7 

7:7 The less is blessed - Authoritatively, of the greater.

7:8 And here - In the Levitical priesthood. But there - In the case of Melchisedec. He of whom it is testified that he liveth - Who is not spoken of as one that died for another to succeed him; but is represented only as living, no mention being made either of his birth or death.

7:9 And even Levi, who received tithes - Not in person, but in his successors, as it were, paid tithes - In the person of Abraham.

7:11 The apostle now demonstrates that the Levitical priesthood must yield to the priesthood of Christ, because Melchisedec, after whose order he is a priest,

1. Is opposed to Aaron, Heb 7:11-14.
2. Hath no end of life, Heb 7:15-19,

7:12 For - One of these cannot be changed without the other.

7:13 But the priesthood is manifestly changed from one order to another, and from one tribe to another. For he of whom these things are spoken - Namely, Jesus.Pertaineth to another tribe - That of Judah. Of which no man was suffered by the law to attend on, or minister at, the altar.

7:14 For it is evident that our Lord sprang out of Judah - Whatever difficulties have arisen since, during so long a tract of time, it was then clear beyond dispute.

7:15 And it is still far more evident, that - Both the priesthood and the law are changed, because the priest now raised up is not only of another tribe, but of a quite different order.

7:16 Who is made - A priest. Not after the law of a carnal commandment - Not according to the Mosaic law, which consisted chiefly of commandments that were carnal, compared to the spirituality of the gospel. But after the power of an endless life - Which he has in himself, as the eternal Son of God.

2 

2:22 The days - The forty days prescribed, Lev 12:2, Lev 12:4.

2:23  Exo 13:2.

2:24 A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons - This offering sufficed for the poor. Lev 12:8.

2:25 The consolation of Israel - A common phrase for the Messiah, who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God.The Holy Ghost was upon him - That is, he was a prophet.

2:27 By the Spirit - By a particular revelation or impulse from him.

2:30 Thy salvation - Thy Christ, thy Saviour.

2:32 And the glory of thy people Israel - For after the Gentiles are enlightened, all Israel shall be saved.

2:33 Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken - For they did not thoroughly understand them.

2:34 Simeon blessed them - Joseph and Mary. This child is set for the fall and rising again of many - That is, he will be a savour of death to some, to unbelievers: a savour of life to others, to believers: and for a sign which shall be spoken against - A sign from God, yet rejected of men: but the time for declaring this at large was not yet come: that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed - The event will be, that by means of that contradiction, the inmost thoughts of many, whether good or bad, will be made manifest.

2:35 A sword shall pierce through thy own soul - So it did, when he suffered: particularly at his crucifixion.

2:37 Fourscore and four years - These were the years of her life, not her widowhood only. Who departed not from the temple - Who attended there at all the stated hours of prayer. But served God with fastings and prayers - Even at that age. Night and day - That is, spending therein a considerable part of the night, aswell as of the day.

2:38 To all that were waiting for redemption - The sceptre flow appeared to he departing from Judah, though it was not actually gone: Daniel's weeks were plainly near their period. And the revival of the spirit of prophecy, together with the memorable occurrences relating to the birth of John the Baptist, and of Jesus, could not but encourage and quicken the expectation of pious persons at this time. Let the example of these aged saints animate those, whose hoaryheads, like theirs, are a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. Let those venerable lips, so soon to be silent in the grave, be now employed in the praises of their Redeemer.Let them labour to leave those behind, to whom Christ will be as precious as he has been to them; and who will be waiting for God's salvation, when they are gone to enjoy it.

2:40 And the child grew - In bodily strength and stature; and waxed strong in spirit - The powers of his human mind daily improved; filled with wisdom - By the light of the indwelling Spirit, which gradually opened itself in his soul; and the grace of God was upon him - That is, the peculiar favour of God rested upon him, even as man.

6 

6:12 All things - Which are lawful for you. Are lawful for me, but all things are not always expedient - Particularly when anything would offend my weak brother; or when it would enslave my own soul. For though all things are lawful for me, yet I will not be brought under the power of any - So as to be uneasy when I abstain from it; for, if so, then I am under the power of it.

6:13 As if he had said, I speak this chiefly with regard to meats; (and would to God all Christians would consider it!) particularly with regard to those offered to idols, and those forbidden in the Mosaic law. These, I grant, are all indifferent, and have their use, though it is only for a time: then meats, and the organs which receive them, will together moulder into dust. But the case is quite otherwise with fornication. This is not indifferent, but at all times evil.For the body is for the Lord - Designed only for his service.And the Lord, in an important sense, for the body - Being the Saviour of this, as well as of the soul; in proof of which God hath already raised him from the dead.

6:16  Gen 2:24.

6:17 But he that is joined to the Lord - By faith. Is one spirit with him - And shall he make himself one flesh with an harlot?

6:18 Flee fornication - All unlawful commerce with women, with speed, with abhorrence, with all your might. Every sin that a man commits against his neighbour terminates upon an object out of himself, and does not so immediately pollute his body, though it does his soul. But he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body - Pollutes, dishonours, and degrades it to a level with brute beasts.

