JOHN CHAPTER 2 1 THESSALONIANS 2:1 Christ turneth water into wine in Cana of Galilee. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:12 He goeth to Capernaum. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:13 Thence to Jerusalem, where he driveth the buyers and sellers out of the temple. 1 THESSALONIANS 2:18 He giveth his own death and resurrection for a s... [ Continue Reading ]
Whether only the five disciples mentioned in the former chapter, or some others also, the Scripture doth not say. Christ and his disciples being at this marriage feast, both lets us know that feasting at such a time is proper, and that the most severe religious persons may lawfully be present at suc... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; The word usterhsantov may as well be translated, coming short, or behind, as wanting; and so some think it is to be understood; but Mary tells Jesus, they had _no wine:_ they either had none, or she discerned it came short; they had not enough. It lets us know the frugality of him who made t... [ Continue Reading ]
That it was ordinary with the Jews, speaking to women, to call them by the name of their sex, is plain from MATTHEW 15:28 LUKE 13:12 LUKE 22:57 1 THESSALONIANS 4:21. But that, speaking to their relations, they were wont to own their relation in their compellation, sometimes is also evident, from 1 K... [ Continue Reading ]
She plainly by these words declareth her confidence that Christ (notwithstanding the repulse he gave her) would supply this want; and therefore taking no notice of Christ's reprehension of her, she orders the servants to be absolutely obedient to him, doing, without disputing, whatsoever he bid them... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews were wont in their dining rooms to have waterpots standing; whether one for every guest (upon which account some think here were six) doth not appear. For the contents of these vessels, it is uncertain; the reason is, because the Jewish measures, both for things dry and liquid, are much unk... [ Continue Reading ]
Either the water was defiled by some persons washing in it, or else the vessels were not full. Our Lord commands them to be filled (the water pots, not wine vessels) WITH WATER, pure water; he commands them all to be filled by the servants, who could attest the miracle, that there was nothing in the... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews had one who was to order the affairs of their feast, and who is upon that account called the master, or GOVERNOR, of it; to whom our Saviour directs, that some of this newly made wine should be carried; either that they might not suspect it was by some art provided by him, or because he was... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour's action, by which he turned the water into wine, being not obvious to the senses of any; but only the secret motion of his will, willing the thing to be; is not recorded, only the effect and the consequents of it are. The papists would from hence argue, that the bread in the sacrament m... [ Continue Reading ]
OLBGrk; The governor calls the bridegroom, (at whose cost the provision for the feast was to be provided), and minds him, that he seemed to have done contrary to the common practice of such as made feasts; for they used to bring forth their best wine first, when men's palates were quickest, and leas... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense is not, that this was the first miracle which Christ wrought in Cana of Galilee; but this was the first miracle which Christ wrought after he was entered upon the public ministry, and it was wrought in that Cana which is within the confines of Galilee, either in the lot of Zebulun or Asher... [ Continue Reading ]
CAPERNAUM was a city lifted up to heaven, for mercies of all sorts, which Christ foretold, MATTHEW 11:28, should be brought down to hell, for their contempt of his doctrine and miracles. It was in the tribe of Naphtali, whose lot was contiguous to Zebulun, and lay on the north east of it; a place wh... [ Continue Reading ]
Concerning the Jewish passover we have once and again spoken in our notes on the other evangelists. The institution of it was EXODUS 12:1. It was to be solemnized yearly in the place which the Lord should choose, according to the law, DEUTERONOMY 16:6. Christ, though he was not naturally subject to... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 21:12 Luke 19:45, is a piece of history so like this, that some have questioned whether it mentions not the same individual matter of fact; but it is apparent that it doth not: 1. Because St. John mentions it as done three years before it, at the first passover; all the other evangelists me... [ Continue Reading ]
It concerns not us to inquire where our Saviour had the small cords, of which he made his whip; there were doubtless cords enough at hand, taken off from beasts brought thither, though he was himself in no Franciscan habit, as the papists idly dream. But herein was the mighty power of God seen, that... [ Continue Reading ]
At this his first coming, he gives them that sold doves a liberty to take their goods away; but at the last coming, MATTHEW 21:12, it is said, he overturned their seats. Those that think this precedent sufficient to vindicate private persons tumultuous pulling down images, seem not to consider, that... [ Continue Reading ]
The disciples, as well as the rest of the people there present, could not but be astonished at this so strange a thing, to see a single person, and he in no repute but as a private person, to make a whip, and with authority drive the buyers and sellers out of the temple, and nobody to oppose him; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
Which of the Jews, whether some of the magistrates, or the priests, (who were more specially concerned for their profit), or the common people, or all together, is not said. They undertake not to justify their fact, nor could they deny it, but they ask him WHAT SIGN he could show them to justify his... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour refuseth to give them any sign, but that of his resurrection the third day from the dead. This was the sign to which he afterwards refers the Pharisees, MATTHEW 12:39 LUKE 11:29. Our Saviour's words must not be understood as commanding or licensing them to destroy him, but as foretelling... [ Continue Reading ]
The Jews understood his words of that material temple in which they at this time were, which the best interpreters think was the temple built by Ezra and Zerubbabel; but how to make it out that it was forty six years building, they are not well agreed. Some say, Cyrus reigned thirty, Cambyses eight,... [ Continue Reading ]
But, alas, our Saviour spoke not of their material temple, but of the temple of his body; which yet was proper speaking: for if the apostle calleth our bodies _the temple of God, _ as he doth, 1 CORINTHIANS 3:16, 1 CORINTHIANS 6:19 2 CORINTHIANS 6:16; it much more may be said so of the body of Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
Even Christ's own disciples at the first rather admired than perfectly understood their Lord. It is said of Christ, LUKE 24:45, a little before his ascension into heaven, _Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the Scripture._ The disciples did not distinctly understand many... [ Continue Reading ]
To believe in Christ's name, and to believe in Christ himself, are one and the same thing; as it is the same to call upon God, and to call upon the name of God: so ACTS 3:16. The meaning is, that they believed the things which were published concerning his person and office: yet the periphrasis, BEL... [ Continue Reading ]
Christ did not take all these seeming believers into his bosom, nor call them after him, nor maintain any familiar fellowship and communion with them; but made haste again into Galilee, till his time was come, knowing that in so public a place of danger they were not to be trusted; for being God ble... [ Continue Reading ]
And needed not any information concerning the principles and humours of all men; for he perfectly knew men, not only from their more external acts and behaviours, (as we know them), but he knew what was in them, searching the hearts, and trying the reins, which is the property of God alone, 1 KINGS... [ Continue Reading ]