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 40:1-11
- v.1Ye — Ye prophets and ministers.
- v.2Warfare — The time of her captivity, and misery. Double - Not twice as much as her sins deserved, but abundantly enough to answer God's design in this chastisement, which was to humble and reform them, and to warn others by their example.
- v.3The voice — An abrupt speech. Methinks I hear a voice. Wilderness - This immediately relates to the deliverance of the Jews out of Babylon, and smoothing their passage from thence to Judea, which lay through a great wilderness; but principally to their redemption by the Messiah, whose coming was ushered in by the cry of John the baptist, in the wilderness. Prepare ye the way - You to whom this work belongs. He alludes to the custom of princes who send pioneers before them to prepare the way through which they are to pass. The meaning is, God shall by his spirit so dispose mens hearts, and by his providence so order the affairs of the world, as to make way for the accomplishment of his promise. This was eminently fulfilled, when Christ, who was, and is God, blessed forever, came into the world in a visible manner.
- v.6Cry — God speaks unto his ministers. He - The prophet. All flesh - The prophet having foretold glorious things, confirms the certainty of them, by representing the vast difference between the nature, and word, and work of men and of God. All that men are or have, yea, their highest accomplishments, are but like the grass of the field, weak and vanishing, soon nipt and brought to nothing; but God's word is like himself, immutable and irresistible: and therefore as the mouth of the Lord, and not of man, hath spoken these things, so doubt not but they shall be fulfilled.
- v.9Zion — Zion or Jerusalem is the publisher, and the cities of Judah the hearers. Get up - That thy voice may be better heard. Afraid - Lest thou shouldest be found a false prophet. Say - To all my people in the several places of their abode. Behold - Take notice of this wonderful work, and glorious appearance of your God.
- v.10His arm — He shall need no succors, for his own power shall be sufficient to govern his people, and to destroy his adversaries. His reward - He comes furnished with recompences as well of blessings for his friends, as of vengeance for his enemies. His work - He carries on his work effectually: for that is said in scripture to be before a man which is in his power.
psalm Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13
- v.1Captivity — The captives.
second 2 Peter 3:8-15a
- v.8But be not ye ignorant — Whatever they are. Of this one thing - Which casts much light on the point in hand. That one day is with the Lord as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day - Moses had said, Psalm xc, 4, "A thousand years in thy sight are as one day;" which St. Peter applies with regard to the last day, so as to denote both his eternity, whereby he exceeds all measure of time in his essence and in his operation; his knowledge, to which all things past or to come are present every moment; his power, which needs no long delay, in order to bring its work to perfection; and his longsuffering, which excludes all impatience of expectation, and desire of making haste. One day is with the Lord as a thousand years - That is, in one day, in one moment he can do the work of a thousand years. Therefore he "is not slow:" he is always equally ready to fulfil his promise. And a thousand years are as one day - That is, no delay is long to God. A thousand years are as one day to the eternal God. Therefore "he is longsuffering:" he gives us space for repentance, without any inconvenience to himself. In a word, with God time passes neither slower nor swifter than is suitable to him and his economy; nor can there be any reason why it should be necessary for him either to delay or hasten the end of all things. How can we comprehend this? If we could comprehend it, St. Peter needed not to have added, with the Lord.
- v.9The Lord is not slow — As if the time fixed for it were past. Concerning his promise - Which shall surely be fulfilled in its season. But is longsuffering towards us - Children of men. Not willing that any soul, which he hath made should perish.
- v.10But the day of the Lord will come as a thief — Suddenly, unexpectedly. In which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise - Surprisingly expressed by the very sound of the original word. The elements shall melt with fervent heat - The elements seem to mean, the sun, moon, and stars; not the four, commonly so called; for air and water cannot melt, and the earth is mentioned immediately after. The earth and all the works - Whether of nature or art. That are therein shall be burned up - And has not God already abundantly provided for this? 1. By the stores of subterranean fire which are so frequently bursting out at Aetna, Vesuvius, Hecla, and many other burning mountains. 2. By the ethereal (vulgarly called electrical) fire, diffused through the whole globe; which, if the secret chain that now binds it up were loosed, would immediately dissolve the whole frame of nature. 3. By comets, one of which, if it touch the earth in its course toward the sun, must needs strike it into that abyss of fire; if in its return from the sun, when it is heated, as a great man computes, two thousand times hotter than a red-hot cannonball, it must destroy all vegetables and animals long before their contact, and soon after burn it up.
- v.11Seeing then that all these things are dissolved — To the eye of faith it appears as done already. All these things - Mentioned before; all that are included in that scriptural expression, "the heavens and the earth;" that is, the universe. On the fourth day God made the stars, Gen. i, 16, which will be dissolved together with the earth. They are deceived, therefore, who restrain either the history of the creation, or this description of the destruction, of the world to the earth and lower heavens; imagining the stars to be more ancient than the earth, and to survive it. Both the dissolution and renovation are ascribed, not to the one heaven which surrounds the earth, but to the heavens in general, ver. 10, 13, without any restriction or limitation. What persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation - With men. And godliness - Toward your Creator.
- v.12Hastening on — As it were by your earnest desires and fervent prayers. The coming of the day of God - Many myriads of days he grants to men: one, the last, is the day of God himself.
- v.13We look for new heavens and a new earth — Raised as it were out of the ashes of the old; we look for an entire new state of things. Wherein dwelleth righteousness - Only righteous spirits. How great a mystery!