6:19 And even your body is not, strictly speaking, your own even this is the temple of the Holy Ghost - Dedicated to him, and inhabited by him. What the apostle calls elsewhere "the temple of God," Co1 3:16-17, and "the temple of the living God," Co2 6:16,he here styles the temple of the Holy Ghost; plainly showing that the Holy Ghost is the living God.

6:20 Glorify God with your body, and your spirit - Yield your bodies and all their members, as well as your souls and all their faculties, as instruments of righteousness to God.Devote and employ all ye have, and all ye are, entirely, unreservedly, and for ever, to his glory.

15 

15:12 Give me the part of goods that falleth to me - See the root of all sin! A desire of disposing of ourselves; of independency on God!

15:13 He took a journey into a far country - Far from God: God was not in all his thoughts: And squandered away his substance - All the grace he had received.

15:14 He began to be in want - All his worldly pleasures failing, he grew conscious of his want of real good.

15:15 And he joined himself to a citizen of that country - Either the devil or one of his children, the genuine citizens of that country which is far from God. He sent him to feed swine - He employed him in the base drudgery of sin.

15:16 He would fain have filled his belly with the husks - He would fain have satisfied himself with worldly comforts.Vain, fruitless endeavour!

15:17 And coming to himself - For till then he was beside himself, as all men are, so long as they are without God in the world.

15:18 I will arise and go to my father - How accurately are the first steps of true repentance here pointed out!Against Heaven - Against God.

15:20 And he arose and came to his father - The moment he had resolved, he began to execute his resolution. While he was yet a great way off, his father saw him - Returning, starved, naked.

15:22 But the father said - Interrupting him before he had finished what he intended to say. So does God frequently cut an earnest confession short by a display of his pardoning love.

15:23 Let us be merry - Both here, and wherever else this word occurs, whether in the Old or New Testament, it implies nothing of levity, but a solid, serious, religious, heartfelt joy: indeed this was the ordinary meaning of the word two hundred years ago, when our translation was made.

15:25 The elder son seems to represent the Pharisees and scribes, mentioned Luk 15:2.

15:27 Thy father hath killed the fatted calf - Perhaps he mentions this rather than the robe or ring, as having a nearer connection with the music and dancing.

15:28 He was angry, and would not go in - How natural to us is this kind of resentment!

15:29 Lo, so many years do I serve thee - So he was one of the instances mentioned Luk 15:7. How admirably therefore does this parable confirm that assertion! Yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends - Perhaps God does not usually give much joy to those who never felt the sorrows of repentance.

15:31 Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine - This suggests a strong reason against murmuring at the indulgence shown to the greatest of sinners. As the father's receiving the younger son did not cause him to disinherit the elder; so God's receiving notorious sinners will be no loss to those who have always served him; neither will he raise these to a state of glory equal to that of those who have always served him, if they have, upon the whole, made a greater progress in inward as well as outward holiness.

15:32 This thy brother was dead, and is alive - A thousand of these delicate touches in the inspired writings escape an inattentive reader. In Luk 15:30, the elder son had unkindly and indecently said, This thy son. The father in his reply mildly reproves him, and tenderly says, This thy brother - Amazing intimation, that the best of men ought to account the worst sinners their brethren still; and should especially remember this relation, when they show any inclination to return. Our Lord in this whole parable shows, not only that the Jewshad no cause to murmur at the reception of the Gentiles, (a point which did not at that time so directly fall underconsideration,) but that if the Pharisees were indeed as good as they fancied themselves to be, still they had no reason to murmur at the kind treatment of any sincere penitent. Thus does he condemn them, even on their own principles, and so leaves them without excuse. We have in this parable a lively emblem of the condition andbehaviour of sinners in their natural state. Thus, when enriched by the bounty of the great common Father, do they ungratefully run from him, Luk 15:12. Sensual pleasures are eagerly pursued, till they have squandered away all the grace of God, Luk 15:13. And while these continue, not a serious thought of God can find a place in their minds. And even when afflictions come upon them, Luk 15:14, still they will make hard shifts before they will let the grace of God, concurring with his providence, persuade them to think of a return, Luk 15:15-16. When they see themselves naked, indigent, and undone, then theyrecover the exercise of their reason, Luk 15:17. Then they remember the blessings they have thrown away, and attend to the misery they have incurred. And hereupon they resolve to return to their father, and put the resolution immediately in practice, Luk 15:18-19. Behold with wonder and pleasure the gracious reception theyfind from Divine, injured goodness! When such a prodigal comes to his father, he sees him afar off, Luk 15:20. He pities, meets, embraces him, and interrupts his acknowledgments with the tokens of his returning favour, Luk 15:21. He arrays him with the robe of a Redeemer's righteousness, with inward and outward holiness; adorns him with all his sanctifying graces, and honours him with the tokens of adopting love, Luk 15:22. And all this he does with unutterable delight, in that he who was lost is now found, Luk 15:23-24. Let no elder brother murmur at this indulgence, but ratherwelcome the prodigal back into the family. And let those who have been thus received, wander no more, but emulate the strictest piety of those who for many years have served their heavenly Father, and not transgressed his commandments.