Revised Common Lectionary with Scriptures and Commentary for Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost, October 27, 2013 & All Saints Day on Friday, 1 November 2013

Revised Common Lectionary with Scriptures and Commentary for Twenty-third Sunday after Pentecost, October 27, 2013 & All Saints Day on Friday, 1 November 2013

PRAYER: Thematic

God of faithful surprises,
throughout the ages
you have made known your love and power
in unexpected ways and places.
May we daily perceive
the joy and wonder of your abiding presence
and offer our lives in gratitude
for our redemption. Amen.

Intercessory

Friends in Christ,
God invites us to hold the needs of our sisters and brothers
as dear to us as our own needs.
Loving our neighbors as ourselves,
we offer our thanksgivings and our petitions
on behalf of the church and the world.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Hear our prayers, God of power,
and through the ministry of your Son
free us from the grip of the tomb,
that we may desire you as the fullness of life
and proclaim your saving deeds to all the world. Amen.
OR
As you heard the prayer of Isaac and Rebekah, O God,
and guided them in the way of your love,
so listen now to those who call upon you.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Move us to praise your gracious will,
for in Christ Jesus you have saved us from the deeds of death
and opened for us the hidden ways of your love.
We ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OR
Lord God, friend of those in need,
your Son Jesus has untied our burdens
and healed our spirits.
We lift up the prayers of our hearts for those still burdened,
those seeking healing,
those in need within the church and the world.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Hear our prayers
that we may love you with our whole being
and willingly share the concerns of our neighbors. Amen.
OR
Creator God,
you call us to love and serve you
with body, mind, and spirit
through loving your creation
and our sisters and brothers.
Open our hearts in compassion
and receive these petitions
on behalf of the needs of the church and the world.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Holy One,
hear our prayers and make us faithful stewards
of the fragile bounty of this earth
so that we may be entrusted with the riches of heaven. Amen.
OR
We praise your abiding guidance, O God,
for you sent us Jesus, our Teacher and Messiah,
to model for us the way of love for the whole universe.
We offer these prayers of love
on behalf of ourselves and our neighbors,
on behalf of your creation and our fellow creatures.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Loving God,
open our ears to hear your word
and draw us closer to you,
that the whole world may be one with you
as you are one with us in Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OR
God of mercy and healing,
you who hear the cries of those in need,
receive these petitions of your people
that all who are troubled
may know peace, comfort, and courage.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Life-giving God,
heal our lives,
that we may acknowledge your wonderful deeds
and offer you thanks from generation to generation
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
OR
God of salvation,
who sent your Son to seek out and save what is lost,
hear our prayers
on behalf of those who are lost in our day,
receiving these petitions and thanksgivings
with your unending compassion.
Prayers of the People, concluding with:
Redeeming Sustainer,
visit your people
and pour out your strength and courage upon us,
that we may hurry to make you welcome
not only in our concern for others,
but by serving them
generously and faithfully in your name. Amen.

Scripture (Series 1)

O Wellspring of salvation,
we come to you in joy,
for you have heard the prayers of the poor
and raised up the lowly.
Pour out your Spirit
on young and old alike,
that our dreams and visions may bring
justice and peace to the world. Amen.

Scripture (Series 2)