- v.14labour that whenever he cometh ye may be found in peace — May meet him without terror, being sprinkled with his blood, and sanctified by his Spirit, so as to be without spot and blameless. Isaiah lxv, 17; Isaiah lxvi, 22.
- v.15And account the longsuffering of the Lord salvation — Not only designed to lead men to repentance, but actually conducing thereto: a precious means of saving many more souls. As our beloved brother Paul also hath written to you - This refers not only to the single sentence preceding, but to all that went before. St. Paul had written to the same effect concerning the end of the world, in several parts of his epistles, and particularly in his Epistle to the Hebrews. Rom. ii, 4.
gospel Mark 1:1-8
- v.1The place and matter of his preaching, 14, 15
- v.2The calling of several of the apostles 16-20 In particular, 1. Actions not censured by his adversaries 1. He teaches with authority 21, 22 2. Cures the demoniac 23-28 3. Heals many sick 29-34 4. Prays 35 5. Teaches everywhere 36-39 6. Cleanses the leper 40-45 2. Actions censured by them, Here occur, 1. The paralytic forgiven and healed ii, 1-12 2. The call of Levi, and eating with publicans and sinners. 13-17 3. The question concerning fasting answered 18-22 4. The ears of corn plucked 23-28 5. The withered hand restored: Snares laid iii, 1-6 3. Our Lord's retirement, 1. At the sea 7-12 2. In the mountain, where the apostles are called 13-19 3. In the house, where after refuting the blasphemy of the Pharisees, he shows who are his mother and his brethren. 20-35 4. In the ship; various parables iv, 1-34 5. On the sea, and beyond it 35-41 v, 1-20 6. On this side the sea: Again: Jairus, and the woman with the flux of blood 21-43 7. At Nazareth: His countrymen offended vi, 1-6 8. The apostles sent forth 7-13 b. After John was put to death, 1. Herod's hearing of Jesus, and judgment of him 14-29 2. Christ's retiring with his apostles, now returned 30-32 3. The earnestness of the people; Christ's compassion; five thousand fed 33-44 4. His walking on the sea 45-52 5. He heals many in the land of Gennesaret 53-56 6. And teaches what defiles a man vii, 1-23 7. A devil cast out in the coasts of Tyre and Sidon 24-30 8. At the sea of Galilee, the deaf and dumb healed; four thousand fed 31-37 viii, 1-9 9. He comes into the parts of Dalmanutha, and answers concerning the sign from heaven Chap. viii, 10-13 10. In the ship, he warns them of evil leaven 14-21 11. At Bethsaida, heals the sick 22-26 c. After he was acknowledged to be the Son of God, 1. Peter confessing him, he enjoins his disciples silence; foretells his passion; reproves Peter; exhorts to follow him 21 ix, 1 2. Is transfigured: casts out a devil; foretells his passion. 2-32 3. Reproves and instructs his disciples 33-50 B. In Judea, a. In the borders x, 1 1. He treats of divorce 2-12 2. Of little children 13-16 3. Of entering into life, and of the danger of riches 17-31 b. In his way to the city, 1. He foretells his passion a third time 32-34 2. Answers James and John, and instructs them all 35-45 3. At Jericho, gives sight to Bartimeus 46-52 4. At Jerusalem xi, 1 a. His royal entry' 2-11 b. The day after, the fig tree cursed 12-14 the temple purged 15- 19 c. The day after that, 1. Near the fig tree, he shows the power of faith 20-26 2. In the temple, 1. His authority vindicated 27-33 2. The parable of the wicked husbandmen xii, 1-12 3. Of paying tribute to Caesar 13-17 4. Of the resurrection 18-27 5. Of the great commandment 28-34 6. Of David's Lord 35-37 7. He warns the people of the scribes 38-40 8. Commends the poor widow 41-44 3. On Mount Olivet, he foretells the destruction of the city and temple, and the end of the world xiii, 1-37 d. Two days before the passover; his enemies bargain with Judas. xiv, 1-11 e. On the first day of unleavened bread, 1. The passover prepared 12-16 2. The Lord's Supper instituted 17-25 3. After the hymn, the offense of the disciples and Peter's denial foretold 26-31 4. In Gethsemane, Jesus prays; wakes his disciples 32-42 is betrayed; taken; forsaken of all 43-52 5. In the high priest's palace, He is condemned to death 53-65 Denied by Peter 66-72 f. Friday, What was done, 1.In Pilate's palace xv, 1-20 2. In the way 21 3. At Golgotha 22 1. The wine and myrrh offered 23 2. The crucifixion; his garments parted 24, 25 3. The title 26 4. The two malefactors 27, 28 5. Revilings 29-32 6. The darkness; the cry of Jesus; the scoff; the vinegar; his death; the veil rent 33-38 7. The saying of the centurion; the women looking on 39-41 4. In the evening, the burial 42-47 g. Sunday, Our Lord's resurrection declared, 1. By an angel Chap. xvi, 1-8 2. By himself, To Mary Magdalene 9-11 To two going into the country 12, 13 To the eleven sitting at meat 14 III. The Gospel, 1. Committed by Christ to apostles after his resurrection. 15-18 2. Confirmed after his ascension 19, 20 MARK
- v.3Isaiah xl, 3.
- v.4Preaching the baptism of repentance — That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it.
- v.7The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose — That is, to do him the very meanest service.