Mar 5:34, Luk 1:79, 2:14, 19:38, Joh 14:27, 16:33 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 34. Daughter . A word of kindness, tending to inspire confidence, and to dissipate her fears. Be whole . That is, continue to be whole; for she was already cured. Of thy plague . Thy disease; literally, thy scourge . So a word from Jesus heals the moral malady of the sinner. (m) "faith hath made" (n) "go in peace"

Mark 5:34

Verse 34. Daughter. A word of kindness, tending to inspire confidence, and to dissipate her fears.

Be whole. That is, continue to be whole; for she was already cured.

Of thy plague. Thy disease; literally, thy scourge. So a word from Jesus heals the moral malady of the sinner.

(m) "faith hath made" Mk 10:52, Acts 14:9 (n) "go in peace" 1Sam 1:17, 20:42, 2Kgs 5:19

Luke 1:79

Verse 79. To give light (w) , &c.

Mt 4:16, guide our feet, &c. The figure in these verses is taken from travellers, who, being overtaken by night, know not what to do, and who wait patiently for the morning light, that they may know which way to go. So man wandered. So he became benighted. So he sat in the shadow of death. So he knew not which way to go until the Sun of righteousness arose, and then the light shone brightly on his way, and the road was open to the promised land of rest--to heaven.

This song of Zacharias is exceedingly beautiful. It expresses with elegance the great points of the plan of redemption, and the mercy of God in providing that plan. That mercy is great. It is worthy of praise--of our highest, loftiest songs of thanksgiving; for we were in the shadow of death--sinful, wretched, wandering--and the light arose, the gospel came, and men may rejoice in hope of eternal life.

(w) Isa 9:2, 49:9

Luke 2:14

Verse 14. Glory to God. Praise be to God, or honour be to God. That is, the praise of redeeming man is due to God. The plan of redemption will bring glory to God, and is designed to express his glory. This it does by evincing his love to men, his mercy, his condescension, and his regard to the honour of his law and the stability of his own government. It is the highest expression of his love and mercy. Nowhere, so far as we can see, could his glory be more strikingly exhibited than in giving his only-begotten Son to die for men.

In the highest. This is capable of several meanings:

1st. In the highest strains, or in the highest possible manner.

2nd. Among the highest--that is, among the angels of God; indicating that they felt a deep interest in this work, and were called on to praise God for the redemption of man.

3rd. In the highest heavens --indicating that the praise of redemption should not be confined to the earth, but should spread throughout the universe.

4th. The words "God in the highest" may be equivalent to the most high God, and be the same as saying, "Let the most high God be praised for his love and mercy to men." Which of these meanings is the true one it is difficult to determine; but in this they all agree, that high praise is to be given to God for his love in redeeming men. O that not only angels, but men, would join universally in this song of praise!

On earth peace (d). That is, the gospel will bring peace. The Saviour was predicted as the Prince of peace, Isa 9:6. The world is at war with God; sinners are at enmity against their Maker and against each other. There is no peace to the wicked. But Jesus came to make peace; and this he did,

1st. By reconciling the world to God by his atonement.

2nd. By bringing the sinner to a state of peace with his Maker; inducing him to lay down the weapons of rebellion and to submit his soul to God, thus giving him the peace which passeth all understanding.

3rd. By diffusing in the heart universal good-will to men--disposing men to lay aside their differences, to love one another, to seek each other's welfare, and to banish envy, malice, pride, lust, passion, and covetousness --in all ages the most fruitful causes of difference among men. And,

4th. By diffusing the principles of universal peace among nations. If the gospel of Jesus should universally prevail, there would be an end of war. In the days of the millennium there will be universal peace; all the causes of war will have ceased; men will love each other and do justly; all nations will be brought under the influence of the gospel. O how should each one toil and pray that the great object of the gospel should be universally accomplished, and the world be filled with peace!