O God,
the strength of those who humbly confess their sin
and place their hope in you,
save us from vain displays of righteousness,
and give us grace to keep faith
with the true humility of our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.

~~~~~~~

Lectionary Scriptures:

Joel 2:23 “Be glad then, you children of Zion,

and rejoice in the LORD, your God;

for he gives you the former rain in just measure,

and he causes the rain to come down for you,

the former rain and the latter rain,

as before.

24 The threshing floors will be full of wheat,

and the vats will overflow with new wine and oil.

25 I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten,

the great locust, the grasshopper, and the caterpillar,

my great army, which I sent among you.

26 You will have plenty to eat, and be satisfied,

and will praise the name of the LORD, your God,

who has dealt wondrously with you;

and my people will never again be disappointed.

27 You will know that I am among Israel,

and that I am the LORD, your God, and there is no one else;

and my people will never again be disappointed.

28 “It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh;

and your sons and your daughters will prophesy.

Your old men will dream dreams.

Your young men will see visions.

29 And also on the servants and on the handmaids in those days,

I will pour out my Spirit.

30 I will show wonders in the heavens and in the earth:

blood, fire, and pillars of smoke.

31 The sun will be turned into darkness,

and the moon into blood,

before the great and terrible day of the LORD comes.

32 It will happen that whoever will call on the LORD’s name shall be saved;

for in Mount Zion and in Jerusalem there will be those who escape,

as the LORD has said,

and among the remnant, those whom the LORD calls.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 65:For the Chief Musician. A Psalm by David. A song.

1 Praise waits for you, God, in Zion.

To you shall vows be performed.

2 You who hear prayer,

to you all men will come.

3 Sins overwhelmed me,

but you atoned for our transgressions.

4 Blessed is one whom you choose, and cause to come near,

that he may live in your courts.

We will be filled with the goodness of your house,

your holy temple.

5 By awesome deeds of righteousness, you answer us,

God of our salvation.

You who are the hope of all the ends of the earth,

of those who are far away on the sea;

6 Who by his power forms the mountains,

having armed yourself with strength;

7 who stills the roaring of the seas,

the roaring of their waves,

and the turmoil of the nations.

8 They also who dwell in faraway places are afraid at your wonders.

You call the morning’s dawn and the evening with songs of joy.

9 You visit the earth, and water it.

You greatly enrich it.

The river of God is full of water.

You provide them grain, for so you have ordained it.

10 You drench its furrows.

You level its ridges.

You soften it with showers.

You bless it with a crop.

11 You crown the year with your bounty.

Your carts overflow with abundance.

12 The wilderness grasslands overflow.

The hills are clothed with gladness.

13 The pastures are covered with flocks.

The valleys also are clothed with grain.

They shout for joy!

They also sing.(Messianic WEB)

Sirach 35:12 Give to the Most High as he has given to you,

generously, according to your means.

13 For he is a God who always repays

and will give back to you sevenfold.e

14 But offer no bribes; these he does not accept!

15 Do not trust in sacrifice of the fruits of extortion,f

For he is a God of justice,

who shows no partiality.g

16 He shows no partiality to the weak

but hears the grievance of the oppressed.*

17 He does not forsake the cry of the orphan,h

nor the widow when she pours out her complaint.(New American Bible)

or

Jeremiah 14:7 Though our iniquities testify against us,

work for your name’s sake, LORD;

for our rebellions are many.

We have sinned against you.

8 You hope of Israel,

its Savior in the time of trouble,

why should you be as a foreigner in the land,

and as a wayfaring man who turns aside to stay for a night?

9 Why should you be like a scared man,

as a mighty man who can’t save?

Yet you, LORD, are in the middle of us,

and we are called by your name.

Don’t leave us.

10 the LORD says to this people,

“Even so they have loved to wander.

They have not restrained their feet.

Therefore the LORD does not accept them.

Now he will remember their iniquity,

and punish them for their sins.”

19 Have you utterly rejected Judah?

Has your soul loathed Zion?

Why have you struck us, and there is no healing for us?

We looked for peace, but no good came;

and for a time of healing, and behold, dismay!

20 We acknowledge, LORD, our wickedness,

and the iniquity of our fathers;

for we have sinned against you.

21 Do not abhor us, for your name’s sake.

Do not disgrace the throne of your glory.

Remember, and don’t break your covenant with us.

22 Are there any among the vanities of the nations that can cause rain?

Or can the sky give showers?

Aren’t you he, the LORD our God?

Therefore we will wait for you;

for you have made all these things.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 84:For the Chief Musician. On an instrument of Gath. A Psalm by the sons of Korah.

1 How lovely are your dwellings,

LORD of Hosts!

2 My soul longs, and even faints for the courts of the LORD.

My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.

3 Yes, the sparrow has found a home,

and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young,

near your altars, LORD of Hosts, my King, and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house.

They are always praising you.

Selah.

5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you;

who have set their hearts on a pilgrimage.

6 Passing through the valley of Weeping, they make it a place of springs.

Yes, the autumn rain covers it with blessings.

7 They go from strength to strength.

Everyone of them appears before God in Zion.(Messianic WEB)

2 Timothy 4:6 For I am already being offered, and the time of my departure has come. 7 I have fought the good fight. I have finished the course. I have kept the faith. 8 From now on, there is stored up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will give to me on that day; and not to me only, but also to all those who have loved his appearing.16 At my first defense, no one came to help me, but all left me. May it not be held against them. 17 But the Lord stood by me, and strengthened me, that through me the message might be fully proclaimed, and that all the Gentiles might hear; and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. 18 And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me for his heavenly Kingdom; to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.(Messianic WEB)

Luke 18:9 He spoke also this parable to certain people who were convinced of their own righteousness, and who despised all others. 10  “Two men went up into the temple to pray; one was a Pharisee, and the other was a tax collector. 11  The Pharisee stood and prayed to himself like this: ‘God, I thank you, that I am not like the rest of men, extortionists, unrighteous, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. 12  I fast twice a week. I give tithes of all that I get.’ 13  But the tax collector, standing far away, wouldn’t even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’ 14  I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but he who humbles himself will be exalted.”(Messianic WEB)

