2  A farther description of the desolation of the land, Joe 2:1-11.
An earnest call to repentance, Joe 2:12-17.
A promise of all good things to the penitent, Joe 2:18-27.
A prophecy of the Messiah's kingdom, Joe 2:28-32.

2:13 And repenteth him - He turneth from executing the fierceness of his wrath.

2:14 He will return - God doth not move from one place to another; but when he withholds his blessings, he is said to withdraw himself.And so when he gives out his blessing, he is said to return.And leave a blessing behind him - Cause the locusts to depart before they have eaten up all that is in the land.

2:16 The children - Though they understand little what is done, yet their cities ascend, and God with pity looks on their tears.These that suck - Their cries and tears may perhaps move the congregation to more earnest supplication to God for mercy.So the Ninevites, Jon 3:7-8. The bridegroom - Let the new married man leave the mirth of the nuptials and afflict himself with the rest.

2:17 The porch - That stately porch built by Solomon, Ki1 6:3.The altar - The altar of burnt - offering, which stood at some distance from this porch, and here are the priests commanded to stand, fasting and praying, whence they might be heard and seen by the people in the next court, in which the people were wont to pray.To reproach - Famine, though by locusts is a reproach to this thine heritage; it will be greater reproach to be slaves to the nations signified by the locusts, therefore in mercy deliver us from both one and the other.

5 

5:20 Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ - we beseech you in Christ's stead - Herein the apostle might appear to some "transported beyond himself." In general he uses a more calm,sedate kind of exhortation, as in the beginning of the next chapter. What unparalleled condescension and divinely tender mercies are displayed in this verse! Did the judge ever beseech a condemned criminal to accept of pardon? Does the creditor ever beseech a ruined debtor to receive an acquittance in full? Yet our almighty Lord, and our eternal Judge, not only vouchsafes to offer these blessings, but invites us, entreats us, and, with the most tender importunity, solicits us, not to reject them.

5:21 He made him a sin offering, who knew no sin - A commendation peculiar to Christ. For us - Who knew no righteousness, who were inwardly and outwardly nothing but sin; who must have been consumed by the divine justice, had not this atonement been made for our sins. That we might be made the righteousness of God through him - Might through him be invested wi th that righteousness, first imputed to us, then implanted in us, which is in every sense the righteousness of God.

6 

6:1 We then not only beseech, but as fellow - labourers with you, who are working out your own salvation, do also exhort you, not to receive the grace of God - Which we have been now describing. In vain - We receive it by faith; and not in vain, if we add to this, persevering holiness.

6:2 For he saith - The sense is, As of old there was a particular time wherein God was pleased to pour out his peculiar blessing, so there is now. And this is the particular time: this is a time of peculiar blessing. Isa 49:8.

6 

6:1 In the foregoing chapter our Lord particularly described the nature of inward holiness. In this he describes that purity of intention without which none of our outward actions are holy.This chapter contains four parts,

1. The right intention and manner of giving alms, Mat 6:1-4.
2. The right intention, manner, form, and prerequisites ofprayer, Mat 6:5-15.
3. The right intention, and manner of fasting, Mat 6:16-18.
4. The necessity of a pure intention in all things, unmixedeither with the desire of riches, or worldly care, and fear of want, Mat 6:19-34. This verse is a general caution against vain glory, in any ofour good works: All these are here summed up together, in the comprehensive word righteousness. This general caution our Lord applies in the sequel to the three principal branches of it, relating to our neighbour, Mat 6:2-4: to God, Mat 6:5-6: and to ourselves, Mat 6:16-18. To be seen - Barely the being seen, while we are doing any ofthese things, is a circumstance purely indifferent. But the doing them with this view, to be seen and admired, this is what our Lord condemns.

6:2 As the hypocrites do - Many of the scribes and Pharisees did this, under a pretence of calling the poor together. They have their reward - All they will have; for they shall have none from God.

6:3 Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doth - A proverbial expression for doing a thing secretly. Do it as secretly as is consistent,

1. With the doing it at all.
2. With the doing it in the most effectual manner.

6:5 The synagogues - These were properly the places where the people assembled for public prayer, and hearing the Scriptures read and expounded. They were in every city from the time of the Babylonish captivity, and had service in them thrice a day on three days in the week. In every synagogue was a council of grave and wise persons, over whom was a president, called the ruler of the synagogue. But the word here, as well as in many other texts, signifies any place of public concourse.

6:6 Enter into thy closet - That is, do it with as much secrecy as thou canst.