The Upper Room Daily Reflections: daily words of wisdom and faith in Nashville, Tennessee, United States from Monday, 17 July 2017 through Sunday, 23 July 2017

The Upper Room Daily Reflections: daily words of wisdom and faith in Nashville, Tennessee, United States from Monday, 17 July 2017 through Sunday, 23 July 2017

 

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "Being Fully Present" for Sunday, 23 July 2017
Today’s Reflection:
AS I AM FULLY PRESENT to God, I become the kind of person who is wholly present to others. I can give no greater gift. When I am present I am considerate, giving undivided attention to the person’s words and feelings at the moment. People deeply need this gift of being appreciated and attended, especially in times of distress. The first task of ministry is to be present to people in their need. [J. David Muyskens, Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God]
From page 106 of Forty Days to a Closer Walk with God: The Practice of Centering Prayer by J. David Muyskens. Copyright © 2006 by J. David Muyskens. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Who needs your full presence?
Today’s Scripture:
Then the righteous will shine like the sun in the kingdom of their Father. Let anyone with ears listen! [Matthew 13:43, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities.

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "Sharing Struggles" for Saturday, 22 July 2017
Today’s Reflection:

KEEPING STRUGGLES TO YOURSELF eats away at your spirit. It is amazing what a change in feelings happen when you dare to share your struggles with a spouse, a loved one, or a special friend. Pouring out your soul, being able to say to someone, “I trust and love you enough to share my problems with you,” is a liberating experience. You may be surprised by their response. Loving relationships will make you feel accepted and supported. [Wessel Bentley, Facing Financial Struggle: 28 Days of Prayer]
From page 14 of Facing Financial Struggle: 28 Days of Prayer. Copyright © 2010 by Wessel Bentley. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
If you share your struggles with someone, what advice do you have for others looking to do the same?
Today’s Scripture:
He put before them another parable: “The kingdom of heaven may be compared to someone who sowed good seed in his field….” [Matthew 13:24, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities.

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "The Nightly Review" for Friday, 21 July 2017
Today’s Reflection:
OF ALL MY PERSONAL spiritual practices, the nightly review has brought the most growth. I usually do it on my own, but it can also be done with a loved one or even the whole family. …
1. Make some time to be quiet for a few moments. Take a few deep breaths to settle down. Invite God to be with you and to shed light on the past day.
2. Ask God to bring to mind one moment of the day for which you are most grateful, the moment that gave you the most life or when you received or gave the most love. If you could recapture one moment of your day, which one would it be? Relive this moment. Breathe in again the gratitude you felt and thank God for it.
3. Ask God to bring to mind the moment you are least grateful for, the moment that drained you of life or when you received and gave the least love. Reflect on what was said and done that made it so hard. Acknowledge your feelings about this experience. Refrain from judging yourself. Share these feelings with God, and let God’s love fill you again. [Trevor Hudson, The Serenity Prayer]
From pages 59-60 of The Serenity Prayer: A Simple Prayer to Enrich Your Life by Trevor Hudson. Copyright © 2012 by Trevor Hudson. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pick a week to practice the nightly review.
Today’s Scripture:
I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory about to be revealed to us. [Romans 8:18, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities.

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "Pray Without Ceasing" for Thursday, 20 July 2017
Today’s Reflection:
SAINT PAUL SPEAKS OF praying “without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).
It is not as hard as it sounds, really. You merely learn to be aware of God’s presence with you all the time, whatever you are doing.
A friend who commutes to work says that he sits and communes with God every time he stops at a traffic light. You can do it every time you open the refrigerator. Or when you brush your teeth.
The point is simply to turn your thoughts toward God at many specific times each day.
One way to do this is to practice remembering God when you are performing one specific action all week. When you are making the bed, for instance. Or setting the table. Or checking your mail. Or walking to school. Then, for the next week, pick another action. [John Killinger, Beginning Prayer]
From page 16 of Beginning Prayer by John Killinger. Copyright © 2012 by John Killinger. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
What do you think Paul meant when he wrote “pray without ceasing?”
Today’s Scripture:
For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. [Romans 8:14, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities.

