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 1 Samuel 2:18-20, 26
- v.18Ministered — That is, performed his ministration carefully and faithfully. Before the Lord - In God's tabernacle. Ephod - A garment used in God's service, and allowed not only to the inferior priests and Levites but also to eminent persons of the people, and therefore to Samuel, who, though no Levite, was a Nazarite, from his birth.
psalm Psalm 148
- v.4Heavens of heavens — Ye highest heavens, the place of God's throne. Waters - Ye clouds which are above a part of the heavens.
- v.6Established — He hath made them constant and incorruptible, not changeable, as the things of the lower world. A decree - Concerning their continuance.
- v.7Dragons — Either serpents, which hide in the deep caverns of the earth; or whales, and other sea-monsters, which dwell in the depths of the sea.
- v.8Fire — Lightnings and other fireworks of the air. Vapor - Or, fumes: hot exhalations. Fulfilling his word - Executing his commands, either for the comfort or punishment of the inhabitants of the earth.
- v.13Above — Above all the glories which are in earth and in heaven.
- v.14The horn — In scripture commonly denotes strength, victory, glory, and felicity. An exhortation to praise God for his love to his people, ver. 1-5. And for enabling them to overcome their enemies, ver. 6- 9.
second Colossians 3:12-17
- v.12All who are thus renewed are elected of God, holy, and therefore the more beloved of him. Holiness is the consequence of their election, and God's superior love, of their holiness.
- v.13Forbearing one another — If anything is now wrong. And forgiving one another - What is past.
- v.14The love of God contains the whole of Christian perfection, and connects all the parts of it together.
- v.15And then the peace of God shall rule in your hearts — Shall sway every temper, affection, thought, as the reward (so the Greek word implies) of your preceding love and obedience.
- v.16Let the word of Christ — So the apostle calls the whole scripture, and thereby asserts the divinity of his Master. Dwell - Not make a short stay, or an occasional visit, but take up its stated residence. Richly - In the largest measure, and with the greatest efficacy; so as to fill and govern the whole soul.
- v.17In the name — In the power and Spirit of the Lord Jesus. Giving thanks unto God - The Holy Ghost. And the Father through him - Christ.
gospel Luke 2:41-52
- v.43The child Jesus — St. Luke describes in order Jesus the fruit of the womb, chap. i, 42; an infant, chap. ii, 12; a little child, ver. 40; a child here, and afterward a man. So our Lord passed through and sanctified every stage of human life. Old age only did not become him.
- v.44Supposing him to have been in the company — As the men and women usually travelled in distinct companies.
- v.46After three days — The first day was spent in their journey, the second, in their return to Jerusalem: and the third, in searching for him there: they found him in the temple - In an apartment of it: sitting in the midst of the doctors - Not one word is said of his disputing with them, but only of his asking and answering questions, which was a very usual thing in these assemblies, and indeed the very end of them. And if he was, with others, at the feet of these teachers (where learners generally sat) he might be said to be in the midst of them, as they sat on benches of a semicircular form, raised above their hearers and disciples.
- v.49Why sought ye me? — He does not blame them for losing, but for thinking it needful to seek him: and intimates, that he could not be lost, nor found any where, but doing the will of a higher parent.
- v.50It is observable that Joseph is not mentioned after this time; whence it is probable, he did not live long after.
- v.52Jesus increased in wisdom — As to his human nature, and in favour with God - In proportion to that increase. It plainly follows, that though a man were pure, even as Christ was pure, still he would have room to increase in holiness, and in consequence thereof to increase in the favour, as well as in the love of God.