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 52:7-10
- v.7The mountains — Of Judea, to which these glad tidings were brought, and from which they were spread abroad into other countries. Of him - Or, of them; the singular number being put for the plural. Returneth - In the days of the Messiah, God did discover and exercise his dominion over the world far more eminently than ever he had done from the beginning of the world until that time.
- v.8Thy watchmen — Thy ministers, who descry the approach of this heavenly king. Lift up thy voice - To give notice to all people of these glad tidings; and by way of exultation, to sing forth the praises of God for this glorious day. Eye - Distinctly and familiarly, their eyes beholding the eyes of this king of glory. They shall be eye and ear-witnesses of the words and works of Christ, and therefore their testimony shall be more certain and valuable. Bring again - When God shall complete the work of bringing his church out of captivity.
psalm Psalm 98
- v.2Salvation — The redemption of the world by the Messiah: which was hitherto reserved was a secret among the Jews, yea was not throughly known by the most of the Jews themselves. Righteousness - His faithfulness in accomplishing this great promise. Israel is required to praise God, for their hasty constitution both in church and state, ver. 1-5. Some instances of the happy administration of it, ver. 6-9.
second Hebrews 1:1-4, (5-12)
- v.1The proposition and sum, 5-9
- v.2The treatise itself. We have a perfect author of salvation, who suffered for our sake, that he might be, (1.) a merciful, and (2.) a faithful, (3.) high priest,. 10-13 These three are particularly explained, his passion and consummation being continually interwoven 1. He has the virtues of an high priest a. He is faithful, iii.1 Therefore be ye not unfaithful iv.13 b. He is merciful, 15 Therefore come to him with confidence v.3 2. He is called of God an high priest. Here, a. The sum is proposed, 4-10 With a summary exhortation 11- vi. 20 b. The point is copiously, 1. Explained. We have a great high priest, 1. Such as is described in the hundred and tenth Psalm After the order of Melchisedec, vii. 1-19 Established by an oath, 20-22 For ever, 23-28 2. Therefore peculiarly excellent-Heavenly, viii. 1-6 Of the new covenant, 7-13 By whom we have an entrance into the sanctuary ix. 1 x. 18 2. Applied. Therefore, 1. Believe, hope, love 19-25 These three are farther inculcated, a. Faith, with patience, 26-39 Which, after the example of the ancients,. xi.1 xii.1 And of Christ himself, 2, 3 Is to be exercised, 4-11 Cheerfully, peaceably, holily, 12-17 b. Hope, 18-20 c. Love, C.xiii. 1-6 2. In order to grow in these graces, make use of The remembrance of your former, 7-16 The vigilance of your present, pastors, 17-19 To this period, and to the whole epistle, answers The prayer, the doxology, and the mild conclusion, 20-25 There are many comparisons in this epistle, which may be nearly reduced to two heads: 1. The prophets, the angels, Moses, Joshua, Aaron, are great; but Jesus Christ is infinitely greater 2. The ancient believers enjoyed high privileges; but Christian believers enjoy far higher. To illustrate this, examples both of happiness and misery are everywhere interspersed: so that in this epistle there is a kind of recapitulation of the whole Old Testament. In this also Judaism is abrogated, and Christianity carried to its height. HEBREWS
- v.3Who sat down — The third of these glorious predicates, with which three other particulars are interwoven, which are mentioned likewise, and in the same order, Colossians i, 15, 17, 20. Who, being - The glory which he received in his exaltation at the right hand of the Father no angel was capable of; but the Son alone, who likewise enjoyed it long before. The brightness of his glory - Glory is the nature of God revealed in its brightness. The express image - Or stamp. Whatever the Father is, is exhibited in the Son, as a seal in the stamp on wax. Of his person - Or substance. The word denotes the unchangeable perpetuity of divine life and power. And sustaining all things - Visible and invisible, in being. By the word of his power - That is, by his powerful word. When he had by himself - Without any Mosaic rites or ceremonies. Purged our sins - In order to which it was necessary he should for a time divest himself of his glory. In this chapter St. Paul describes his glory chiefly as he is the Son of God; afterwards, ver. 6, &c., the glory of the man Christ Jesus. He speaks, indeed, briefly of the former before his humiliation, but copiously after his exaltation; as from hence the glory he had from eternity began to be evidently seen. Both his purging our sins, and sitting on the right hand of God, are largely treated of in the seven following chapters. Sat down - The priests stood while they ministered: sitting, therefore, denotes the consummation of his sacrifice. This word, sat down, contains the scope, the theme, and the sum, of the epistle.
- v.4This verse has two clauses, the latter of which is treated of, ver. 5; the former, ver. 13. Such transpositions are also found in the other epistles of St. Paul, but in none so frequently as in this. The Jewish doctors were peculiarly fond of this figure, and used it much in all their writings. The apostle therefore, becoming all things to all men, here follows the same method. All the inspired writers were readier in all the figures of speech than the most experienced orators. Being — By his exaltation, after he had been lower than them, chap. ii, 9. So much higher than the angels - It was extremely proper to observe this, because the Jews gloried in their law, as it was delivered by the ministration of angels. How much more may we glory in the gospel, which was given, not by the ministry of angels, but of the very Son of God! As he hath by inheritance a more excellent name - Because he is the Son of God, he inherits that name, in right whereof he inherits all things His inheriting that name is more ancient than all worlds; his inheriting all things, as ancient as all things. Than they - This denotes an immense preeminence. The angels do not inherit all things, but are themselves a portion of the Son's inheritance, whom they worship as their Lord.
