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 John, Chapter 3, verses 21-24
11 as also brotherly to love one another1 John, Chapter 4, verses 1-6
1 He warneth them not to believe all teachers, who boast of the Spirit, but to try them by the rules of the catholic faith3
3:21 If our heart condemn us not - If our conscience, duly enlightened by the word and Spirit of God, and comparing all our thoughts, words, and works with that word, pronounce that they agree therewith. Then have we confidence toward God - Not only our consciousness of his favour continues and increases, but we have a full persuasion, that whatsoever we ask we shall receive of him.
3:23 And this is his commandment - All his commandments in one word. That we should believe and love - in the manner and degree which he hath taught. This is the greatest and most important command that ever issued from the throne of glory.If this be neglected, no other can be kept: if this be observed, all others are easy.
3:24 And he that keepeth his commandments - That thus believes and loves. Abideth in him, and God in him: and hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he hath given us - Which witnesses with our spirits that we are his children, and brings forth his fruits of peace, love, holiness. This is the transition to the treating of the Holy Spirit which immediately follows.
4
4:1 Believe not every spirit - Whereby any teacher is actuated. But try the spirits - By the rule which follows.We are to try all spirits by the written word: "To the law and to the testimony!" If any man speak not according to these, the spirit which actuates him is not of God.
4:2 Every spirit - Or teacher. Which confesseth - Both with heart and voice. Jesus Christ, who is come in the flesh, is of God - This his coming presupposes, contains, and draws after it, the whole doctrine of Christ.
4:3 Ye have heard - From our Lord and us, that it cometh.
4:4 Ye have overcome these seducers, because greater is the Spirit of Christ that is in you than the spirit of antichrist that is in the world.
4:5 They - Those false prophets. Are of the world - Of the number of those that know not God. Therefore speak they of the world - From the same principle, wisdom, spirit; and, of consequence, the world heareth them - With approbation.
4:6 We - Apostles. Are of God - Immediately taught, and sent by him. Hereby we know - From what is said, Jo1 4:2-6.
Mark, Chapter 14, verses 43-72
43 Judas betrayeth him with a kiss, 46 He is apprehended in the garden, 53 falsely accused and impiously condemned of the Jews' council, 65 shamefully abused by them, 66 and thrice denied of PeterMark, Chapter 15, verse 1
1 Jesus brought bound and accused before Pilate14
14:43 Mat 26:47; Luk 22:47; Joh 18:2.
14:44 Whomsoever I shall kiss - Probably our Lord, in great condescension, had used (according to the Jewish custom) to permit his disciples to do this, after they had been some time absent.
14:47 Mat 26:51; Luk 22:49; Joh 18:10.
14:51 A young man - It does not appear, that he was one of Christ's disciples. Probably hearing an unusual noise, he started up out of his bed, not far from the garden, and ran out with only the sheet about him, to see what was the matter. And the young men laid hold on him - Who was only suspected to be Christ's disciple: but could not touch them who really were so.
14:53 Mat 26:57; Luk 22:54; Joh 18:12.
14:55 All the council sought for witness and found none - What an amazing proof of the overruling providence of God, considering both their authority, and the rewards they could offer, that no two consistent witnesses could be procured, to charge him with any gross crime. Mat 26:59.
14:56 Their evidences were not sufficient - The Greek words literally rendered are, Were not equal: not equal to the charge of a capital crime: it is the same word in the 59th verse.
14:58 We heard him say - It is observable, that the words which they thus misrepresented, were spoken by Christ at least three years before, Joh 2:19. Their going back so far to find matter for the charge, was a glorious, though silent attestation of the unexceptionable manner wherein he had behaved, through the whole course of his public ministry.
14:66 Mat 26:69; Luk 22:56; Joh 18:25.
14:72 And he covered his head - Which was a usual custom with mourners, and was fitly expressive both of grief and shame.
15
15:1 Mat 27:1-2; Luk 22:66; Luk 23:1; Joh 18:28.
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,
- 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.