6  Their resolution to return to God, Hos 6:1-3.
The instability of many of them, Hos 6:4-5.
God's covenant with them, and their violation of it, Hos 6:6-11.

6:3 Know - What worship he requires. And the knowledge of God shall be to us a spring of all holy, righteous, sober conversation.Follow on - By a diligent attendance to the word, and works of God, we shall know experimentally, how holy, how good, how faithful God is.His going forth - Before his people; his gracious, faithful, holy, just, and wise providence, for his peoples good and comfort.As the morning - As sure, beautiful, grateful, and as clear as the morning; which dispels the darkness, and proclaims its own approach.As the rain - Which revives, makes it fruitful, beautifies it, and gives a new face to all.

6:4 What shall I do - What shall I do more to save you from ruin, and save my own honour, truth, and justice?

6:5 Therefore - Because I would do for you whatever might be done.Hewed them - I have severely, and unweariedly reproved, and threatened them. By thy words - As I did by word foretel, so I did effect in due time. Thy judgments - The punishments threatened, which fell upon this people, did so fully answer the prediction that every one might see them clear as the light, and as constantly executed as the morning.

6:6 For - I so hewed and slew them, because they did not what I most of all required; they were full of sacrifices, but either to idols, or else in formality and pride. Mercy - Compassion and charity towards men, this one principal duty of the second table put for all. In this I delight, I have found little of this among you. Not sacrifice - Rather than sacrifice. The knowledge of God - The affectionate knowledge of God, which fills the mind with reverence of his majesty, fear of his goodness, love of his holiness, trust in his promise, and submission to his will.

4 Having proved it by argument, he now proves by example, and such example as must have greater weight with the Jews than any other.

1. That justification is by faith:
2. That it is free for the gentiles.

4:18 The Apostle shows the power and excellence of that faith to which he ascribes justification. Who against hope - Against all probability, believed and hoped in the promise. Thesame thing is apprehended both by faith and hope; by faith, as a thing which God has spoken; by hope, as a good thing which God has promised to us. So shall thy seed be - Both natural and spiritual, as the stars of heaven for multitude. Gen 15:5.

4:19 See note ... Rom 4:18

4:20 See note ... Rom 4:18

4:21 See note ... Rom 4:18

4:23 On his account only - To do personal honour to him.

4:24 But on ours also - To establish us in seeking justification by faith, and not by works; and to afford a full answer to those who say that, " to be justified by works means only, by Judaism; to be justified by faith means, by embracing Christianity, that is, the system of doctrines so called." Sure it is that Abraham could not in this sense be justified either by faith or by works; and equally sure that David (taking the words thus) was justified by works, and not byfaith. Who raised up Jesus from the dead - As he did in a manner both Abraham and Sarah. If we believe on him who raised up Jesus - God the Father therefore is the proper object of justifying faith. It is observable, that St. Paul here, in speaking both of our faith and of the faith of Abraham, puts a part for the whole. And he mentions that part, with regard to Abraham, which would naturally affect the Jews most.

4:25 Who was delivered - To death. For our offences - As an atonement for them. And raised for our justification - To empower us to receive that atonement by faith.

9 

9:9 He saw a man named Matthew - Modestly so called by himself.The other evangelists call him by his more honourable name, Levi.Sitting - In the very height of his business, at the receipt of custom - The custom house, or place where the customs were received. Mar 2:14; Luk 5:27.

9:10 As Jesus sat at table in the house - Of Matthew, who having invited many of his old companions, made him a feast, Mar 2:15; and that a great one, though he does not himselfmention it. The publicans, or collectors of the taxes which the Jews paid the Romans, were infamous for their illegal exactions: Sinners - Open, notorious, sinners.

9:11 The Pharisees said to his disciples, Why eateth your Master? - Thus they commonly ask our Lord, Why do thy disciples this?And his disciples, Why doth your Master?

9:13 Go ye and learn - Ye that take upon you to teach others.I will have mercy and not sacrifice - That is, I will have mercy rather than sacrifice. I love acts of mercy better than sacrifice itself. Hos 6:6.