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 50:4-9a
- v.4Given me — This and the following passages may be in some sort understood of the prophet Isaiah, but they are far more evidently and eminently verified in Christ, and indeed seem to be meant directly of him. The tongue - All ability of speaking plainly, and convincingly, and persuasively. Weary - Burdened with the sense of his, deplorable condition. Wakeneth - Me, from time to time, and continually. To hear - He by his Divine power assists me to the practice of all his commands and my duties, with all attention and diligence.
- v.6I gave — I patiently yielded up myself to those who smote me.
- v.8Justifieth — God will clear up my righteousness, and shew by many and mighty signs and wonders, that I lived and died his faithful servant. Let him come - l am conscious of mine own innocency, and I know that God will give sentence for me.
- v.9They — Mine accusers and enemies. The moth - Shall be cut off and consumed by a secret curse.
psalm Psalm 31:9-16
- v.9Grief — With continual weeping.
- v.10Iniquity — For the punishment of mine iniquity. Consumed - The juice and marrow of them bring almost dried up with grief.
- v.11A fear — They were afraid to give me any countenance or assistance. Fled - To prevent their own danger and ruin.
- v.12A broken vessel — Which is irreparable, and useless, and therefore despised by all.
- v.13Fear — Just cause of fear.
- v.15My times — All the affairs and events of my life, are wholly in thy power.
second Philippians 2:5-11
- v.6Who being in the essential form — The incommunicable nature. Of God - From eternity, as he was afterward in the form of man; real God, as real man. Counted it no act of robbery - That is the precise meaning of the words, - no invasion of another's prerogative, but his own strict and unquestionable right. To be equal with God - the word here translated equal, occurs in the adjective form five or six times in the New Testament, Matt. xx, 12; Luke vi, 34; John v, 18; Acts xi, 17; Rev. xxi, 16. In all which places it expresses not a bare resemblance, but a real and proper equalitg. It here implies both the fulness and the supreme height of the Godhead; to which are opposed, he emptied and he humbled himself.
- v.7Yet — He was so far from tenaciously insisting upon, that he willingly relinquished, his claim. He was content to forego the glories of the Creator, and to appear in the form of a creature; nay, to be made in the likeness of the fallen creatures; and not only to share the disgrace, but to suffer the punishment, due to the meanest and vilest among them all. He emptied himself - Of that divine fulness, which he received again at his exaltation. Though he remained full, John i, 14, yet he appeared as if he had been empty; for he veiled his fulness from the sight of men and angels. Yea, he not only veiled, but, in some sense, renounced, the glory which he had before the world began. Taking - And by that very act emptying himself. The form of a servant - The form, the likeness, the fashion, though not exactly the same, are yet nearly related to each other. The form expresses something absolute; the likeness refers to other things of the same kind; the fashion respects what appears to sight and sense. Being made in the likeness of men - A real man, like other men. Hereby he took the form of a servant.
- v.8And being found in fashion as a man — A common man, without any peculiar excellence or comeliness. He humbled himself - To a still greater depth. Becoming obedient - To God, though equal with him. Even unto death - The greatest instance both of humiliation and obedience. Yea, the death of the cross - Inflicted on few but servants or slaves.
- v.9Wherefore — Because of his voluntary humiliation and obedience. He humbled himself; but God hath exalted him - So recompensing his humiliation. And hath given him - So recompensing his emptying himself. A name which is above every name - Dignity and majesty superior to every creature.
- v.10That every knee — That divine honour might be paid in every possible manner by every creature. Might bow - Either with love or trembling. Of those in heaven, earth, under the earth - That is, through the whole universe.
- v.11And every tongue — Even of his enemies. Confess that Jesus Christ is Lord - Jehovah; not now "in the form of a servant," but enthroned in the glory of God the Father.
gospel Mark 14:1-15:47
- v.1Matt. xxvi, 1; Luke xxii, 1.
- v.3Matt. xxvi, 6.
- v.4Some had indignation — Being incited thereto by Judas: and said - Probably to the women.
- v.10Judas went to the chief priests — Immediately after this reproof, having anger now added to his covetousness. Matt. xxvi, 14; Luke xxii, 3.
- v.12Matt. xxvi, 17; Luke xxii, 7.
- v.13Go into the city, and there shall meet you a man — It was highly seasonable for our Lord to give them this additional proof both of his knowing all things, and of his influence over the minds of men.
- v.15Furnished — The word properly means, spread with carpets.
- v.17Matt. xxvi, 20; Luke xxii, 14.
- v.24This is my blood of the New Testament — That is, this I appoint to be a perpetual sign and memorial of my blood, as shed for establishing the new covenant, that all who shall believe in me may receive all its gracious promises.
- v.25I will drink no more of the fruit of the vine, till I drink it new in the kingdom of God — That is, I shall drink no more before I die: the next wine I drink will not be earthly, but heavenly.
- v.26Matt. xxvi, 30; Luke xxii, 39; John xviii, 1.
