Hebrews, Chapter 7, verses 7-17
1 Christ Jesus is a priest after the order of Melchisedec, 11 and so, far more excellent than the priests of Aaron's orderLuke, Chapter 2, verses 22-40
22 Mary purified, 28 Simeon and Anna prophesy of Christ, 40 who increaseth in wisdom2
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.
1 Peter, Chapter 2, verses 21-25
20 patiently suffering for well doing, after the example of Christ1 Peter, Chapter 3, verses 1-9
1 He teacheth the duty of wives and husbands to each other, 8 exhorting all men to unity and love2
2:21 Hereunto are ye - Christians. Called - To suffer wrongfully. Leaving you an example - When he went to God.That ye might follow his steps - Of innocence and patience.
2:22 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction. Isa 53:4, Isa 53:6, Isa 53:7, Isa 53:9.
2:23 In all these instances the example of Christ is peculiarly adapted to the state of servants, who easily slide either into sin or guile, reviling their fellowservants, or threatening them, the natural result of anger without power.He committed himself to him that judgeth righteously - The only solid ground of patience in affliction.
2:24 Who himself bore our sins - That is, the punishment due to them. In his afflicted, torn, dying body on the tree - The cross, whereon chiefly slaves or servants were wont to suffer.That we being dead to sin - Wholly delivered both from the guilt and power of it: indeed, without an atonement first made for the guilt, we could never have been delivered from the power.Might live to righteousness - Which is one only. The sins we had committed, and he bore, were manifold.
2:25 The bishop - The kind observer, inspector, or overseer of your souls.
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3:1 If any - He speaks tenderly. Won - Gained over to Christ.
3:2 Joined with a loving fear of displeasing them.
3:3 Three things are here expressly forbidden: curling the hair, wearing gold, (by way of ornament,) and putting on costly or gay apparel. These, therefore, ought never to be allowed, much less defended, by Christians.
3:4 The hidden man of the heart - Complete inward holiness, which implies a meek and quiet spirit. A meek spirit gives no trouble willingly to any: a quiet spirit bears all wrongs without being troubled. In the sight of God - Who looks at the heart. All superfluity of dress contributes more to pride and anger than is generally supposed. The apostle seems to have his eye to this by substituting meekness and quietness in the room of the ornaments he forbids. "I do not regard these things," is often said by those whose hearts are wrapped up in them: but offer to take them away, and you touch the very idol of their soul. Some, indeed only dress elegantly that they may be looked on; that is, they squander away their Lord's talent to gain applause: thus making sin to beget sin, and then plead one in excuse of the other.
3:5 The adorning of those holy women, who trusted in God, and therefore did not act thus from servile fear, was,
- Their meek subjection to their husbands:
- Their quiet spirit, "not afraid," or amazed: and
- Their unblamable behaviour, "doing" all things "well."
3:6 Whose children ye are - In a spiritual as well as natural sense, and entitled to the same inheritance, while ye discharge your conjugal duties, not out of fear, but for conscience' sake. Gen 18:12.
3:7 Dwell with the woman according to knowledge - Knowing they are weak, and therefore to be used with all tenderness. Yet do not despise them for this, but give them honour - Both in heart, in word, and in action; as those who are called to be joint - heirs of that eternal life which ye and they hope to receive by the free grace of God. That your prayers be not hindered - On the one part or the other. All sin hinders prayer; particularly anger. Anything at which we are angry is never more apt to come into our mind than when we are at prayer; and those who do not forgive will find no forgiveness from God.
3:8 Finally - This part of the epistle reaches to Pe1 4:11.The apostle seems to have added the rest afterwards.Sympathizing - Rejoicing and sorrowing together. Love all believers as brethren. Be pitiful - Toward the afflicted. Be courteous - To all men. Courtesy is such a behaviour toward equals and inferiors as shows respect mixed with love.
3:9 Ye are called to inherit a blessing - Therefore their railing cannot hurt you; and, by blessing them, you imitate God, who blesses you.
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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,
- Is opposed to Aaron, Heb 7:11-14.
- Hath no end of life, Heb 7:15-19,
but "remaineth a priest continually." If now perfection were by the Levitical priesthood - If this perfectly answered all God's designs and man's wants For under it the people received the law - Whence some might infer, that perfection was by that priesthood. What farther need was there, that another priest - Of a new order, should be set up? From this single consideration it is plain, that both the priesthood and the law, which were inseparably connected, were now to give way to a better priesthood and more excellent dispensation.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.