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 Sirach 10:12-18
no note on this passage
psalm Psalm 112
- v.2Generation — The posterity.
- v.3Righteousness — The fruit or reward of his righteousness, which is God's blessing upon his estate.
- v.4Darkness — In the troubles and calamities of life. He - The upright man.
- v.5Lendeth — Gives freely to some, and lends to others according to the variety of their conditions. Affairs - His domestick affairs. Discretion - Not getting his estate unjustly, nor casting it away prodigally, nor yet withholding it from such as need it.
- v.6Moved — Though he may for a season be afflicted, yet he shall not be eternally destroyed.
- v.7Evil tidings — At the report of approaching calamities.
- v.9Dispersed — His goods, freely and liberally. Righteousness - His liberality, or the reward of it. Ever - What he gives is not lost, but indeed is the only part of his estate, which will abide with him to all eternity.
- v.10The desire — Either of the misery of good men; or of his own constant prosperity. We are here exhorted to praise God, ver. 1-3. Particularly for his glory and greatness, ver. 4, 5 And for his grace and goodness, ver. 6-9.
second Hebrews 13:1-8, 15-16
- v.1Brotherly love is explained in the following verses.
- v.2Some — Abraham and Lot. Have entertained angels unawares - So may an unknown guest, even now, be of more worth than he appears, and may have angels attending him, though unseen. Gen. xviii, 2; Gen. xix, 1.
- v.3Remember — In your prayers, and by your help. Them that are in bonds, as being bound with them - Seeing ye are members one of another. And them that suffer, as being yourselves in the body - And consequently liable to the same.
- v.4Marriage is honourable in, or for all sorts of men, clergy as well as laity: though the Romanists teach otherwise. And the bed undefiled — Consistent with the highest purity; though many spiritual writers, so called, say it is only licensed whoredom. But whoremongers and adulterers God will judge - Though they frequently escape the sentence of men.
- v.5He — God. Hath said - To all believers, in saying it to Jacob, Joshua, and Solomon. Gen. xxviii, 15; Josh. i, 5; 1 Chr xxviii, 20.
- v.6Psalm cxviii, 6.
- v.7Remember them — Who are now with God, considering the happy end of their conversation on earth.
- v.8Men may die; but Jesus Christ, yea, and his gospel, is the same from everlasting to everlasting.
- v.15The sacrifice — The altar is mentioned, ver. 10; now the sacrifices: 1. Praise; 2. Beneficence; with both of which God is well pleased.
gospel Luke 14:1, 7-14
- v.7He spake a parable — The ensuing discourse is so termed, because several parts are not to be understood literally. The general scope of it is, Not only at a marriage feast, but on every occasion, he that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.
- v.11Matt. xxiii, 12.
- v.12Call not thy friends — That is, I do not bid thee call thy friends or thy neighbours. Our Lord leaves these offices of humanity and courtesy as they were, and teaches a higher duty. But is it not implied herein, that we should be sparing in entertaining those that need it not, in order to assist those that do need, with all that is saved from those needless entertainments? Lest a recompense be made - This fear is as much unknown to the world, as even the fear of riches.
- v.14One of them that sat at table hearing these things — And being touched therewith, said, Happy is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God - Alluding to what had just been spoken. It means, he that shall have a part in the resurrection of the just.