Bible Commentaries

Psalms 87 overview — This psalm, like some others, is entitled “a psalm or song;” that is, it so far combined the properties of both a “psalm” and a “song” that it might be called by either name. See the notes at the title to Psalms 65:1-13. The phrase “for the sons of Korah” may mean, as in the margin, “of the sons of Korah.” See the notes at the title to Psalms 42:1-11.The occasion on which the psalm was composed is unknown. The design of the psalm is obvious. It is to exalt Zion

Mark 2:3-12 — Hebrews used the words “son” and “child” with a great latitude of signification. They were applied to children, to grandchildren, to adopted children, to any descendants, to disciples, followers, young people, and to dependents. See the notes at Matthew 1:1. In this place it denotes affection or kindness. It was a word of consolation - an endearing appellation, applied by the Saviour to the sick man to show his “compassion,” to inspire confidence, and to assure him that he would heal him. We never saw

Luke 24:44 — Estas son las palabras - O este es el "cumplimiento" de lo que te dije antes respecto a mi muerte. Ver Lucas 18:33; Marco 10:33. Mientras todavía estaba contigo - Antes de mi muerte. Mientras estuve contigo como profesor y guía. En la ley de Moisés - Los cinco libros de Moisés - Génesis, Éxodo, Levítico, Números, Deuteronomio. Entre los judíos, esta fue

John 3:15 — Saviour.Should not perish - They are in danger, by nature, of perishing - that is, of sinking down to the pains of hell; of being “punished with everlasting destruction” from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his power, 2 Thessalonians 1:9. All who believe on Jesus shall be saved from this condemnation and be raised up to eternal life. And from this we learn: 1.That there is salvation in no other. 2.That salvation is here full and free for all who will come. 3.That it is easy. What

John 8:32 — Shall know the truth - See the notes at John 7:17.The truth shall make you free - The truth here means the Christian religion. Compare Galatians 3:1; Colossians 1:6. The doctrines of the true religion shall make you free - that is, it will free you from the slavery of evil passions, corrupt propensities,

Acts 10:38 — How God anointed ... - That is, set him apart to this work, and was with him, acknowledging him as the Messiah. See the notes on Matthew 1:1.With the Holy Ghost - See the notes on Luke 4:19. The act of anointing kings and priests seems to have been emblematic of the influences of the Holy Spirit. Here it means that God impaled to him the influences of the Holy Spirit, thus consecrating

Acts 3:20 — And he shall send ... - Acts 1:1 l. Under this economy of things, he shall send Jesus Christ, that is, the Messiah, to teach people; to redeem them; to save them; to judge the world; to gather his people to himself; and to condemn the wicked. Under this economy they were then. This,

Acts 8:24 — Pray ye ... - Here remark:(1) That Simon was directed to pray for himself Acts 8:22, but he had no disposition to do it, but was willing to ask others to do it for him. Sinners will often ask others to pray for them, when they are too proud, or too much in love with sin, to pray

Romans 1:12 — not merely to confirm them that Paul wished to come. He sought the communion of saints; he expected to be himself edified and strengthened; and to be comforted by seeing their strength of faith, and their rapid growth in grace. We may remark here, (1) That one effect of religion is to produce the desire of the communion of saints. It is the nature of Christianity to seek the society of those who are the friends of Christ. (2) Nothing is better suited to produce growth in grace than such communion.

2 Corinthians 11:16 — I say again - I repeat it. He refers to what he had said in 2 Corinthians 11:1. The sense is, “I have said much respecting myself which may seem to be foolish. I admit that to boast in this manner of one’s own self in general is folly. But circumstances compel me to it. And I entreat you to look at those circumstances and not

Ephesians 2:16 — though in some sense the one grew out of the other. They who are reconciled to God will be at peace with each other. They will feel that they are of the same family, and are all brethren. On the subject of reconciliation, see the notes on 2 Corinthians 5:18.In one body - One spiritual personage - the church; see the notes at Ephesians 1:23.By the cross - By the atonement which he made on the cross; see Colossians 1:20; compare the notes at Romans 3:25. It is by the atonement only that men ever become

Philippians 2:9 — the work which he had performed in redeeming man.And given him a name which is above every name - No other name can be compared with his. It stands alone. He only is Redeemer, Saviour. He only is Christ, the Anointed of God; see the notes at Hebrews 1:4. He only is the Son of God. His rank, his titles, his dignity, are above all others; see this illustrated in the notes at Ephesians 1:20-21.

Colossians 3:13 — Forbearing one another - Notes, Ephesians 4:2.And forgiving one another - Notes, Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:14.If any man have a quarrel against any - Margin, “or complaint.” The word used here - μομφή momphē - occurs nowhere else in the New Testament. It means, “fault found, blame, censure;” and here denotes occasion of complaint. The idea

2 Thessalonians 3 overview — Analysis Of The Chapter2 Thessalonians 3:0 is made up of exhortations and directions in regard to the performance of various Christian duties. (1)The apostle asks for their prayers; 2 Thessalonians 3:1-2. He desires them to pray particularly that the true religion might be prospered, and that, in preaching the gospel, he might be delivered from the opposition of unreasonable and wicked men. (2)He

Hebrews 12:25 — to be dreaded in disregarding his voice now as there was then. He does not speak, indeed, amidst lightnings, and thunders, and clouds, but he speaks by every message of mercy; by every invitation; by every tender appeal. He spake by his Son Hebrews 1:1; he speaks by the Holy Spirit, and by all his calls and warnings in the gospel.For if they escaped not - If they who heard God under the old dispensation, who refused to obey him, were cut off; notes, Hebrews 10:28.Who refused him that spake on earth

2 Peter 1:11 — For so an entrance - In this manner you shall be admitted into the kingdom of God.Shall be ministered unto you - The same Greek word is here used which occurs in 2 Peter 1:5, and which is there rendered “add.” See the notes at that verse. There was not improbably in the mind of the apostle a recollection of that word; and the sense may be, that “if they would lead on the virtues and graces referred to in their beautiful

1 John 3:10 — brethren, he cannot be a child of God. Perhaps by the phrase in this, using a pronoun in the singular number, he means to intimate that an important part of righteousness consists in brotherly love.Whosoever doeth not righteousness, is not of God - In 1 John 3:7, he had said that “he that doeth righteousness is of God.”If that is true, then what he here affirms must be true also, that a man who does not righteousness is not of God. The general idea is the same, that no one can be a true Christian who

Revelation 16:5 — angel who presides over the element of water; in allusion to the common opinion among the Hebrews that the angels presided over elements, and that each element was committed to the jurisdiction of a particular angel. Compare the notes on Revelation 7:1.Thou art righteous, O Lord - In view of the judgments that reddened these streams and fountains with the blood of people, the angel ascribes righteousness to God. These judgments seemed terrible - the numbers slain were so vast - the bloody stream indicated

Revelation 16:6 — “prophets” here in its technical sense, as denoting those who are raised up by God and sent forth as inspired men, but it may be understood in its more common signification in the New Testament as denoting teachers of religion in general. See the Romans 12:6 note; 1 Corinthians 14:1 note.And thou hast given them blood to drink - To wit, by turning the streams and fountains into blood, Revelation 16:4. Blood had been poured out in such abundance that it seemed to mingle with the very water that they drank.

Revelation 19:1 — And after these things - The things particularly that were exhibited in the previous chapter. See the notes on Revelation 18:1.I heard a great voice of much people in heaven - The voice of the worshippers before the throne.Saying, Alleluia - The Greek method of writing “Hallelujah.” This word - ἀλληλούΐα allēlouia - occurs in the New Testament only in this chapter, Revelation