1._There was a marriage in Cana of Galilee. _As this narrative contains the first miracle which Christ performed, it would be proper for us, were it on this ground alone, to consider the narrative attentively; though — as we shall afterwards see — there are other reasons which recommend it to our no... [ Continue Reading ]
3._The mother of Jesus saith to him. _It may be doubted if she expected or asked any thing from her Son, since he had not yet performed any miracle; and it is possible that, without expecting any remedy of this sort, she advised him to give some pious exhortations which would have the effect of prev... [ Continue Reading ]
4._Woman, what have I to do with thee? _Why does Christ repel her so rashly? I reply, though she was not moved by ambition, nor by any carnal affection, still she did wrong in going beyond her proper bounds. Her anxiety about the inconvenience endured by others, and her desire to have it in some way... [ Continue Reading ]
5._His mother saith to the servants. _Here the holy Virgin gives an instance of true obedience which she owed to her Son, (47) when the question related, not to the relative duties of mankind, but to his divine power. She modestly acquiesces, therefore, in Christ’s reply; and in like manner exhorts... [ Continue Reading ]
6._And there were there six water-pots of stone. _According to the computation of Budaeus, we infer that these _water-pots _were very large; for as the metreta (48) ( μετρητὴς) contains twenty _congii_, each contained, at least, a _Sextier _of this country. (49) Christ supplied them, therefore, with... [ Continue Reading ]
7._Fill the water-pots with water. _The servants might be apt to look upon this injunction as absurd; for they had already more than enough of water. But in this way the Lord often acts towards us, that his power may be more illustriously displayed by an unexpected result; though this circumstance i... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And carry to the master of the feast. _For the same reason as before, Christ wished that the flavor of the wine should be tried by _the master of the feast, _before it had been tasted by himself, or by any other of the guests; and the readiness with which the servants obey him in all things shows... [ Continue Reading ]
11._This beginning of miracles. _The meaning is, that this was the first of Christ’s miracles; for when the angels announced to the shepherds that he was born in Bethlehem, (Luke 2:8,) when the _star _appeared to _the Magi_, (Matthew 2:2,) when _the Holy Spirit descended on him in the shape of a dov... [ Continue Reading ]
12._He went down to Capernaum. _The Evangelist passes to an additional narrative; for having resolved to collect a few things worthy of remembrance which the other three had left out, he states the time when the occurrence which he is about to relate took place; for the other three also relate what... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And the passover of the Jews was at hand; therefore Jesus went up to Jerusalem. _The Greek words καὶ ἀνέβη, may be literally rendered, and _he went up_; but the Evangelist has used the copulative and instead of _therefore_; for he means that Christ _went up _at that time, in order to celebrate _... [ Continue Reading ]
16._Make not my Father’s house a house of merchandise. _At the second time that he drove the traders out of the Temple, the Evangelists relate that he used sharper and more severe language; for he said, that they _had made _the Temple of God _a den of robbers_, (Matthew 21:13;) and this was proper t... [ Continue Reading ]
17._And his disciples remembered. _It is to no purpose that some people tease themselves with the inquiry how _the disciples remembered _a passage of Scripture, with the meaning of which they were hitherto unacquainted. For we must not understand that this passage of Scripture came to their remembra... [ Continue Reading ]
18._What sign showest thou to us? _When in so large an assembly no man laid hands on Christ, and none of the dealers in cattle or of the money-changers repelled him by violence, we may conclude that they were all stunned and struck with astonishment by the hand of God. And, therefore, if they had no... [ Continue Reading ]
19._Destroy this temple. _This is an allegorical mode of expression; and Christ intentionally spoke with that degree of obscurity, because he reckoned them unworthy of a direct reply; as he elsewhere declares that _he speaks to them in parables_, because they are unable to comprehend the mysteries o... [ Continue Reading ]
20._Forty and six years. _The computation of Daniel agrees with this passage, (Daniel 9:25;) for he reckons _seven weeks_, which make Forty-nine years; but, before the last of these weeks had ended, _the temple _was finished. The time described in the history of Ezra is much shorter; but, though it... [ Continue Reading ]
23._Many believed. _The Evangelist appropriately connects this narrative with the former. Christ had not given such a sign as the Jews demanded; and now, when he produced no good effect on them by many miracles — except that they entertained a cold faith, which was only the shadow of faith — this ev... [ Continue Reading ]
24._But Christ did not rely on them. _Those who explain the meaning to be, that Christ was on his guard against them, because he knew that they were not upright and faithful, do not appear to me to express sufficiently well the meaning of the Evangelist. Still less do I agree with what Augustine say... [ Continue Reading ]
25._For he knew what was in man. _As it might be doubted whence Christ obtained this knowledge, the Evangelist anticipates this question, and replies that Christ perceived every thing in men that is concealed from our view, so that he could on his own authority make a distinction among men. Christ,... [ Continue Reading ]