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "My Life As a Poem" for Wednesday, 19 July 2017
Today’s Reflection:
ETERNAL ONE, revealed in waves and in the waiting stillness, teach me to rest, content in your love. Let my life be a poem that tells of your care, always ready to rise up on trusting wings and risk the wind. Amen. [Elizabeth J. Canham, Heart Whispers]
“From page 70 of Heart Whispers: Benedictine Wisdom for Today by Elizabeth J. Canham. Copyright © 1999 by Elizabeth J. Canham. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books.
” http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray today’s prayer. ETERNAL ONE, revealed in waves and in the waiting stillness, teach me to rest, content in your love. Let my life be a poem that tells of your care, always ready to rise up on trusting wings and risk the wind. Amen.
Today’s Scripture:
Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my thoughts. [Psalm 139:23, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities.

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "The Power of Powerlessness" for Tuesday, 18 July 2017
Today’s Reflection:
OUR SOCIETY places great value on power, which makes it difficult to relinquish. One of the hardest lessons for a follower of Christ is that visible power is not always the highest level of power. Judas never learned this lesson; he continued to goad Jesus into taking a political stance and could not understand why he chose not to do so. Both Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. recognized the power of powerlessness and used it in a potent way!
It feels better to be perceived as a powerful person than as ineffective or obsolete. The process of aging can make us feel that we have little control over our lives. Can you remember the most recent situation in which you felt powerless? What did it feel like? It is usually a frightening and frustrating experience. Yet Jesus promoted it throughout the Gospels. Here are some Gospel readings that support the strength of powerlessness:

• Matthew 5:3,5

Matthew 5:“How blessed are the poor in spirit!
    for the Kingdom of Heaven is theirs.,“How blessed are the meek!
    for they will inherit the Land![Matthew 5:5 Psalm 37:11]

• John 21:17-19

John 21:17 The third time he said to him, “Shim‘on Bar-Yochanan, are you my friend?” Shim‘on was hurt that he questioned him a third time: “Are you my friend?” So he replied, “Lord, you know everything! You know I’m your friend!” Yeshua said to him, “Feed my sheep! 18 Yes, indeed! I tell you, when you were younger, you put on your clothes and went where you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and carry you where you do not want to go.” 19 He said this to indicate the kind of death by which Kefa would bring glory to God. Then Yeshua said to him, “Follow me!” [Jane Marie Thibault, 10 Gospel Promises for Later Life]
From pages 52-53 of 10 Gospel Promises for Later Life by Jane Marie Thibault. Copyright © 2004 by Jane Marie Thibault. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
What is your understanding of the power of powerlessness?
Today’s Scripture:
O LORD, you have searched me and known me. [Psalm 139:1, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities

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The Upper Room Daily Reflections "Fill Me with Your Grace" for Monday, 17 July 2017

Today’s Reflection:

YOURS THE SEED, yours the growth;
yours the water, yours the thirst;
yours the wild, yours the tame.
You are within me, O God,
and within all creation —
and you are beyond.
Shape and fill me this day
and all creation
with your grace. [Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation]
From page 67 of Earth Gospel: A Guide to Prayer for God’s Creation by Sam Hamilton-Poore. Copyright © 2008 by Sam Hamilton-Poore. All rights reserved. Used by permission of Upper Room Books. http://bookstore.upperroom.org/ Learn more about or purchase this book.
Today’s Question:
Pray today’s prayer. YOURS THE SEED, yours the growth;

yours the water, yours the thirst;
yours the wild, yours the tame.
You are within me, O God,
and within all creation —
and you are beyond.
Shape and fill me this day
and all creation

with your grace. Amen!
Today’s Scripture:
Then Jacob woke from his sleep and said, “Surely the LORD is in this place–and I did not know it!” [Genesis 28:16, NRSV]
This Week: pray for unity within communities.
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Did You Know?
In need of prayer? The Upper Room Living Prayer Center is a 7-day-a-week intercessory prayer ministry staffed by trained volunteers. Call 1-800-251-2468 or visit The Living Prayer Center website.
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This week we remember: Dorothea Dix (July 18).
Dorothea Dix
July 18Dorothea Dix was born April 4, 1802 into an unstable family. 

