1 John, Chapter 2, verses 3-11
3 Rightly to know God is to keep his commandments, 9 to love our brethrenLuke, Chapter 2, verses 22-35
22 Mary purified, 28 Simeon and Anna prophesy of Christ2
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.
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2:3 And hereby we know that we truly and savingly know him - As he is the advocate, the righteous, the propitiation. If wekeep his commandments - Particularly those of faith and love.
2:5 But whoso keepeth his word - His commandments. Verily in him the love of God - Reconciled to us through Christ. Is perfected - Is perfectly known. Hereby - By our keeping his word.We know that we are in him - So is the tree known by its fruits.To "know him," to be "in him," to "abide in him," are nearly synonymous terms; only with a gradation, - knowledge, communion, constancy.
2:6 He that saith he abideth in him - which implies a durable state; a constant, lasting knowledge of, and communion with, him. Ought himself - Otherwise they are vain words. So to walk, even as he walked - In the world. As he, are words that frequently occur in this epistle. Believers having their hearts full of him, easily supply his name.
2:7 When I speak of keeping his word, I write not a new commandment - I do not speak of any new one. But the old commandment, which ye had - Even from your forefathers.
2:8 Again, I do write a new commandment to you - Namely, with regard to loving one another. A commandment which, though it also was given long ago, yet is truly new in him and in you.It was exemplified in him, and is now fulfilled by you, in such a manner as it never was before. For there is no comparison between the state of the Old Testament believers, and that which ye now enjoy: the darkness of that dispensation is passed away; and Christ the true light now shineth in your hearts.
2:9 He that saith he is in the light - In Christ, united to him. And hateth his brother - The very name shows the love due to him. Is in darkness until now - Void of Christ, and of all true light.
2:10 He that loveth his brother - For Christ's sake.Abideth in the light - Of God. And there is no occasion of stumbling in him - Whereas he that hates his brother is an occasion of stumbling to himself. He stumbles against himself, and against all things within and without; while he that loves his brother, has a free, disencumbered journey.
2:11 He that hateth his brother - And he must hate, if he does not love him: there is no medium. Is in darkness - In sin, perplexity, entanglement. He walketh in darkness, and knoweth not that he is in the high road to hell.