Interpret → Preach
For the service
John Wesley’s own Explanatory Notes Upon the Old and New Testament on the day’s readings — his verse-by-verse commentary, not a summary of it. Read the full edition ↗
first Isaiah 25:6-9
- v.6And — In Mount Zion, in God's church. All people - Both Jews and Gentiles. A feast - A feast made up of the most delicate provisions, which is manifestly meant of the ordinances, graces, and comforts given by God in his church. Of wines - Which have continued upon the lees a competent time, whereby they gain strength, and are afterwards drawn off, and refined.
- v.7The face — The covering of the face. The veil - The ignorance of God, and of the true religion, which then was upon the Gentiles, and now is upon the Jews.
- v.8He — Christ will by his death destroy the power of death, take away the sting of the first death, and prevent the second. In victory - Hebrew. unto victory; so as to overcome it perfectly; which complete victory Christ hath already purchased for, and will in due time actually confer upon his people. Rebuke - The reproach and contempt cast upon his faithful people by the ungodly world.
- v.9Our God — Our Messiah, long since promised, and for whom we have waited long, is come into the world, bringing salvation with him.
psalm Psalm 114
- v.2Judah — Or Israel, one tribe being put for all. Judah he mentions as the chief of all the tribes.
- v.4The mountains — Horeb and Sinai, two tops of one mountain, and other neighbouring mountains.
- v.7Tremble — The mountains did more than what was fit at the appearance of the great God. We are to give glory to God, not to ourselves or idols, ver. 1-8. By trusting in his promise and blessing, ver. 9-15. And by praising him, ver. 16-18.
second 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8
- v.6Your glorying — Either in your gifts or prosperity, at such a time as this, is not good. Know ye not that a little leaven - One sin, or one sinner. Leaveneth the whole lump - Diffuses guilt and infection through the whole congregation.
- v.7Purge out therefore the old leaven — Both of sinners and of sin. That ye may be a new lump, as ye are unleavened - That is, that being unleavened ye may be a new lump, holy unto the Lord. For our passover is slain for us - The Jewish passover, about the time of which this epistle was wrote, ver. 11, was only a type of this. What exquisite skill both here and everywhere conducts the zeal of the inspired writer! How surprising a transition is here, and yet how perfectly natural! The apostle, speaking of the incestuous criminal, slides into his darling topic, - crucified saviour. Who would have expected it on such an occasion. Yet, when it is thus brought in, who does not see and admire both the propriety of the subject, and the delicacy of its introduction?
- v.8Therefore let us keep the feast — Let us feed on him by faith. Here is a plain allusion to the Lord's supper, which was instituted in the room of the passover. Not with the old leaven - Of heathenism or Judaism. Malignity is stubbornness in evil. Sincerity and truth seem to be put here for the whole of true, inward religion.
gospel Luke 24:13-49
- v.13Mark xvi, 12.
- v.21Today is the third day — The day he should have risen again, if at all.
- v.25O foolish — Not understanding the designs and works of God: And slow of heart - Unready to believe what the prophets have so largely spoken.
- v.26Ought not Christ — If he would redeem man, and fulfil the prophecies concerning him, to have suffered these things? - These very sufferings which occasion your doubts, are the proofs of his being the Messiah. And to enter into his glory - Which could be done no other way.
- v.28He made as though he would go farther — Walking forward, as if he was going on; and he would have done it, had they not pressed him to stay.
- v.29They constrained him — By their importunate entreaties.
- v.30He took the bread, and blessed, and brake — Just in the same manner as when he instituted his last supper.
- v.31Their eyes were opened — That is, the supernatural cloud was removed: And he vanished - Went away insensibly.
- v.32Did not our heart burn within us — Did not we feel an unusual warmth of love! Was not our heart burning, &c.
- v.33The same hour — Late as it was.
- v.34The Lord hath appeared to Simon — Before he was seen of the twelve apostles, 1 Cor. xv, 5. He had, in his wonderful condescension and grace, taken an opportunity on the former part of that day (though where, or in what manner, is not recorded) to show himself to Peter, that he might early relieve his distresses and fears, on account of having so shamefully denied his Master.
- v.35In the breaking of bread — The Lord's Supper.
- v.36Jesus stood in the midst of them — It was just as easy to his Divine power to open a door undiscernibly, as it was to come in at a door opened by some other hand. Mark xvi, 14, 19; John xx, 19.
- v.40He showed them his hands and his feet — That they might either see or feel the prints of the nails.
- v.41While they believed not for joy — They did in some sense believe: otherwise they would not have rejoiced. But their excess of joy prevented a clear, rational belief.
- v.43He took it and ate before them — Not that he had any need of food; but to give them still further evidence.
- v.44And he said — On the day of his ascension. In the law, and the prophets, and the Psalms - The prophecies as well as types, relating to the Messiah, are contained either in the books of Moses (usually called the law) in the Psalms, or in the writings of the prophets; little being said directly concerning him in the historical books.
- v.45Then opened he their understanding, to understand the Scriptures — He had explained them before to the two as they went to Emmaus. But still they understood them not, till he took off the veil from their hearts, by the illumination of his Spirit.
- v.47Beginning at Jerusalem — This was appointed most graciously and wisely: graciously, as it encouraged the, greatest sinners to repent, when they saw that even the murderers of Christ were not excepted from mercy: and wisely, as hereby Christianity was more abundantly attested; the facts being published first on the very spot where they happened.
- v.49Behold I send the promise — Emphatically so called; the Holy Ghost.