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 Exodus 34:29-35
- v.29The skin of his face shone — This time of his being in the mount he heard only the same he had heard before. But he saw more of the glory of God, which having with open face beheld, he was in some measure changed into the same image. This was a great honour done to Moses, that the people might never again question his mission, or think or speak slightly of him. He carried his credentials in his very countenance, some think as long as he lived, he retained some remainders of this glory, which perhaps contributed to the vigour of his old age; that eye could not wax dim which had seen God, nor that face wrinkle which had shone with his glory.
- v.30And Aaron and the children of Israel saw it, and were afraid — It not only dazzled their eyes, but struck such an awe upon them as obliged them to retire. Probably they doubted whether it was a token of God's favour, or of his displeasure.
- v.33And Moses put a veil upon his face — This veil signified the darkness of that dispensation; the ceremonial institutions had in them much of Christ and the gospel, but a veil was drawn over it, so that the children of Israel could not distinctly and steadfastly see those good things to come which the law had a shadow of. It was beauty veiled, gold in the mine, a pearl in the shell; but thanks be to God, by the gospel, the veil is taken away from off the old testament; yet still it remains upon the hearts of those who shut their eyes against the light.
- v.34When he went before the Lord, he put off the veil — Every veil must be thrown aside when we go to present ourselves unto the Lord. This signified also, as it is explained, 2 Cor. iii, 16, that when a soul turns to the Lord, the veil shall be taken away, that with open face it may behold his glory. The great affair of setting up God's worship is now upon its former channel again. I. Moses gives Israel those instructions he had received, which required a present observance, (1.) Concerning the sabbath, ver. 1-3. (2.) Concerning the contribution that was to be made for erecting the tabernacle, ver. 4-9. (3.) Concerning the framing of the tabernacle, and the utensils of it, ver. 10-19. II. The people bring in their contributions, ver. 20-29. III. The head workmen are nominated, ver. 30-35.
psalm Psalm 99
- v.1People — Such as are enemies to God and his people. Sitteth - Upon the ark. He is present with his people. Earth - The people of the earth. Moved - With fear and trembling.
- v.3Them — All people.
- v.4Judgment — Though his dominion be absolute, and his power irresistible, yet he manages it with righteousness. The king's strength is by a known Hebraism put for the strong, or powerful king. Equity - In all thy proceedings.
- v.5Foot-stool — Before the ark, which is so called, 1 Chron. xxviii, 2. Holy - It is consecrated to be a pledge of God's presence.
- v.6Moses — Moses before the institution of the priesthood executed that office, Exod. xxiv, 6. That call - Who used frequently and solemnly to intercede with God on the behalf of the people.
- v.7Spake — To some of them: to Moses and Aaron, Exod. xix, 24; xxxiii, 9-11; 1 Sam. vii, 9, &c.
- v.8Them — The intercessors before mentioned. Forgavest - The people for whom they prayed, so far as not to inflict that total destruction upon them which they deserved; An exhortation to praise God and to rejoice in him, ver. 1- 5 A psalm of praise This psalm was composed by David between the time of God's promising the kingdom to him and his actual possession of it. The general scope of David's vow, at his entrance on his government, ver. 1, 2. The particulars of it, ver. 3-8. A psalm of David.
second 2 Corinthians 3:12-4:2
- v.12Having therefore this hope — Being fully persuaded of this.
- v.13And we do not act as Moses did, who put a veil over his face — Which is to be understood with regard to his writings also. So that the children of Israel could not look steadfastly to the end of that dispensation which is now abolished - The end of this was Christ. The whole Mosaic dispensation tended to, and terminated in, him; but the Israelites had only a dim, wavering sight of him, of whom Moses spake in an obscure, covert manner.
- v.14The same veil remaineth on their understanding unremoved — Not so much as folded back, (so the word implies,) so as to admit a little, glimmering light. On the public reading of the Old Testament - The veil is not now on the face of Moses or of his writings, but on the reading of them, and on the heart of them that believe not. Which is taken away in Christ - That is, from the heart of them that truly believe on him.
- v.16When it — Their heart. Shall turn to the Lord - To Christ, by living faith. The veil is taken away - That very moment; and they see, with the utmost clearness, how all the types and prophecies of the law are fully accomplished in him.
- v.17Now the Lord — Christ is that Spirit of the law whereof I speak, to which the letter was intended to lead. And where the Spirit of the Lord, Christ, is, there is liberty - Not the veil, the emblem of slavery. There is liberty from servile fear, liberty from the guilt and from the power of sin, liberty to behold with open face the glory of the Lord.
- v.18And, accordingly, all we that believe in him, beholding as in a glass — In the mirror of the gospel. The glory of the Lord - His glorious love. Are transformed into the same image - Into the same love. From one degree of this glory to another, in a manner worthy of his almighty Spirit. What a beautiful contrast is here! Moses saw the glory of the Lord, and it rendered his face so bright, that he covered it with a veil; Israel not being able to bear the reflected light. We behold his glory in the glass of his word, and our faces shine too; yet we veil them not, but diffuse the lustre which is continually increasing, as we fix the eye of our mind more and more steadfastly on his glory displayed in the gospel.
- v.1Therefore having this ministry — Spoken of, chap. iii, 6. As we have received mercy - Have been mercifully supported in all our trials. We faint not - We desist not in any degree from our glorious enterprise.
- v.2But have renounced — Set at open defiance. The hidden things of shame - All things which men need to hide, or to be ashamed of. Not walking in craftiness - Using no disguise, subtlety, guile. Nor privily corrupting the pure word of God - By any additions or alterations, or by attempting to accommodate it to the taste of the hearers.
gospel Luke 9:28-36, (37-43a)
- v.28Matt. xvii, 1; Mark ix, 2.
- v.31In glory — Like Christ with whom they talked.
- v.32They saw his glory — The very same expression in which it is described by St. John, John i, 14; and by St. Peter, 2 Pet. i, 16.
- v.34A cloud came and overshadowed them all. And they, the apostles, feared, while they (Moses and Elijah) entered into the cloud, which took them away.