Because of her own tumultuous childhood, Dorothea decided to become a teacher and opened a school for disadvantaged children. A siege of tuberculosis ended her teaching career.

She found spiritual solace in the Unitarian Church. In 1841 she volunteered to lead Bible study in a Cambridge prison. What she saw there changed her life. Mentally ill patients were locked up as common criminals. She was so moved by their suffering that she visited hundreds of towns in the next two years, recording the often-brutal conditions in which mentally-ill people lived. Armed with this data, Dix called for more humane treatment for the mentally ill. Eventually, Massachusetts passed a reform bill in 1843. Dix pressed the issue in other states. She founded or improved over thirty hospitals and also traveled abroad to push reform in other nations.
During the Civil War, Dorothea Dix worked as Superintendent of Nurses, then returned to the reform work about which she was so passionate. She finally retired from public service when she was 79 and died on July 18, 1887.
If Dorothea Dix had taken the Spiritual Types Test, she probably would have been a Prophet. Dorothea Dix is remembered on July 18.
U.S. Library of Congress DIX, DOROTHEA LYNDE. Retouched photograph. [No date found on item.] Location: Biographical File Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-9797

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The Lectionary Readings
Sunday, 23 July 2017
(Courtesy of Vanderbilt Divinity Library)
Genesis 28:10-19a
Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24
Romans 8:12-25
Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43
Scripture Texts: Genesis 28:10 Ya‘akov went out from Be’er-Sheva and traveled toward Haran. 11 He came to a certain place and stayed the night there, because the sun had set. He took a stone from the place, put it under his head and lay down there to sleep. 12 He dreamt that there before him was a ladder resting on the ground with its top reaching to heaven, and the angels of Adonai were going up and down on it. 13 Then suddenly Adonai was standing there next to him; and he said, “I am Adonai, the God of Avraham your [grand]father and the God of Yitz’chak. The land on which you are lying I will give to you and to your descendants. 14 Your descendants will be as numerous as the grains of dust on the earth. You will expand to the west and to the east, to the north and to the south. By you and your descendants all the families of the earth will be blessed. 15 Look, I am with you. I will guard you wherever you go, and I will bring you back into this land, because I won’t leave you until I have done what I have promised you.”

16 Ya‘akov awoke from his sleep and said, “Truly, Adonai is in this place — and I didn’t know it!” 17 Then he became afraid and said, “This place is fearsome! This has to be the house of God! This is the gate of heaven!” 18 Ya‘akov got up early in the morning, took the stone he had put under his head, set it up as a standing-stone, poured olive oil on its top 19 and named the place Beit-El [house of God]; but the town had originally been called Luz.

Psalm 139:1 (0) For the leader. A psalm of David:

(1) Adonai, you have probed me, and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I stand up,

you discern my inclinations from afar,

3 you scrutinize my daily activities.

You are so familiar with all my ways

4 that before I speak even a word, Adonai,

you know all about it already.

5 You have hemmed me in both behind and in front

and laid your hand on me.

6 Such wonderful knowledge is beyond me,

far too high for me to reach.

7 Where can I go to escape your Spirit?

Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I climb up to heaven, you are there;

if I lie down in Sh’ol, you are there.

9 If I fly away with the wings of the dawn

and land beyond the sea,

10 even there your hand would lead me,

your right hand would hold me fast.

11 If I say, “Let darkness surround me,

let the light around me be night,”

12 even darkness like this

is not too dark for you;

rather, night is as clear as day,

darkness and light are the same.
, 23 Examine me, God, and know my heart;

test me, and know my thoughts.

