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 Micah 5:2-5a
- v.2Bethlehem — Bethlehem of Judah was called Ephratah, from the fruitfulness of the land where it stood: the word whence it is derived importing fruitfulness. Art thou little - If thou art the least in other respects in this thou art honoured above them all. Ruler - King and sovereign. In Israel - Amidst the Israel of God. Going forth - Whose generation, as he is the Son of God, equal with his father, is eternal.
- v.3He — God. Give them up - To the Chaldeans. She - The daughter of Zion, compared here to a woman in travail, shall be delivered out of captivity. His brethren -- the brethren of the Messiah. Those of Judah and Benjamin who were carried captive.
- v.4He — The ruler, the Messiah shall stand. This posture speaks the readiness, chearfulness, and stability of Christ, his government, and kingdom. Feed - As a shepherd that diligently guides, preserves, and feeds his sheep. By the strength - By his own almighty strength. Of the name - By commission from the Father in whose name Christ came, preached, wrought miracles, and instituted his gospel church. They - His church made up of converted Jews and Gentiles, shall continue; the gates of hell shall not prevail against them. For - The church is so redeemed, and established, that Christ the Messiah might be glorified, throughout the world.
- v.5This man — The Messiah. The peace - Which is promised to the people of God; all their deliverances are not only for his sake, but effected by his power. Shall tread in our palaces - Which Sennacherib did in all the cities of Judah, except Jerusalem. We - Hezekiah, and with him the prophets and people, shall prevail with God to send deliverance. Seven shepherds - A certain number put for an uncertain.
psalm Luke 1:46b-55
- v.46And Mary said — Under a prophetic impulse, several things, which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand.
- v.47My spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour — She seems to turn her thoughts here to Christ himself, who was to be born of her, as the angel had told her, he should be the Son of the Highest, whose name should be Jesus, the saviour. And she rejoiced in hope of salvation through faith in him, which is a blessing common to all true believers, more than in being his mother after the flesh, which was an honour peculiar to her. And certainly she had the same reason to rejoice in God her saviour hat we have: because he had regarded the low estate of his handmaid, in like manner as he regarded our low estate; and vouchsafed to come and save her and us, when we were reduced to the lowest estate of sin and misery.
- v.51He hath wrought strength with his arm — That is, he hath shown the exceeding greatness of his power. She speaks prophetically of those things as already done, which God was about to do by the Messiah. He hath scattered the proud - Visible and invisible.
- v.52He hath put down the mighty — Both angels and men.
- v.54He hath helped his servant Israel — By sending the Messiah.
- v.55To his seed — His spiritual seed: all true believers.
second Hebrews 10:5-10
- v.5When he cometh into the world — In the fortieth Psalm the Messiah's coming into the world is represented. It is said, into the world, not into the tabernacle, chap. ix, 1; because all the world is interested in his sacrifice. A body hast thou prepared for me - That I may offer up myself. Psalm xl, 6, &c.
- v.7In the volume of the book — In this very psalm it is written of me. Accordingly I come to do thy will - By the sacrifice of myself.
- v.8Above when he said, Sacrifice thou hast not chosen — That is, when the Psalmist pronounced those words in his name.
- v.9Then said he — in that very instant he subjoined. Lo, I come to do Thy will - To offer a more acceptable sacrifice; and by this very act he taketh away the legal, that he may establish the evangelical, dispensation.
- v.10By which will — Of God, done and suffered by Christ. We are sanctified - Cleansed from guilt, and consecrated to God.
gospel Luke 1:39-45, (46-55)
- v.39A city of Judah — Probably Hebron, which was situated in the hill country of Judea, and belonged to the house of Aaron.
- v.41When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary — The discourse with which she saluted her, giving an account of what the angel had said, the joy of her soul so affected her body, that the very child in her womb was moved in an uncommon manner, as if it leaped for joy.
- v.45Happy is she that believed — Probably she had in her mind the unbelief of Zacharias.