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 Proverbs 9:1-6
- v.1Her house — For the reception of her guests. Seven - Many pillars; whereby is intimated the beauty and stability of the church. Pillars - Prophets, and apostles, and ministers.
- v.2Killed — Made provision for the guests. Mingled - With water, as they used to do in those hot countries. Furnished - With all necessaries, and now waits for the guests.
- v.3Maidens — Her servants to invite the guests, ministers of the word whom he calls maidens for the decency of the parable; for wisdom being compared to a great princess, was fit to be attended upon by maidens. Highest places - From such high seats as those from which Judges delivered their sentences, and officers made proclamations.
- v.4Simple — Ignorant, and weak.
psalm Psalm 34:9-14
- v.9Fear — Reverence, serve, and trust him: for fear is commonly put for all the parts of God's worship.
- v.12Life — A long and happy life, begun in this world and continued forever in the next. Good - In which he may enjoy good, prosperity or happiness.
- v.13Evil — From all manner of evil speaking, from all injurious, false and deceitful speeches.
- v.14Depart — From all sin. Do good - Be ready to perform all good offices to all men. Seek - Study by all means possible to live peaceable with all men. Pursue it - Do not only embrace it gladly when it is offered, but follow hard after it, when it seems to flee away from thee.
second Ephesians 5:15-20
- v.15Circumspectly — Exactly, with the utmost accuracy, getting to the highest pitch of every point of holiness. Not as fools - Who think not where they are going, or do not make the best of their way.
- v.16With all possible care redeeming the time — Saving all you can for the best purposes; buying every possible moment out of the hands of sin and Satan; out of the hands of sloth, ease, pleasure, worldly business; the more diligently, because the present are evil days, days of the grossest ignorance, immorality, and profaneness.
- v.17What the will of the Lord is — In every time, place, and circumstance.
- v.18Wherein is excess — That is, which leads to debauchery of every kind. But be ye filled with the Spirit - In all his graces, who gives a more noble pleasure than wine can do.
- v.19Speaking to each other — By the Spirit. In the Psalms - Of David. And hymns - Of praise. And spiritual songs - On any divine subject. By there being no inspired songs, peculiarly adapted to the Christian dispensation, as there were to the Jewish, it is evident that the promise of the Holy Ghost to believers, in the last days, was by his larger effusion to supply the lack of it. Singing with your hearts - As well as your voice. To the Lord - Jesus, who searcheth the heart.
- v.20Giving thanks — At all times and places. And for all things - Prosperous or adverse, since all work together for good. In the name of, or through, our Lord Jesus Christ - By whom we receive all good things.
gospel John 6:51-58
- v.51If any eat of this bread — That is, believe in me: he shall live forever - In other words, he that believeth to the end shall be saved. My flesh which I will give you - This whole discourse concerning his flesh and blood refers directly to his passion, and but remotely, if at all, to the Lord's Supper.
- v.52Observe the degrees: the Jews are tried here; the disciples, ver. 60-66, the apostles, ver. 67.
- v.53Unless ye eat the flesh of the Son of man — Spiritually: unless ye draw continual virtue from him by faith. Eating his flesh is only another expression for believing.
- v.55Meat — drink indeed - With which the soul of a believer is as truly fed, as his body with meat and drink.
- v.57I live by the Father — Being one with him. He shall live by me -Being one with me. Amazing union!
- v.58This is — That is, I am the bread - Which is not like the manna your fathers ate, who died notwithstanding.