24 See if there is in me any hurtful way,

and lead me along the eternal way.

Romans 8:12 So then, brothers, we don’t owe a thing to our old nature that would require us to live according to our old nature. 13 For if you live according to your old nature, you will certainly die; but if, by the Spirit, you keep putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.

14 All who are led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. 15 For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to bring you back again into fear; on the contrary, you received the Spirit, who makes us sons and by whose power we cry out, “Abba!” (that is, “Dear Father!”). 16 The Spirit himself bears witness with our own spirits that we are children of God; 17 and if we are children, then we are also heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with the Messiah — provided we are suffering with him in order also to be glorified with him.

18 I don’t think the sufferings we are going through now are even worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed to us in the future. 19 The creation waits eagerly for the sons of God to be revealed; 20 for the creation was made subject to frustration — not willingly, but because of the one who subjected it. But it was given a reliable hope 21 that it too would be set free from its bondage to decay and would enjoy the freedom accompanying the glory that God’s children will have. 22 We know that until now, the whole creation has been groaning as with the pains of childbirth; 23 and not only it, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we continue waiting eagerly to be made sons — that is, to have our whole bodies redeemed and set free. 24 It was in this hope that we were saved. But if we see what we hope for, it isn’t hope — after all, who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we continue hoping for something we don’t see, then we still wait eagerly for it, with perseverance.

Matthew 13:24 Yeshua put before them another parable. “The Kingdom of Heaven is like a man who sowed good seed in his field; 25 but while people were sleeping, his enemy came and sowed weeds among the wheat, then went away. 26 When the wheat sprouted and formed heads of grain, the weeds also appeared. 27 The owner’s servants came to him and said, ‘Sir didn’t you sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ 28 He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ The servants asked him, ‘Then do you want us to go and pull them up?’ 29 But he said, ‘No, because if you pull up the weeds, you might uproot some of the wheat at the same time. 30 Let them both grow together until the harvest; and at harvest-time I will tell the reapers to collect the weeds first and tie them in bundles to be burned, but to gather the wheat into my barn.’”, 36 Then he left the crowds and went into the house. His talmidim approached him and said, “Explain to us the parable of the weeds in the field.” 37 He answered, “The one who sows the good seed is the Son of Man; 38 the field is the world. As for the good seed, these are the people who belong to the Kingdom; and the weeds are the people who belong to the Evil One. 39 The enemy who sows them is the Adversary, the harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels. 40 Just as the weeds are collected and burned up in the fire, so will it be at the end of the age. 41 The Son of Man will send forth his angels, and they will collect out of his Kingdom all the things that cause people to sin and all the people who are far from Torah; 42 and they will throw them into the fiery furnace, where people will wail and grind their teeth. 43 Then the righteous will shine forth like the sun in the Kingdom of their Father. Whoever has ears, let him hear!

John Wesley's Notes-Commentary: Genesis 28:10-19a

Verse 11

[11] And he lighted upon a certain place, and tarried there all night, because the sun was set; and he took of the stones of that place, and put them for his pillows, and lay down in that place to sleep.

The stones for his pillow, and the heavens for his canopy! Yet his comfort in the divine blessing, and his confidence in the divine protection, made him easy, even when he lay thus exposed: being sure that his God made him to dwell in safety, he could lie down and sleep upon a stone.

Verse 12

[12] And he dreamed, and behold a ladder set up on the earth, and the top of it reached to heaven: and behold the angels of God ascending and descending on it.

