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 45:1-7
- v.1His anointed — His king, whom God has designed, and separated, and fitted, in all respects, for this work. Loose - I will take away their girdle, which was about their loins; their power and authority, whereof that was an ensign. Gates - The great and magnificent gates of their cities and palaces, which shall be opened to him as conqueror.
- v.2Go — To remove all obstructions, to destroy all them that oppose thee, and carry thee through the greatest difficulties.
- v.3The treasures — Such as have been long kept in dark and secret places.
- v.4I have — I knew, and called thee by thy name, when thou didst neither know nor think of me; nay, when thou hadst no being.
- v.5I girded — I made thee strong and active, and disposed thee for these great and warlike enterprizes.
- v.6That — That all nations may know it by my foretelling these things so long before, and by the wonderful success that I shall give thee, and by my over-ruling thine heart and counsels, to the deliverance of my people.
- v.7Light — All mens comforts and calamities come from thy hand.
psalm Psalm 96:1-9, (10-13)
- v.1O sing — Upon this new and great occasion, not the removal of the ark, but the coming of the Messiah.
- v.4Gods — The gods of the nations, as the next verse expounds it.
- v.6Before him — In his presence.
- v.9Beauty — Cloathed with all the gifts and graces, which are necessary in God's worship.
second 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
- v.1His desire, 17-20
- v.2His care, iii. 1-5
- v.3His joy and prayer for them, 6-13 IV. He exhorts them to grow, 1. In holiness, iv.1-8 2. In brotherly love with industry, 9-12 V. He teaches and exhorts, 1. Concerning them that sleep, 13-18 2. Concerning the times, v.1-11 VI. He adds miscellaneous exhortations, 12-24 VII. The conclusion, 25-28 1 THESSALONIANS
- v.4Knowing your election — Which is through faith, by these plain proofs.
- v.5With power — Piercing the very heart with a sense of sin and deeply convincing you of your want of a saviour from guilt, misery, and eternal ruin. With the Holy Ghost - Bearing an outward testimony, by miracles, to the truth of what we preached, and you felt: also by his descent through laying on of hands. With much assurance - Literally, with full assurance, and much of it: the Spirit bearing witness by shedding the love of God abroad in your hearts, which is the highest testimony that can be given. And these signs, if not the miraculous gifts, always attend the preaching of the gospel, unless it be in vain: neither are the extraordinary operations of the Holy Ghost ever wholly withheld, where the gospel is preached with power, and men are alive to God. For your sake - Seeking your advantage, not our own.
- v.6Though in much affliction, yet with much joy.
- v.8For from you the word sounded forth — (Thessalonica being a city of great commerce.) Being echoed, as it were, from you. And your conversion was divulged far beyond Macedonia and Achaia. So that we need not speak anything - Concerning it.
- v.9For they themselves — The people wherever we come.
- v.10Whom he hath raised from the dead — In proof of his future coming to judgment. Who delivereth us - He redeemed us once; he delivers us continually; and will deliver all that believe from the wrath, the eternal vengeance, which will then come upon the ungodly.
gospel Matthew 22:15-22
- v.15Mark xii, 13; Luke xx, 20.
- v.16The Herodians were a set of men peculiarly attached to Herod, and consequently zealous for the interest of the Roman government, which was the main support of the dignity and royalty of his family. Thou regardest not the person of men — Thou favourest no man for his riches or greatness.
- v.17Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar? — If he had said, Yes, the Pharisees would have accused him to the people, as a betrayer of the liberties of his country. If he had said, No, the Herodians would have accused him to the Roman governor.
- v.18Ye hypocrites — Pretending a scruple of conscience.
- v.20The tribute money — A Roman coin, stamped with the head of Caesar, which was usually paid in tribute.
- v.21They say to him, Caesar's — Plainly acknowledging, by their having received his coin, that they were under his government. And indeed this is a standing rule. The current coin of every nation shows who is the supreme governor of it. Render therefore, ye Pharisees, to Caesar the things which ye yourselves acknowledge to be Ciaesar's: and, ye Herodians, while ye are zealous for Caesar, see that ye render to God the things that are God's.