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 62:6-12
- v.6Day nor night — There shall be a vigilant and industrious ministry. Ye - That is, are his servants. And here especially are meant his servants in ordinary, his remembrancers, such as put God in mind of his promise, and such as make the Lord to be remembered, putting his people in mind of him.
- v.7A praise — By sending the Messiah, and those labourers into his vineyard, whereby the church may be established, and settled on sure foundations, and so become a matter of praise to God. All the nations shall praise him for her.
- v.9But — Thou shalt not sow, and another reap, as formerly. Courts - In my courts: holiness being put for God himself.
- v.10Go through — It is doubled by way of emphasis. Go meet the Gentiles, whom God purposes to bring into the church. Prepare - Let them not have any obstructions in their way. Stones - That there be no stumbling-stone, or offense in their way. Standard - An allusion to soldiers, that set up their standard that the army may know where to repair from all quarters.
- v.11Zion — To Jerusalem, or the church. Thy salvation - Thy saviour. Reward - The reward due to the work. Christ's victory over his enemies, ver. 1-6. and mercy towards his church: in judgment remembering mercy, ver. 7-14. The church's prayer and complaint in faith, ver. 15-19.
psalm Psalm 97
- v.1Isles — The Gentile nations, as this word, used Isaiah xlii, 4, is expounded, Matt. xii, 21.
- v.2Darkness — A dark cloud doth encompass him.
- v.6Heavens — The angels, yea God himself from heaven.
- v.7Confounded — Let them be ashamed of their folly. Gods - All you whom the Gentiles have made the objects of their worship.
- v.8Zion — Thy people dwelling in Zion or Jerusalem, to whom Christ came. Heard - The fame of thy judgments, and the setting up the kingdom of the Messiah.
- v.11Light — Joy and happiness. Sown - Is laid up for them. This psalm sets forth the glory of the Redeemer, ver. 1-3. And the joy of the redeemed, ver. 4-9. A psalm.
second Titus 3:4-7
- v.4When the love of God appeared — By the light of his Spirit to our inmost soul.
- v.5Not by works — In this important passage the apostle presents us with a delightful view of our redemption. Herein we have, 1. The cause of it; not our works or righteousness, but "the kindness and love of God our saviour." 2. The effects; which are, (1.) Justification; "being justified," pardoned and accepted through the alone merits of Christ, not from any desert in us, but according to his own mercy, "by his grace," his free, unmerited goodness. (2.) Sanctification, expressed by the laver of regeneration, (that is, baptism, the thing signified, as well as the outward sign,) and the renewal of the Holy Ghost; which purifies the soul, as water cleanses the body, and renews it in the whole image of God. 3. The consummation of all; - that we might become heirs of eternal life, and live now in the joyful hope of it.
gospel Luke 2:(1-7), 8-20
- v.11To you — Shepherds; Israel; mankind.
- v.14Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace; good will toward men — The shouts of the multitude are generally broken into short sentences. This rejoicing acclamation strongly represents the piety and benevolence of these heavenly spirits: as if they had said, Glory be to God in the highest heavens: let all the angelic legions resound his praises. For with the Redeemer's birth, peace, and all kind of happiness, come down to dwell on earth: yea, the overflowings of Divine good will and favour are now exercised toward men.
- v.20For all the things that they had heard — From Mary; as it was told them - By the angels.