Behold a ladder set upon the earth, and the top of it reached heaven, the angels ascending and descending on it, and the Lord stood above it — This might represent 1. The providence of God, by which there is a constant correspondence kept up between heaven and earth. The counsels of heaven are executed on earth, and the affairs of this earth are all known in heaven. Providence doth his work gradually and by steps; angels are employed as ministering spirits to serve all the designs of providence, and the wisdom of God is at the upper end of the ladder, directing all the motions of second causes to his glory. The angels are active spirits, continually ascending and descending; they rest not day nor night. They ascend to give account of what they have done, and to receive orders; and desend to execute the orders they have received. This vision gave seasonable comfort to Jacob, letting him know that he had both a good guide and good guard; that though he was to wander from his father's house, yet he was the care of Providence, and the charge of the holy angels. 2. The mediation of Christ. He is this ladder: the foot on earth in his human nature, the top in heaven in his divine nature; or the former is his humiliation, the latter is his exaltation. All the intercourse between heaven and earth since the fall is by this ladder. Christ is the way: all God's favours come to us, and all our services come to him, by Christ. If God dwell with us, and we with him, it is by Christ: we have no way of getting to heaven but by this ladder; for the kind offices the angels do us, are all owing to Christ, who hath reconciled things on earth and things in heaven, Colossians 1:20.

Verse 14

[14] And thy seed shall be as the dust of the earth, and thou shalt spread abroad to the west, and to the east, and to the north, and to the south: and in thee and in thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed.

In thy seed shall all the families of the earth be blessed — Christ is the great blessing of the world: all that are blessed, whatever family they are of, are blessed in him, and none of any family are excluded from blessedness in him, but those that exclude themselves.

Verse 15

[15] And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of.

Behold I am with thee — Wherever we are, we are safe, if we have God's favourable presence with us. He knew not, but God foresaw what hardships he would meet with in his uncle's service, and therefore promiseth to preserve him in all places. God knows how to give his people graces and comforts accommodated to the events that shall be, as well as to those that are. He was now going as an exile into a place far distant, but God promiseth him to bring him again to this land. He seemed to be forsaken of all his friends, but God gives him this assurance, I will not leave thee.

Verse 16

[16] And Jacob awaked out of his sleep, and he said, Surely the LORD is in this place; and I knew it not.

Surely the Lord is in this place, and I knew it not — God's manifestations of himself to his people carry their own evidence along with them. God can give undeniable demonstrations of his presence, such as give abundant satisfaction to the souls of the faithful, that God is with them of a truth; satisfaction not communicable to others, but convincing to themselves. We sometimes meet with God there, where we little thought of meeting with him. He is there where we did not think he had been, is found there where we asked not for him.

Verse 17

[17] And he was afraid, and said, How dreadful is this place! this is none other but the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.

He was afraid — So far was he from being puffed up. The more we see of God, the more cause we see for holy trembling and blushing before him. Those whom God is pleased to manifest himself to, are laid and kept very low in their own eyes, and see cause to fear even the Lord and his goodness, Hosea 3:5.

And said, How dreadful is this place! — That is, the appearance of God in this place is to be thought of, but with a holy awe and reverence; I shall have a respect for this place, and remember it by this token as long as I live. Not that he thought the place itself any nearer the divine visions than any other places; but what he saw there at this time was, as it were, the house of God, the residence of the Divine Majesty, and the gate of heaven, that is, the general rendezvous of the inhabitants of the upper world; as the meetings of a city were in their gates; or, the angels ascending and descending were like travellers passing and repassing through the gates of a city.

Verse 18

[18] And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it.

He set up the stone for a pillar — To mark the place again, if he came back, and erect a lasting monument of God's favour to him: and because he had not time now to build an altar here, as Abraham did in the places where God appeared to him, Genesis 12:7, he therefore poured oil on the top of this stone, which probably was the ceremony then used in dedicating their altars, as an earnest of his building an altar when he should have conveniencies for it, as afterwards he did, in gratitude to God, Genesis 35:7. Grants of mercy call for our returns of duty and the sweet communion we have with God ought ever to be remembered.

Verse 19

[19] And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first.

It had been called Luz, an almond-tree, but he will have it henceforth called Beth-el, the house of God. This gracious appearance of God to him made it more remarkable than all the almond-trees that flourished there.

Psalm 139:1-12, 23-24

Verse 2

[2] Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.