- v.27This night — The Jews in reckoning their days began with the evening, according to the Mosaic computation, which called the evening and the morning the first day, Gen. i, 5. And so that which after sunset is here called this night is, ver. 30, called today. The expression there is peculiarly significant. Verily I say to thee, that thou thyself, confident as thou art, today, even within four and twenty hours; yea, this night, or ever the sun be risen, nay, before the cock crow twice, before three in the morning, wilt deny me thrice. Our Lord doubtless spoke so determinately, as knowing a cock would crow once before the usual time of cock crowing. By chap. xiii, 35, it appears, that the third watch of the night, ending at three in the morning, was commonly styled the cock crowing. Zech. xiii, 7.
- v.32Matt. xxvi, 36.
- v.33Sore amazed — The original word imports the most shocking amazement, mingled with grief: and that word in the next verse which we render sorrowful intimates, that he was surrounded with sorrow on every side, breaking in upon him with such violence, as was ready to separate his soul from his body.
- v.36Abba, Father — St. Mark seems to add the word Father, by way of explication.
- v.37Saith to Peter — The zealous, the confident Peter.
- v.43Matt. xxvi, 47; Luke xxii, 47; John xviii, 2.
- v.44Whomsoever I shall kiss — Probably our Lord, in great condescension, had used (according to the Jewish custom) to permit his disciples to do this, after they had been some time absent.
- v.47Matt. xxvi, 51; Luke xxii, 49; John xviii, 10.
- v.51A young man — It does not appear, that he was one of Christ's disciples. Probably hearing an unusual noise, he started up out of his bed, not far from the garden, and ran out with only the sheet about him, to see what was the matter. And the young men laid hold on him - Who was only suspected to be Christ's disciple: but could not touch them who really were so.
- v.53Matt. xxvi, 57; Luke xxii, 54; John xviii, 12.
- v.55All the council sought for witness and found none — What an amazing proof of the overruling providence of God, considering both their authority, and the rewards they could offer, that no two consistent witnesses could be procured, to charge him with any gross crime. Matt. xxvi, 59.
- v.56Their evidences were not sufficient — The Greek words literally rendered are, Were not equal: not equal to the charge of a capital crime: it is the same word in the 59th verse.
- v.58We heard him say — It is observable, that the words which they thus misrepresented, were spoken by Christ at least three years before, John ii, 19. Their going back so far to find matter for the charge, was a glorious, though silent attestation of the unexceptionable manner wherein he had behaved, through the whole course of his public ministry.
- v.61Matt. xxvi, 63; Luke xxii, 67.
- v.66Matt. xxvi, 69; Luke xxii, 56; John xviii, 25.
- v.72And he covered his head — Which was a usual custom with mourners, and was fitly expressive both of grief and shame.
- v.1Matt. xxvii, 1, 2; Luke xxii, 66; Luke xxiii, 1; John xviii, 28.
- v.3Matt. xxvii, 12.
- v.7Insurrection — A crime which the Roman governors, and Pilate in particular, were more especially concerned and careful to punish.
- v.9Will ye that I release to you the king of the Jews — Which does this wretched man discover most? Want of justice, or courage, or common sense? The poor coward sacrifices justice to popular clamour, and enrages those whom he seeks to appease, by so unseasonably repeating that title, The king of the Jews, which he could not but know was so highly offensive to them.
- v.16Praetorium — The inner hall, where the praetor, a Roman magistrate, used to give judgment. But St. John calls the whole palace by this name. Matt. xxvii, 27; John xix, 2.
- v.17Purple — As royal robes were usually purple and scarlet, St. Mark and John term this a purple robe, St. Matthew a scarlet one. The Tyrian purple is said not to have been very different from scarlet.
- v.20Matt. xxvii, 31; John xix, 16.
- v.21The father of Alexander and Rufus — These were afterward two eminent Christians, and must have been well known when St. Mark wrote.
- v.22Matt. xxvii, 33; Luke xxiii, 33; John xix, 17.
- v.24–25St. Mark seems to intimate, that they first nailed him to the cross, then parted his garments, and afterward reared up the cross.
- v.28Isaiah liii, 12.
- v.29Matt. xxvii, 39.
- v.33Matt. xxvii, 45; Luke xxiii, 44.
- v.34My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me — Thereby claiming God as his God; and yet lamenting his Father's withdrawing the tokens of his love, and treating him as an enemy, while he bare our sins.
- v.37Matt. xxvii, 50; Luke xxiii, 46; John xix, 30.
- v.41Who served him — Provided him with necessaries.
- v.42Because it was the day before the Sabbath — And the bodies might not hang on the Sabbath day: therefore they were in haste to have them taken down.
- v.43honourable — A man of character and reputation: A counsellor - A member of the sanhedrim. Who waited for the kingdom of God - Who expected to see it set up on earth. Matt. xxvii, 57; Luke xxiii, 50; John xix, 38.
- v.46He rolled a stone — By his servants. It was too large for him to roll himself.