Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
Revelation 3
Verse 1. The seven spirits of God - The Holy Spirit, from whom alone
all spiritual life and strength proceed. And the seven stars - which
are subordinate to him. Thou hast a name that thou livest - A fair
reputation, a goodly outside appearance. But that Spirit seeth
through all things, and every empty appearance vanishes before
him.
Verse
2. The things which remain - In thy soul; knowledge of the truth,
good desires, and convictions. Which were ready to die -
Wherever pride, indolence, or levity revives, all the fruits of the
Spirit are ready to die.
Verse
3. Remember how - Humbly, zealously, seriously. Thou didst
receive the grace of God once, and hear - His word. And hold fast
- The grace thou hast received. And repent - According to the
word thou hast heard.
Verse
4. Yet thou hast a few names - That is, persons. But though few,
they had not separated themselves from the rest; otherwise, the
angel of Sardis would not have had them. Yet it was no virtue of
his, that they were unspotted; whereas it was his fault that they
were but few. Who have not defiled their garments - Either by
spotting themselves, or by partaking of other men's sins. They
shall walk with me in white - in joy; in perfect holiness; in glory.
They are worthy - A few good among many bad are doubly
acceptable to God. O how much happier is this worthiness than
that mentioned, chap. xvi, 6.
Verse
5. He shall be clothed in white raiment - The colour of victory,
joy, and triumph. And I will not blot his name out of the book of
life - Like that of the angel of the church at Sardis: but he shall
live for ever. I will confess his name - As one of my faithful
servants and soldiers.
Verse
7. The holy one, the true one - Two great and glorious names He
that hath the key of David - A master of a family, or a prince, has
one or more keys, wherewith he can open and shut all the doors of
his house or palace. So had David a key, a token of right and
sovereignty, which was afterward adjudged to Eliakim, Isaiah
xxii, 22. Much more has Christ, the Son of David, the key of the
spiritual city of David, the New Jerusalem; the supreme right,
power, and authority, as in his own house. He openeth this to all
that overcome, and none shutteth: he shutteth it against all the
fearful, and none openeth. Likewise when he openeth a door on
earth for his works or his servants, none can shut; and when he
shutteth against whatever would hurt or defile, none can open.
Verse
8. I have given before thee an opened door - To enter into the joy
of thy Lord; and, meantime, to go on unhindered in every good
work. Thou hast a little strength - But little outward human
strength; a little, poor, mean, despicable company. Yet thou hast
kept my word - Both in judgment and practice.
Verse
9. Behold, I - who have all power; and they must then comply. I
will make them come and bow down before thy feet - Pay thee the
lowest homage. And know - At length, that all depends on my
love, and that thou hast a place therein. O how often does the
judgment of the people turn quite round, when the Lord looketh
upon them! Job xlii, 7, &c.
Verse
10. Because thou hast kept the word of my patience - The word of
Christ is indeed a word of patience. I also will keep thee - O
happy exemption from that spreading calamity! From the hour of
temptation - So that thou shalt not enter into temptation; but it
shall pass over thee. The hour denotes the short time of its
continuance; that is, at any one place. At every one it was very
sharp, though short; wherein the great tempter was not idle, chap.
ii, 10. Which hour shall come upon the whole earth - The whole
Roman empire. It went over the Christians, and over the Jews and
heathens; though in a very different manner. This was the time of
the persecution under the seemingly virtuous emperor Trajan. The
two preceding persecutions were under those monsters, Nero and
Domitian; but Trajan was so admired for his goodness, and his
persecution was of such a nature, that it was a temptation indeed,
and did throughly try them that dwelt upon the earth.
Verse
11. Thy crown - Which is ready for thee, if thou endure to the end.
Verse
12. I will make him a pillar in the temple of my God - I will fix
him as beautiful, as useful, and as immovable as a pillar in the
church of God. And he shall go out no more - But shall be holy
and happy for ever. And I will write upon him the name of my
God - So that the nature and image of God shall appear visibly
upon him. And the name of the city of my God - Giving him a
title to dwell in the New Jerusalem. And my new name - A share
in that joy which I entered into, after overcoming all my enemies.