Afar off — Thou knowest what my thoughts will be in such and such circumstances, long before I know it, yea from all eternity.

Verse 3

[3] Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.

Compassest — Thou discernest every step I take. It is a metaphor from soldiers besieging their enemies, and setting watches round about them.

Verse 5

[5] Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.

Beset me — With thy all-seeing providence.

And laid — Thou keepest me, as it were with a strong hand, in thy sight and under thy power.

Verse 6

[6] Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.

I cannot — Apprehend in what manner thou dost so presently know all things.

Verse 8

[8] If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.

Hell — If I could hide myself in the lowest parts of the earth.

Verse 9

[9] If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;

The wings — If I should flee from east to west: for the sea being the western border of Canaan, is often put for the west in scripture. And wings are poetically ascribed to the morning here, as they are elsewhere to the sun, and to the winds.

Romans 8:12-25

Verse 12

[12] Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh.

We are not debtors to the flesh — We ought not to follow it.

Verse 13

[13] For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

The deeds of the flesh — Not only evil actions, but evil desires, tempers, thoughts.

If ye mortify — Kill, destroy these.

Ye shall live — The life of faith more abundantly here, and hereafter the life of glory.

Verse 14

[14] For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God.

For as many as are led by the Spirit of God — In all the ways of righteousness.

They are the sons of God — Here St. Paul enters upon the description of those blessings which he comprises, Romans 8:30, in the word glorified; though, indeed, he does not describe mere glory, but that which is still mingled with the cross. The sum is, through sufferings to glory.

Verse 15

[15] For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father.

For ye — Who are real Christians.

Have not received the spirit of bondage — The Holy Ghost was not properly a spirit of bondage, even in the time of the Old Testament. Yet there was something of bondage remaining even in those who then had received the Spirit.

Again — As the Jews did before.

We — All and every believer.

Cry — The word denotes a vehement speaking, with desire, confidence, constancy.

Abba, Father — The latter word explains the former. By using both the Syriac and the Greek word, St. Paul seems to point out the joint cry both of the Jewish and gentile believers. The spirit of bondage here seems directly to mean, those operations of the Holy Spirit by which the soul, on its first conviction, feels itself in bondage to sin, to the world, to Satan, and obnoxious to the wrath of God. This, therefore, and the Spirit of adoption, are one and the same Spirit, only manifesting itself in various operations, according to the various circumstances of the persons.

Verse 16

[16] The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God:

The same Spirit beareth witness with our spirit — With the spirit of every true believer, by a testimony distinct from that of his own spirit, or the testimony of a good conscience. Happy they who enjoy this clear and constant.

Verse 17

[17] And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.

Joint heirs — That we may know it is a great inheritance which God will give us for he hath given a great one to his Son.

If we suffer with him — Willingly and cheerfully, for righteousness' sake. This is a new proposition, referring to what follows.

Verse 18

[18] For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

For I reckon — This verse gives the reason why he but now mentioned sufferings and glory. When that glory "shall be revealed in us," then the sons of God will be revealed also.

Verse 19

[19] For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God.

For the earnest expectation — The word denotes a lively hope of something drawing near, and a vehement longing after it.

Of the creation — Of all visible creatures, believers excepted, who are spoken of apart; each kind, according as it is capable. All these have been sufferers through sin; and to all these (the finally impenitent excepted) shall refreshment redound from the glory of the children of God. Upright heathens are by no means to be excluded from this earnest expectation: nay, perhaps something of it may at some times be found even in the vainest of men; who (although in the hurry of life they mistake vanity for liberty, and partly stifle. partly dissemble, their groans, yet) in their sober, quiet, sleepless, afflicted hours, pour forth many sighs in the ear of God.

Verse 20

[20] For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,

The creation was made subject to vanity — Abuse, misery, and corruption.

By him who subjected it — Namely, God, Genesis 3:17; 5:29. Adam only made it liable to the sentence which God pronounced; yet not without hope.