~~~~~~~

John Wesley’s Notes~Commentary:

Joel 2:23~32

Verse 13. And repenteth him - He turneth from executing the fierceness of his wrath.

Verse 14. He will return - God doth not move from one place to another; but when he withholds his blessings, he is said to withdraw himself. And so when he gives out his blessing, he is said to return. And leave a blessing behind him - Cause the locusts to depart before they have eaten up all that is in the land.

Verse 16. The children - Though they understand little what is done, yet their cities ascend, and God with pity looks on their tears. These that suck - Their cries and tears may perhaps move the congregation to more earnest supplication to God for mercy. So the Ninevites, Jonah iii, 7, 8. The bridegroom - Let the new married man leave the mirth of the nuptials and afflict himself with the rest.

Verse 17. The porch - That stately porch built by Solomon, 1 Kings vi, 3. The altar - The altar of burnt-offering, which stood at some distance from this porch, and here are the priests commanded to stand, fasting and praying, whence they might be heard and seen by the people in the next court, in which the people were wont to pray. To reproach - Famine, though by locusts is a reproach to this thine heritage; it will be greater reproach to be slaves to the nations signified by the locusts, therefore in mercy deliver us from both one and the other.

Verse 20. The northern army - That part of the locusts which are toward the north. With his face - The van of this army shall be driven into the dead sea, east of Jerusalem. The hinder part - The rear of this army shall be driven into the west sea. His stink - The stench of these locusts destroying and lying putrified on the face of the earth, or the corpses of the Assyrians slain and unburied.

Psalm 65:1

PS 65 David praises God for hearing prayer, pardoning sin, satisfying and protecting his people, ver. 1-5. For fixing the mountains, calming the sea, preserving the succession of day and night, and making the earth fruitful, ver. 6-13. To the chief musician, A psalm and song of David.

Verse 4. Approach - To draw near to God in his house and ordinance, by prayer and praise, and other acts of communion with him. Satisfied - With the blessings there conferred upon thy people, the favour and fellowship of God, remission of sins, renovation of heart and life, joy and peace, and well-grounded assurance of eternal life.

Verse 5. Righteousness - By virtue of thy faithfulness, and goodness. Wilt thou - Thou wilt graciously answer our prayers. The confidence - Thou art the stay and support of all mankind, by thy powerful and gracious providence.

Verse 7. Tumult - No less wild and impetuous.

Verse 8. Thy tokens - Terrible thunders and lightnings, and earthquakes, and comets or other strange meteors, or works of God in the air. Morning - The successive courses of the morning and evening; or of the sun and moon which go forth at those times. Thus the whole verse speaks of the natural works of God, the former clause, of such as are extraordinary and terrible, the latter of such as are ordinary and delightful.

