Joab was heard for Absalom: shall not Christ for us? Solomon denied his mother’s request, 1 Kings 2:22 ; God will not deny Christ’s. The prodigal came without a mediator to his father, and was embraced; much more shall we, presented by Christ.

John 2:9 — water that was made wine — Doth not Christ daily turn water into wine, when of water falling upon the vine, and concocted by the heat of the sun, he produceth the grape, whence wine is expressed? His love (that is better than wine, Song of Solomon 1:2 ) turned brown bread and water into manchet and wine, to the martyrs in prison.

John 6:39 — me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up again at the last day. I should raise it up again — By virtue of the union, a substance is preserved, and shall be raised up again to glory; yea, "the dead in Christ shall rise first," 1 Thessalonians 4:16 , by virtue derived from Christ’s resurrection, and by the mighty influence thereof. For he was raised to be a root and fountain of all supernatural life, both of our souls and bodies.

John 9:30 — The man answered and said unto them, Why herein is a marvellous thing, that ye know not from whence he is, and yet he hath opened mine eyes. And yet he hath opened mine eyes — Which was a foretold sign of the Messiah, Isaiah 35:4-5 , and an office whereto Paul was sent of God, Acts 26:18 . And surely if God set such a seal to a man’s ministry, as to make him instrumental to the conversion of others, it is a sweet and singular confirmation, Jeremiah 23:22 ; 1 Corinthians 9:2-3 .