Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Bible

Chapter 3 Chapter Outline John the Baptist, His preaching, manner of (1–6) life, and baptism. John reproves the Pharisees and Sa ...

To make application to the souls of the hearers, is the life of preaching; so it was of John's preaching. The Pharisees laid the ...

Our Lord Jesus looked upon it as well becoming him to fulfil all righteousness, to own every Divine institution, and to show his ...

scene of his assaults. Let us not, in any place, be off our watch. The holy city is the place, where he does, with the greatest ...

to ask ourselves; and, next to that, Am I in my calling? They had followed Christ before, as common disciples, Joh 1:37; now the ...

Our Saviour here gives eight characters of blessed people, which represent to us the principal graces of a Christian. 1. The poo ...

Verses 17–20 Let none suppose that Christ allows his people to trifle with any commands of God's holy law. No sinner partakes of ...

There is no reason to consider that solemn oaths in a court of justice, or on other proper occasions, are wrong, provided they a ...

Verses 1–4 Our Lord next warned against hypocrisy and outward show in religious duties. What we do, must be done from an inward ...

beholden to the mercy of God for their daily bread. We pray, Give it to us. This teaches us a compassion for the poor. Also that ...

they are in a good hand. Not about the comforts of this life; but leave it to God to make it bitter or sweet as he pleases. Food ...

his eye, and not consider it; but the god of this world blinds their minds. Here is a good rule for reprovers; first reform thys ...

Verses 15–20 Nothing so much prevents men from entering the strait gate, and becoming true followers of Christ, as the carnal, s ...

He heals two possessed with devils. (28–34) Verse 1 This verse refers to the close of the foregoing sermon. Those to whom Christ ...

with him in his family, which is an example to be kind to our relations. In spiritual healing, the Scripture speaks the word, th ...

were astonished. They never saw a storm so turned at once into a perfect calm. He that can do this, can do any thing, which enco ...

Verses 1–8 The faith of the friends of the paralytic in bringing him to Christ, was a strong faith; they firmly believed that Je ...

to come among them. Let us examine whether we have found out our sickness, and have learned to follow the directions of our grea ...

of God, have lost their bodily sight, may, by the grace of God, have the eyes of their understanding fully enlightened. And what ...

Directions to the apostles. (16–42) Verses 1–4 The word “apostle” signifies messenger; they were Christ's messengers, sent forth ...