Verse 9. River - With rain, which he very significantly calls a river for its plenty, and the river of God, of God's immediate providing. Them - The inhabitants of the earth. Provided - Or, disposed, the earth, which without this would be hard and barren.

Verse 10. Bringest down - For the rain dissolves the high and hard clods of earth.

Verse 12. Wilderness - Which though neglected by men, are furnished with food for beasts.

Verse 13. Sing - They are abundantly satisfied with thy goodness, and in their manner sing forth the praise of their benefactor.

Sirach 35:12~17

No Notes~Commentary Available!

or

Jeremiah 14:7~10,19~22

Verse 7. Testify - That thou art righteous in what thou hast done. Do thou it - Do thou what we stand in need of; give us rain, though not for our sake, we deserve no such kindness from thee, yet for thy names sake: thy promise, or for thine honour and glory.

Verse 9. Astonished - In such disorder through some great passion, that he is able to do nothing. A mighty man - Like a man who in his own nature is strong, but through sickness so weakened, that he cannot put forth any strength for the succor of his friends. Yet - Yet (saith the prophet) thou art in the midst of us; of the whole land, according to what God had declared, Num. v, 3; xxxv, 34. Defile not the land which ye shall inhabit, wherein I dwell: for I the Lord dwell among the children of Israel.

Verse 10. Thus - Here begins the answer to the prophet's complaint and prayer in the nine first verses. The substance is, that for their manifold sins, he was resolved to punish them. They loved - They have been fond of their idols, and they have persisted in those sinful courses, notwithstanding all counsels.

Verse 21. The throne - The words are either to be understood of the throne of the house of David, called the Lord's throne, 1 Chron. xxix, 23, or else the temple, and the ark in it, the more special symbol of God's presence.

Verse 22. Rain - The present judgment under which they groan, was a drought, which he had described in the six first verses; the prophet imploring God for the removal of it, argues, from the impossibility of help in this case from any other way, none of the idols of the Heathens, which he calls vain things, nothing in themselves, and of no use, or profit to those that ran after them. Give showers - Without thy will? Art not - Lord, art not thou he alone who is able to do it? The scripture constantly gives God the honour of giving rain.

Psalm 84:1~7

PS 84 The psalmist declares his love for the ordinances of God, and the happiness of those that enjoy them, ver. 1-7. A devout prayer, and expression of faith in him, ver. 8-12. It is generally supposed, David wrote this, when he was driven out of the land by Absalom. To the chief musician upon Gittith, A psalm for the sons of Korah.

4. They-That constantly abide in thy house; the priests and Levites, or other devout Jews who were there perpetually, as Anna, Luke ii, 36-37. They will - They are continually employed in that blessed work.

Verse 5. Whose strength - Who trusteth in thee as his only strength. Thy ways - Blessed are they whose hearts are set upon Zion and their journey is thither.

Verse 6. Baca - A dry valley in the way to Jerusalem, here put for all places of like nature. Make a well - They dig divers little pits or wells in it for their relief. The rain - God recompenses their diligence with his blessing, sending rain wherewith they may be filled.

Verse 7. They go - They grow stronger and stronger. Appeareth - This is added as the blessed fruit of their long and tedious journey.

2 Timothy 4:6~8,16~18

Verse 6. The time of my departure is at hand - So undoubtedly God had shown him. I am ready to be offered up - Literally, to be poured out, as the wine and oil were on the ancient sacrifices.

Verse 8. The crown of that righteousness - Which God has imputed to me and wrought in me. Will render to all - This increases the joy of Paul, and encourages Timotheus. Many of these St. Paul himself had gained. That have loved his appearing - Which only a real Christian can do. I say a real Christian, to comply with the mode of the times: else they would not understand, although the word Christian necessarily implies whatsoever is holy, as God is holy. Strictly speaking, to join real or sincere to a word of so complete an import, is grievously to debase its noble signification, and is like adding long to eternity or wide to immensity.

