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 116:1-9
- v.3The sorrows — Dangerous and deadly calamities. Pains - Such agonies and horrors, as dying persons use to feel.
- v.7Rest — Unto a chearful confidence in God. An exhortation to all nations to praise God for his mercy and truth, ver. 1, 2. The form of this psalm seems to be dramatical, and several parts of it are spoken in the name of several persons; as it is in the book of the Song of Solomon, and in one part of Ecclesiastes. David speaks in his own name from the beginning to ver. 22, from thence to ver. 25, in the name of the people; and thence to ver. 28, in the name of the priests; and then concludes in his own name. He calls upon all about him to praise God, ver. 1-4. Encourages himself and others to trust in God, from the experience he had had of his power and mercy, ver. 5-18. He gives thanks for his advancement to the throne, as it was a figure of the exaltation of Christ, ver. 19-23. The people, the priests, and the psalmist himself triumph in the prospect of the Redeemer's kingdom, ver. 24-29.
second James 3:1-12
- v.1Be not many teachers — Let no more of you take this upon you than God thrusts out; seeing it is so hard not to offend in speaking much. Knowing that we - That all who thrust themselves into the office. Shall receive greater condemnation - For more offenses. St. James here, as in several of the following verses, by a common figure of speech, includes himself: we shall receive, - we offend, - we put bits, - we curse - None of which, as common sense shows, are to be interpreted either of him or of the other apostles.
- v.2The same is able to bridle the whole body — That is, the whole man. And doubtless some are able to do this, and so are in this sense perfect.
- v.3We — That is, men.
- v.5Boasteth great things — Hath great influence.
- v.6A world of iniquity — Containing an immense quantity of all manner of wickedness. It defileth - As fire by its smoke. The whole body - The whole man. And setteth on fire the course of nature - All the passions, every wheel of his soul.
- v.7Every kind — The expression perhaps is not to be taken strictly. Reptiles - That is, creeping things.
- v.8But no man can tame the tongue — Of another; no, nor his own, without peculiar help from God.
- v.9Men made after the likeness of God — Indeed we have now lost this likeness; yet there remains from thence an indelible nobleness, which we ought to reverence both in ourselves and others.
gospel Mark 8:27-38
- v.27Matt. xvi, 13; Luke ix, 18.
- v.30He enjoined them silence for the present, 1. That he might not encourage the people to set him up for a temporal king; 2. That he might not provoke the scribes and Pharisees to destroy him before the time and, 3. That he might not forestall the bright evidence which was to be given of his Divine character after his resurrection. 31. Matt. xvi, 21; Luke ix, 22.
- v.32He spake that saying openly — Or in express terms. Till now he had only intimated it to them. And Peter taking hold of him - Perhaps by the arms or clothes.
- v.33Looking on his disciples — That they might the more observe what he said to Peter.
- v.34And when he called the people — To hear a truth of the last importance, and one that equally concerned them all. Let him deny himself - His own will, in all things small and great, however pleasing, and that continually: And take up his cross - Embrace the will of God, however painful, daily, hourly, continually. Thus only can he follow me in holiness to glory.
- v.35Matt. xvi, 25; Luke ix, 24; Luke xvii, 33; John xii, 25.
- v.38Whosoever shall be ashamed of me and of my words — That is, avowing whatever I have said (particularly of self denial and the daily cross) both by word and action. Matt. x, 32; Luke ix, 26; Luke xii, 8.