"This chapter appoints the offerings that were to be made by fire unto the Lord in the three great solemnities of the seventh month. I. In the feast of trumpets on the first day of that month (v. 1-6). II. In the day of atonement on the tenth day (v. 7-11). III. In the feast of tabernacles on the fifteenth day and the seven days following (v. 12-38). And then the conclusion of these ordinances (v. 39, v. 40)."
On Numbers 30,
"In this chapter we have a law concerning vows, which had been mentioned in the close of the foregoing chapter. I. Here is a general rule laid down that all vows must be carefully performed (v. 1, v. 2). II. Some particular exceptions to this rule. 1. That the vows of daughters should not be binding unless allowed by the father (v. 3-5). Nor, 2. The vows of wives unless allowed by the husband (v. 6, etc.)."
Henry writes about the Book of Jude,
"We have here, I. An account of the penman of this epistle, a character of the church, the blessings and privileges of that happy society (v. 1, v. 2). II. The occasion of writing this epistle (v. 3). III. A character of evil and perverse men, who had already sprung up in that infant state of the church, and would be succeeded by others of the like evil spirit and temper in after-times (v. 4). IV. A caution against hearkening to and following after such, from the severity of God towards the unbelieving murmuring Israelites at their coming out of Egypt, the angels that fell, the sin and punishment of Sodom and Gomorrah (v. 5-7). V. To these the apostle likens the seducers against whom he was warning them, and describes them at large, (v. 8to. 10, , inclusive). VI. Then (as specially suitable to his argument) he cites an ancient prophecy of Enoch foretelling and describing the future judgment (v. 14, v. 15). VII. He enlarges on the seducers’ character, and guards against the offence which honest minds might be apt to take at the so early permission of such things, by showing that it was foretold long before that so it must be (v. 16-19). VIII. Exhorts them to perseverance in the faith, fervency in prayer, watchfulness against falling from the love of God, and a lively hope of eternal life (v. 20, v. 21). IX. Directs them how to act towards the erroneous and scandalous (v. 22, v. 23). And, X. Closes with an admirable doxology in the last two verses."
I find this repeating pattern of humble characters,
Observe, (1.) It is really a greater honour to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ than to be akin to him according to the flesh. Many of Christ’s natural kindred, as well as of his progenitors, perished; not from want of natural affection in him as man, but from infidelity and obstinacy in themselves, which should make the descendants and near relatives of persons most eminent for sincere and exemplary piety jealous over themselves with a godly jealousy. A son of Noah may be saved in the ark from a flood of temporal destruction, and yet be overwhelmed at last in a deluge of divine wrath, and suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. Christ himself tells us that he that heareth his word and doeth it (that is, he only) is as his brother, and sister, and mother, that is, more honourably and advantageously related to him than the nearest and dearest of his natural relatives, considered merely as such. See Mt. 12:48-50 . (2.) In that the apostle Jude styles himself a servant, though an apostle, a dignified officer in Christ’s kingdom, it is a great honour to the meanest sincere minister (and it holds proportionably as to every upright Christian) that he is the servant of Christ Jesus. The apostles were servants before they were apostles, and they were but servants still. Away then with all pretensions in the ministers of Christ to lordly dominion either over one another or over the flocks committed to their charge.
No comments:
Post a Comment