Verse 21

[21] Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.

The creation itself shall be delivered — Destruction is not deliverance: therefore whatsoever is destroyed, or ceases to be, is not delivered at all. Will, then, any part of the creation be destroyed? Into the glorious liberty - The excellent state wherein they were created.

Verse 22

[22] For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

For the whole creation groaneth together — With joint groans, as it were with one voice.

And travaileth — Literally, is in the pains of childbirth, to be delivered of the burden of the curse.

Until now — To this very hour; and so on till the time of deliverance.

Verse 23

[23] And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.

And even we, who have the first-fruits of the Spirit — That is, the Spirit, who is the first-fruits of our inheritance.

The adoption — Persons who had been privately adopted among the Romans were often brought forth into the forum, and there publicly owned as their sons by those who adopted them. So at the general resurrection, when the body itself is redeemed from death, the sons of God shall be publicly owned by him in the great assembly of men and angels.

The redemption of our body — From corruption to glory and immortality.

Verse 24

[24] For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

For we are saved by hope — Our salvation is now only in hope. We do not yet possess this full salvation.

Matthew 13:24-30, 36-43

Verse 24

[24] Another parable put he forth unto them, saying, The kingdom of heaven is likened unto a man which sowed good seed in his field:

He proposed another parable — in which he farther explains the case of unfruitful hearers. The kingdom of heaven (as has been observed before) sometimes signifies eternal glory: sometimes the way to it, inward religion; sometimes, as here, the Gospel dispensation: the phrase is likewise used for a person or thing relating to any one of those: so in this place it means, Christ preaching the Gospel, who is like a man sowing good seed - The expression, is like, both here and in several other places, only means, that the thing spoken of may be illustrated by the following similitude.

Who sowed good seed in his field — God sowed nothing but good in his whole creation. Christ sowed only the good seed of truth in his Church.

Verse 25

[25] But while men slept, his enemy came and sowed tares among the wheat, and went his way.

But while men slept — They ought to have watched: the Lord of the field sleepeth not.

His enemy came and sowed darnel — This is very like wheat, and commonly grows among wheat rather than among other grain: but tares or vetches are of the pulse kind, and bear no resemblance to wheat.

Verse 26

[26] But when the blade was sprung up, and brought forth fruit, then appeared the tares also.

When the blade was sprung up, then appeared the darnel — It was not discerned before: it seldom appears, as soon as the good seed is sown: all at first appears to be peace, and love, and joy.

Verse 27

[27] So the servants of the householder came and said unto him, Sir, didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? from whence then hath it tares?

Didst not thou sow good seed in thy field? Whence then hath it darnel? — Not from the parent of good. Even the heathen could say, "No evil can from thee proceed: 'Tis only suffer'd, not decreed: As darkness is not from the sun, Nor mount the shades, till he is gone."

Verse 28

[28] He said unto them, An enemy hath done this. The servants said unto him, Wilt thou then that we go and gather them up?

He said, An enemy hath done this — A plain answer to the great question concerning the origin of evil. God made men (as he did angels) intelligent creatures, and consequently free either to choose good or evil: but he implanted no evil in the human soul: An enemy (with man's concurrence) hath done this. Darnel, in the Church, is properly outside Christians, such as have the form of godliness, without the power. Open sinners, such as have neither the form nor the power, are not so properly darnel, as thistles and brambles: these ought to be rooted up without delay, and not suffered in the Christian community. Whereas should fallible men attempt to gather up the darnel, they would often root up the wheat with them.

Verse 38

[38] The field is the world; the good seed are the children of the kingdom; but the tares are the children of the wicked one;

The good seed are the children of the kingdom — That is, the children of God, the righteous.

Verse 41

[41] The Son of man shall send forth his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all things that offend, and them which do iniquity;

They shall gather all things that offend — Whatever had hindered or grieved the children of God; whatever things or persons had hindered the good seed which Christ had sown from taking root or bearing fruit. The Greek word is, All scandals.

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