gospel John 1:1-14
- v.1Zeal for his Father's house 14-22
- v.2The power and wisdom of Jesus 23-25
- v.3The instruction of Nicodemus iii, 1-21 b. His abode in Judea; the rest of John's testimony 22-36 c. His journey through Samaria (where he confers with the Samaritan woman) into Galilee, where he heals the nobleman's son iv, 1-54 B. The second journey to the feast of pentecost. Here may be observed transactions, a. In the city, relating to the impotent man, healed at the pool of Bethesda v, 1-47 b. In Galilee, before the second passover and after. Here we may note, 1. His feeding the five thousand vi, 1-14 2. Walking upon the sea 15-21 3. Discourse of himself, as the bread of life 22-59 4. Reproof of those who objected to it 60-65 5. Apostasy of many, and steadiness of the apostles 66-71 6. His continuance in Galilee ` vii, 1 C. The third journey, to the feast of tabernacles 2-13 Here may be observed transactions, a. In the city, 1. In the middle and end of the feast 14-53 viii; Where note, 1. The woman taken in adultery 2-12 2. Christ's preaching and vindicating his doctrine 13-30 3. His confuting the Jews and escape from them 31-59 4. His healing the man born blind ix, 1-7 5. Several discourses on that occasion 8-41 6. Christ the Door and the Shepherd of the sheep, 1-18 7. Different opinions concerning him 19-21 2. At the feast of the dedication. here occur, 1. His disputes with the Jews Chap. x, 22-38 2. His escaping their fury 39 b. Beyond Jordan 40-42 III. Of the last days, which were, A. Before the great week, where we may note, a. The two days spent out of Judea, while Lazarus was sick and died xi, 1-6 b. The journey into Judea; the raising of Lazarus; the advice of Caiaphas; Jesus's abode in Ephraim; the order given by his adversaries 7-57 c. The sixth day, before the passover; the supper at Bethany; the ointment poured on Jesus xii, 1-11 B. In the great week, wherein was the third passover, occur, a. On the three former days, his royal entry into the city; the desire of the Greeks; the obstinacy of the Jews; the testimony given to Jesus from heaven 12-50 b. On the fourth day, the washing the feet of the disciples; the discovery of the traitor, and his going out by night xiii, 1-30 c. On the fifth day, 1. His discourse 1. Before the paschal supper 31, xiv, 1-31 2. After it xv, and xvi. 2. His prayer xvii, 1-26 3. The beginning of his passion, 1. In the garden xviii, 1-11 2. In Caiaphas's house 12-27 d. On the sixth day, 1. His passion under Pilate, 1. In the palace of Pilate 28 xix, 1-16 2. On the cross 17-30 2. His death 30-37 3. His burial 38-42 C. After the great week, a. On the day of the resurrection xx, 1-25 b. Eight days after 26-31 c. After that 1. He appears to his disciples at the sea of Tiberias. xxi, 1-14 2. Orders Peter to feed his sheep and lambs 15-17 3. Foretells the manner of Peter's death, and checks his curiosity about St John 18-23 4. The conclusion 24, 25 THE GOSPEL OF JOHN
- v.4In him was life — He was the foundation of life to every living thing, as well as of being to all that is. And the life was the light of men - He who is essential life, and the giver of life to all that liveth, was also the light of men; the fountain of wisdom, holiness, and happiness, to man in his original state.
- v.5And the light shineth in darkness — Shines even on fallen man; but the darkness - Dark, sinful man, perceiveth it not.
- v.6There was a man — The evangelist now proceeds to him who testified of the light, which he had spoken of in the five preceding verses.
- v.7The same came for (that is, in order to give) a testimony — The evangelist, with the most strong and tender affection, interweaves his own testimony with that of John, by noble digressions, wherein he explains the office of the Baptist; partly premises and partly subjoins a further explication to his short sentences. What St. Matthew, Mark, and Luke term the Gospel, in respect of the promise going before, St. John usually terms the testimony, intimating the certain knowledge of the relator; to testify of the light - Of Christ.
- v.9Who lighteth every man — By what is vulgarly termed natural conscience, pointing out at least the general lines of good and evil. And this light, if man did not hinder, would shine more and more to the perfect day.
- v.10He was in the world — Even from the creation.
- v.11He came — In the fulness of time, to his own - Country, city, temple: And his own - People, received him not.
- v.12But as many as received him — Jews or Gentiles; that believe on his name - That is, on him. The moment they believe, they are sons; and because they are sons, God sendeth forth the Spirit of his Son into their hearts, crying, Abba, Father.
- v.13Who were born — Who became the sons of God, not of blood - Not by descent from Abraham, nor by the will of the flesh - By natural generation, nor by the will of man - Adopting them, but of God - By his Spirit.
- v.14Flesh sometimes signifies corrupt nature; sometimes the body; sometimes, as here, the whole man. We beheld his glory — We his apostles, particularly Peter, James, and John, Luke ix, 32. Grace and truth - We are all by nature liars and children of wrath, to whom both grace and truth are unknown. But we are made partakers of them, when we are accepted through the Beloved. The whole verse might be paraphrased thus: And in order to raise us to this dignity and happiness, the eternal Word, by a most amazing condescension, was made flesh, united himself to our miserable nature, with all its innocent infirmities. And he did not make us a transient visit, but tabernacled among us on earth, displaying his glory in a more eminent manner, than even of old in the tabernacle of Moses. And we who are now recording these things beheld his glory with so strict an attention, that we can testify, it was in every respect such a glory as became the only begotten of the Father. For it shone forth not only in his transfiguration, and in his continual miracles, but in all his tempers, ministrations, and conduct through the whole series of his life. In all he appeared full of grace and truth: he was himself most benevolent and upright; made those ample discoveries of pardon to sinners, which the Mosaic dispensation could not do: and really exhibited the most substantial blessings, whereas that was but a shadow of good things to come.