Verse
14. To the angel of the church at Laodicea - For these St. Paul had
had a great concern, Colossians ii, 1. These things saith the Amen
- That is, the True One, the God of truth. The beginning - The
Author, Prince, and Ruler. Of the creation of God - Of all
creatures; the beginning, or Author, by whom God made them all.
Verse
15. I know thy works - Thy disposition and behaviour, though
thou knowest it not thyself. That thou art neither cold - An utter
stranger to the things of God, having no care or thought about
them. Nor hot - As boiling water: so ought we to be penetrated
and heated by the fire of love. O that thou wert - This wish of our
Lord plainly implies that he does not work on us irresistibly, as
the fire does on the water which it heats. Cold or hot - Even if
thou wert cold, without any thought or profession of religion,
there would be more hope of thy recovery.
Verse
16. So because thou art lukewarm - The effect of lukewarm water
is well known. I am about to spue thee out of my mouth - I will
utterly cast thee from me; that is, unless thou repent.
Verse
17. Because thou sayest - Therefore "I counsel thee," &c. I am
rich - In gifts and grace, as well as worldly goods. And knowest
not that thou art - In God's account, wretched and pitiable.
Verse
18. I counsel thee - who art poor, and blind, and naked. To buy of
me - Without money or price. Gold purified in the fire - True,
living faith, which is purified in the furnace of affliction. And
white raiment - True holiness. And eyesalve - Spiritual
illumination; the "unction of the Holy One," which teacheth all
things.
Verse
19. Whomsoever I love - Even thee, thou poor Laodicean! O how
much has his unwearied love to do! I rebuke - For what is past.
And chasten - That they may amend for the time to come.
Verse
20. I stand at the door, and knock - Even at this instant; while he
is speaking this word. If any man open - Willingly receive me. I
will sup with him - Refreshing him with my graces and gifts, and
delighting myself in what I have given. And he with me - In life
everlasting.
Verse
21. I will give him to sit with me on my throne - In unspeakable
happiness and glory. Elsewhere, heaven itself is termed the throne
of God: but this throne is in heaven.
Verse
22. He that hath an ear, let him hear, &c. - This stands in the three
former letters before the promise; in the four latter, after it; clearly
dividing the seven into two parts; the first containing three, the
last, four letters. The titles given our Lord in the three former
letters peculiarly respect his power after his resurrection and
ascension, particularly over his church; those in the four latter, his
divine glory, and unity with the Father and the Holy Spirit. Again,
this word being placed before the promises in the three former
letters, excludes the false apostles at Ephesus, the false Jews at
Smyrna, and the partakers with the heathens at Pergamos, from
having any share therein. In the four latter, being placed after
them, it leaves the promises immediately joined with Christ's
address to the angel of the church, to show that the fulfilling of
these was near; whereas the others reach beyond the end of the
world. It should be observed, that the overcoming, or victory, (to
which alone these peculiar promises are annexed,) is not the
ordinary victory obtained by every believer; but a special victory
over great and peculiar temptations, by those that are strong in
faith.
Chapter 3:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Johnson
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| McGee
| Wesley
| Index
| Bible Gateway |
Introduction 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 Jude Genesis
This version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible is a derivative of an electronic version, Copyright 1997, by Sulu D. Kelley. All rights reserved. Used by permission. It may not be modified or used commercially without permission of Wesleyan Heritage Publishing and Sulu Kelley. A special thanks to Mr. Kelley and Wesleyan Heritage Publishing for permission to create and post this version of Wesley's Notes on the Bible.
Genesis
Exodus
Leviticus
Numbers
Deuteronomy
Joshua
Judges
Ruth
1 Samuel
2 Samuel
1 Kings
2 Kings
1 Chronicles
2 Chronicles
Ezra
Nehemiah
Esther
Job
Psalm
Proverbs
Ecclesiastes
Song of Solomon
Isaiah
Jeremiah
Lamentations
Ezekiel
Daniel
Hosea
Joel
Amos
Obadiah
Jonah
Micah
Nahum
Habakkuk
Zephaniah
Haggai
Zechariah
Malachi
Matthew
Mark
Luke
John
Acts
Romans
1 Corinthians
2 Corinthians
Galatians
Ephesians
Philippians
Colossians
1 Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians
1 Timothy
2 Timothy
Titus
Philemon
Hebrews
James
1 Peter
2 Peter
1 John
2 John
3 John
Jude
Revelation