Verse 16. All - My friends and companions. Forsook me - And do we expect to find such as will not forsake us? My first defense - Before the savage emperor Nero.

Verse 17. The preaching - The gospel which we preach.

Verse 18. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work - Which is far more than delivering me from death. Yea, and, over and above, preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom - Far better than that of Nero.

Luke 18:9~14

Verse 9. He spake this parable - Not to hypocrites; the Pharisee here mentioned was no hypocrite, no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely trusted in himself that he was righteous, and accordingly told God so, in the prayer which none but God heard.

Verse 12. I fast twice in the week - So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday. I give tithes of all that I possess - Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes, and another tenth in alms. the sum of this plea is, I do no harm: I use all the means of grace: I do all the good I can.

Verse 13. The publican standing afar off - From the holy of holies, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven - Touched with shame, which is more ingenuous than fear.

Verse 14. This man went down - From the hill on which the temple stood, justified rather than the other - That is, and not the other.

~~~~~~~

All Saints Day on Friday, 1 November 2013

Daniel 7:1 In the first year of Belshazzar king of Babylon Daniel had a dream and visions of his head on his bed: then he wrote the dream and told the sum of the matters.

2 Daniel spoke and said, I saw in my vision by night, and, behold, the four winds of the sky broke out on the great sea. 3 Four great animals came up from the sea, diverse one from another.

15 As for me, Daniel, my spirit was grieved within my body, and the visions of my head troubled me. 16 I came near to one of those who stood by, and asked him the truth concerning all this.

So he told me, and made me know the interpretation of the things. 17 These great animals, which are four, are four kings, who shall arise out of the earth. 18 But the holy ones of the Most High shall receive the kingdom, and possess the kingdom forever, even forever and ever.(Messianic WEB)

Psalm 149:1 Praise the LORD!

Sing to the LORD a new song,

his praise in the assembly of the holy ones.

2 Let Israel rejoice in him who made them.

Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.

3 Let them praise his name in the dance!

Let them sing praises to him with tambourine and harp!

4 For the LORD takes pleasure in his people.

He crowns the humble with salvation [yeshu`ah].

5 Let the holy ones rejoice in honor.

Let them sing for joy on their beds.

6 May the high praises of God be in their mouths,

and a two-edged sword in their hand;

7 To execute vengeance on the nations,

and punishments on the peoples;

8 To bind their kings with chains,

and their nobles with fetters of iron;

9 to execute on them the written judgment.

All his holy ones have this honor.

Praise the LORD!(Messianic WEB)

Ephesians 1:11 in whom also we were assigned an inheritance, having been foreordained according to the purpose of him who does all things after the counsel of his will; 12 to the end that we should be to the praise of his glory, we who had before hoped in Messiah: 13 in whom you also, having heard the word of the truth, the Good News of your salvation—in whom, having also believed, you were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 14 who is a pledge of our inheritance, to the redemption of God’s own possession, to the praise of his glory. 15 For this cause I also, having heard of the faith in the Lord Yeshua which is among you, and the love which you have toward all the holy ones, 16 don’t cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers, 17 that the God of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him; 18 having the eyes of your hearts* enlightened, that you may know what is the hope of his calling, and what are the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the holy ones, 19 and what is the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to that working of the strength of his might 20 which he worked in Messiah, when he raised him from the dead, and made him to sit at his right hand in the heavenly places, 21 far above all rule, and authority, and power, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this age, but also in that which is to come. 22 He put all things in subjection under his feet, and gave him to be head over all things for the assembly, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills all in all.(Messianic WEB)

Luke 6:20 He lifted up his eyes to his disciples, and said,

“Blessed are you who are poor,

God’s Kingdom is yours.

21  Blessed are you who hunger now,

for you will be filled.

Blessed are you who weep now,

for you will laugh.

22  Blessed are you when men shall hate you, and when they shall exclude and mock you, and throw out your name as evil, for the Son of Man’s sake.

23  Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven, for their fathers did the same thing to the prophets.

24  “But woe to you who are rich!

For you have received your consolation.

25  Woe to you, you who are full now,

for you will be hungry.

Woe to you who laugh now,

for you will mourn and weep.

26  Woe,* when† men speak well of you,

for their fathers did the same thing to the false prophets.

27  “But I tell you who hear: love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28  bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you. 29  To him who strikes you on the cheek, offer also the other; and from him who takes away your cloak, don’t withhold your coat also. 30  Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask him who takes away your goods to give them back again.

31  “As you would like people to do to you, do exactly so to them.(Messianic WEB)

