17  Elijah foretells the drought, Ki1 17:1.
Is fed by ravens, Ki1 17:2-7.
By a widow, whose meal and oil are multiplied, Ki1 17:8-16.
He raises her dead son, Ki1 17:17-24.

17:12 She said - Therefore though she was a Gentile, yet she owned the God of Israel as the true God. Two sticks - A few sticks, thatnumber being often used indefinitely for any small number. And die - Forhaving no more provision, we must needs perish with hunger. For though thefamine was chiefly in the land of Israel, yet the effects of it were inTyre and Sidon, which were fed by the corn of that land. But whata poor supporter was this likely to be? who had no fuel, but what shegathered in the streets, and nothing to live upon herself, but an handfulof meal and a little oil! To her Elijah is sent, that he might liveupon providence, as much as he had done when the ravens fed him.

17:13 But make, etc - This he requires as a trial of her faith, and obedience, which he knew God would plentifully reward; and so this wouldbe a great example to encourage others to the practice of the same graces.

17:14 The barrel, etc - The meal of the barrel So the cruse of oil for the oil of the cruse.

17:15 Many days - A long time, even above two years, before the following event about her son happened. And surely the increase of herfaith to such a degree, as to enable her thus to deny herself and trustthe promise, was as great a miracle in the kingdom of grace, as theincrease of her oil in the kingdom of providence. Happy are they who canthus against hope believe and obey in hope.

17:16 Wasted not - See how the reward answered the service. She made one cake for the prophet and was repaid with many for herself and her son.What is laid out in charity is set out to the best interest, an upon thebest securities.

9 

9:24 For Christ did not enter into the holy place made with hands - He never went into the holy of holies at Jerusalem, the figure of the true tabernacle in heaven, Heb 8:2.But into heaven itself, to appear in the presence of God for us - As our glorious high priest and powerful intercessor.

9:26 For then he must often have suffered from the foundation of the world - This supposes,

1. That by suffering once he atoned for all the sins whichhad been committed from the foundation of the world.
2. That he could not have atoned for them without suffering.

9:27 After this, the judgment - Of the great day.At the moment of death every man's final state is determined.But there is not a word in scripture of a particular judgment immediately after death.

9:28 Christ having once died to bear the sins - The punishment due to them. Of many - Even as many as are born into the world. Will appear the second time - When he comes to judgment. Without sin - Not as he did before, bearing on himself the sins of many, but to bestow everlasting salvation.

12 

12:38 Beware of the scribes - There was an absolute necessity for these repeated cautions. For, considering their inveterate prejudices against Christ, it could never be supposed the common people would receive the Gospel till these incorrigible blasphemers of it were brought to just disgrace. Yet he delayed speaking in this manner till a little before hispassion, as knowing what effect it would quickly produce. Nor is this any precedent for us: we are not invested with the same authority. Mat 23:5; Luk 20:46.

12:41 He beheld how people cast money into the treasury - This treasury received the voluntary contributions of the worshippers who came up to the feast; which were given to buy wood for the altar, and other necessaries not provided for in any other way. Luk 21:1.

12:43 I say to you, that this poor widow hath cast in more than they all - See what judgement is cast on the most specious, outward actions by the Judge of all! And how acceptable to him is the smallest, which springs from self - denying love!