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 Wisdom of Solomon 1:16-2:1, 12-22
no note on this passage
psalm Psalm 54
- v.1Name — By thy own strength. Judge - Plead my cause.
- v.3Strangers — The Zephites, whom, though Israelites, he calls strangers in regard of their barbarous and perfidious carriage.
- v.5Thy truth — Whereby thou art engaged to fulfil thy promises and threatenings. David complains to God, ver. 1-8. Prays for help against his enemies, ver. 9-15. Assures himself of God's protection, ver. 16- 18. And their destruction, ver. 19-23. To the chief musician on Neginoth, Maschil, A psalm of David.
second James 3:13 - 4:3, 7-8a
- v.13Let him show his wisdom as well as his faith by his works; not by words only.
- v.14If ye have bitter zeal — True Christian zeal is only the flame of love. Even in your hearts - Though it went no further. Do not lie against the truth - As if such zeal could consist with heavenly wisdom.
- v.15This wisdom — Which is consistent with such zeal. Is earthly - Not heavenly; not from the Father of Lights. Animal - Not spiritual; not from the Spirit of God. Devilish - Not the gift of Christ, but such as Satan breathes into the soul.
- v.17But the wisdom from above is first pure — From all that is earthly, natural, devilish. Then peaceable - True peace attending purity, it is quiet, inoffensive. Gentle - Soft, mild, yielding, not rigid. Easy to be entreated - To be persuaded, or convinced; not stubborn, sour, or morose. Full of good fruits - Both in the heart and in the life, two of which are immediately specified. Without partiality - Loving all, without respect of persons; embracing all good things, rejecting all evil. And without dissimulation - Frank, open.
- v.18And the principle productive of this righteousness is sown, like good seed, in the peace of a believer's mind, and brings forth a plentiful harvest of happiness, (which is the proper fruit of righteousness,) for them that make peace — That labour to promote this pure and holy peace among all men.
- v.1From whence come wars and fightings — Quarrels and wars among you, quite opposite to this peace? Is it not from your pleasures - Your desires of earthly pleasures. Which war - Against your souls. In your members - Here is the first seat of the war. Hence proceeds the war of man with man, king with king, nation with nation.
- v.2Ye kill — In your heart, for "he that hateth his brother is a murderer." Ye fight and war - That is, furiously strive and contend. Ye ask not - And no marvel; for a man full of evil desire, of envy or hatred, cannot pray.
- v.3But if ye do ask, ye receive not, because ye ask amiss — That is, from a wrong motive.
gospel Mark 9:30-37
- v.30They passed through Galilee — Though not through the cities, but by them, in the most private ways. He was not willing that any should know it: for he taught his disciples - He wanted to be alone with them some time, in order to instruct them fully concerning his sufferings. The Son of man is delivered - It is as sure as if it were done already. Matt. xvii, 22; Luke ix, 44.
- v.32They understood not the word — They did not understand how to reconcile the death of our saviour (nor consequently his resurrection, which supposed his death) with their notions of his temporal kingdom.
- v.33Luke ix, 46.
- v.34Who should be greatest — Prime minister in his kingdom.
- v.35Let him be the least of all — Let him abase himself the most.
- v.36Matt. xviii, 2; Luke ix, 47.
- v.37One such little child — Either in years or in heart.