~~~

John Wesley’s Notes~Commentary:

Daniel 7:1~3,15~18

VII We come now to the prophetical part of Daniel, in which are many things hard to be understood. In this chapter we have, The vision of the four beasts, ver. 1-8. The vision of God's throne of government and judgment, ver. 9-14. The interpretation of those visions, ver. 15-28.

Verse 1. In the first year of Belshazzar - This prophecy is written in Chaldee, to be a monument to him, of the reverence his father and grandfather shewed towards God, who had done such mighty works for them. Then he wrote - These visions were recorded for the benefit of the church, to rectify their mistake: for they thought all things would succeed prosperously after they returned out of their captivity.

Verse 2. The four winds - Probably by the four winds of the great sea is signified commotions of contrary nations, striving together by wars, and producing these four beasts successively.

Verse 3. Four great beasts - That is, four great monarchies, great, in comparison of particular kingdoms; beasts for their tyrannical oppressions.

Verse 16. Unto one - That is, to an angel, that ministered. The truth - The true meaning of this vision.

Verse 18. But the saints - Jesus Christ being their king, they shall reign with him, and possess the kingdom for ever. 24. And another - This seems to mean the Romish antichrist.

Psalm 149:1

PS 149 An exhortation to praise God for his love to his people, ver. 1-5. And for enabling them to overcome their enemies, ver. 6- 9.

Verse 4. The Lord - He rejoiceth over them to do them good. Beautify - Hebrew. adorn, make them amiable and honourable in the eyes of the world, who now hate and despise them. The meek - All true Israelites are such.

Verse 5. In glory - For the honour which God putteth upon them. Beds - By night as well as by day.

Verse 7. Vengeance - For all their cruelties and injuries towards God's people. This was literally accomplished by David upon the Philistines, Ammonites, Syrians and other neighbouring nations.

Verse 9. Written - Appointed and declared in the holy scripture.

Ephesians 1:11~23

Verse 11. Through whom we - Jews. Also have obtained an inheritance - The glorious inheritance of the heavenly Canaan, to which, when believers, we were predestinated according to the purpose of him that worketh all things after the counsel of his own will - The unalterable decree, "He that believeth shall be delivered;" which will is not an arbitrary will, but flowing from the rectitude of his nature, else, what security would there be that it would be his will to keep his word even with the elect?

Verse 12. That we - Jews. Who first believed - Before the gentiles. So did some of them in every place. Here is another branch of the true gospel predestination: he that believes is not only elected to salvation, (if he endures to the end,) but is fore-appointed of God to walk in holiness, to the praise of his glory.

Verse 13. In whom ye - Gentiles. Likewise believed, after ye had heard the gospel - Which God made the means of your salvation; in whom after ye had believed - Probably some time after their first believing. Ye were sealed by that Holy Spirit of promise - Holy both in his nature and in his operations, and promised to all the children of God. The sealing seems to imply,

1. A full impression of the image of God on their souls.

2. A full assurance of receiving all the promises, whether relating to time or eternity.

14. Who, thus sealing us, is an earnest - Both a pledge and a foretaste of our inheritance. Till the redemption of the purchased possession - Till the church, which he has purchased with his own blood, shall be fully delivered from all sin and sorrow, and advanced to everlasting glory. To the praise of his glory - Of his glorious wisdom, power, and mercy.

Verse 15. Since I heard of your faith and love - That is, of their perseverance and increase therein.

Verse 16. I cease not - In all my solemn addresses to God. To give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers - So he did of all the churches, Col. i, 9.

Verse 17. That the Father of that infinite glory which shines in the face of Christ, from whom also we receive the glorious inheritance, ver. 18, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation - The same who is the Spirit of promise is also, in the progress of the faithful, the Spirit of wisdom and Revelation; making them wise unto salvation, and revealing to them the deep things of God. He is here speaking of that wisdom and Revelation which are common to all real Christians.

Verse 18. The eyes of your understanding - It is with these alone that we discern the things of God. Being first opened, and then enlightened - By his Spirit. That ye may know what is the hope of his calling - That ye may experimentally and delightfully know what are the blessings which God has called you to hope for by his word and his Spirit. And what is the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints - What an immense treasure of blessedness he hath provided as an inheritance for holy souls.

Verse 19. And what the exceeding greatness of his power toward us who believe - Both in quickening our dead souls, and preserving them in spiritual life. According to the power which he exerted in Christ, raising him from the dead - By the very same almighty power whereby he raised Christ; for no less would suffice.

Verse 20. And he hath seated him at his own right hand - That is, he hath exalted him in his human nature, as a recompence for his sufferings, to a quiet, everlasting possession of all possible blessedness, majesty, and glory.

Verse 21. Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion - That is, God hath invested him with uncontrollable authority over all demons in hell, all angels in heaven, and all the princes and potentates on earth. And every name that is named - We know the king is above all, though we cannot name all the officers of his court. So we know that Christ is above all, though we are not able to name all his subjects. Not only in this world, but also in that which is to come - The world to come is so styled, not because it does not yet exist, but because it is not yet visible. Principalities and powers are named now; but those also who are not even named in this world, but shall be revealed in the world to come, are all subject to Christ.

Verse 22. And he hath given him to be head over all things to the church - An head both of guidance and government, and likewise of life and influence, to the whole and every member of it. All these stand in the nearest union with him, and have as continual and effectual a communication of activity, growth, and strength from him, as the natural body from its head.

Verse 23. The fulness of him that filleth all in all - It is hard to say in what sense this can be spoken of the church; but the sense is easy and natural, if we refer it to Christ, who is the fulness of the Father.

Luke 6:20~31

Verse 20. In the following verses our Lord, in the audience of his newly- chosen disciples, and of the multitude, repeats, standing on the plain, many remarkable passages of the sermon he had before delivered, sitting on the mount. He here again pronounces the poor and the hungry, the mourners, and the persecuted, happy; and represents as miserable those who are rich, and full, and joyous, and applauded: because generally prosperity is a sweet poison, and affliction a healing, though bitter medicine. Let the thought reconcile us to adversity, and awaken our caution when the world smiles upon us; when a plentiful table is spread before us, and our cup is running over; when our spirits are gay; and we hear (what nature loves) our own praise from men. Happy are ye poor - The word seems here to be taken literally: ye who have left al] for me. Matt. v, 3.

Verse 24. Miserable are ye rich - If ye have received or sought your consolation or happiness therein.

Verse 25. Full - Of meat and drink, and worldly goods. That laugh - That are of a light trifling spirit.

Verse 26. Wo to you when all men shall speak well of you - But who will believe this?

Verse 27. But I say to you that hear - Hitherto our Lord had spoken only to particular sorts of persons: now he begins speaking to all in general. Matt. v, 44.

Verse 29. To him that smiteth thee on the cheek - Taketh away thy cloak - These seem to be proverbial expressions, to signify an invasion of the tenderest points of honour and property. Offer the other - Forbid not thy coat - That is, rather yield to his repeating the affront or injury, than gratify resentment in righting your self; in any method not becoming Christian love. Matt. v, 39.

Verse 30. Give to every one - Friend or enemy, what thou canst spare, and he really wants: and of him that taketh away thy goods - By borrowing, if he be insolvent, ask them not again. Matt. v, 42.

Verse 31. Matt. vii, 12.

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