Good will toward men. The gift of the Saviour is an expression of good-will or love to men, and therefore God is to be praised. The work of redemption is uniformly represented as the fruit of the love of God, Jn 3:16, Eph 5:2, 1Jn 4:10, Rev 1:5. No words can express the greatness of that love. It can only be measured by the misery, helplessness, and danger of man; by the extent of his sufferings here and in the world of woe if he had not been saved; by the condescension, sufferings, and death of Jesus; and by the eternal honour and happiness to which he will raise his people. All these are beyond our full comprehension. Yet how little does man feel it! and how many turn away from the highest love of God, and treat the expression of that love with contempt! Surely, if God so loved us first, we ought also to love him, 1Jn 4:19.

(d) Is 57:19

Luke 19:38

Verses 28-39. Mt 21:1, also Mt 21:2-16

(x) "Blessed be the king" Ps 118:26, Lk 13:35 (y) "peace in heaven" Lk 2:14

John 14:27

Verse 27. Peace I leave with you. This was a common form of benediction among the Jews. Mt 10:13. It is the invocation of the blessings of peace and happiness. In this place it was, however, much more than a mere form or an empty wish. It came from Him who had power to make peace and to confer it on all, Eph 2:15. It refers here particularly to the consolations which he gave to his disciples in view of his approaching death. He had exhorted them not to be troubled (Jn 14:1), and he had stated reasons why they should not be. He explained to them why he was about to leave them; he promised them that he would return; he assured them that the Holy Ghost would come to comfort, teach, and guide them. By all these truths and promises he provided for their peace in the time of his approaching departure. But the expression refers also, doubtless, to the peace which is given to all who love the Saviour. They are by nature enmity against God, Rom 7:7. Their minds are like the troubled sea, which cannot rest, whose waters cast up mire and dirt, Isa 57:20. They were at war with conscience, with the law and perfections of God, and with all the truths of religion. Their state after conversion is described as a state of peace. They are reconciled to God; they acquiesce in all his claims; and they have a joy which the world knows not in the word, the promises, the law, and the perfections of God, in the plan of salvation, and in the hopes of eternal life. See Rom 1:7, 5:1, 8:6, 14:7, Gal 5:22, Eph 2:17, 6:15, Php 4:7, Col 3:15.

My peace. Such as I only can impart. The peculiar peace which my religion is fitted to impart.

Not as the world.

1st. Not as the objects which men commonly pursue-- pleasure, fame, wealth. They leave care, anxiety, remorse. They do not meet the desires of the immortal mind, and they are incapable of affording that peace which the soul needs.

2nd. Not as the men of the world give. They salute you with empty and flattering words, but their professed friendship is often feigned and has no sincerity. You cannot be sure that they are sincere, but I am.

3rd. Not as systems of philosophy and false religion give. They profess to give peace, but it is not real. It does not still the voice of conscience; it does not take away sin; it does not reconcile the soul to God.

4th. My peace is such as meets all the wants of the soul, silences the alarms of conscience, is fixed and sure amid all external changes, and will abide in the hour of death and for ever. How desirable, in a world of anxiety and care, to possess this peace! and how should all who have it not, seek that which the world can neither give nor take away!

Neither let it be afraid. Of any pain, persecutions, or trials. You have a Friend who will never leave you; a peace that shall always attend you. See Jn 14:1.

(y) "Peace" Eph 2:14-17, Php 4:7

John 16:33

Verse 33. In me. In my presence, and in the aid which I shall render you by the Holy Spirit.

In the world. Among the men to whom you are going. You must expect to be persecuted, afflicted, tormented.

I have overcome the world. He overcame the prince of this world by his death, Jn 12:31. He vanquished the great foe of man, and triumphed over all that would work our ruin. He brought down aid and strength from above by his death; and by procuring for us the friendship of God and the influence of the Spirit; by his own instructions and example; by revealing to us the glories of heaven, and opening our eyes to see the excellence of heavenly things, he has furnished us with the means of overcoming all our enemies, and of triumphing in all our temptations. Jn 14:19; Rom 8:34, also Rom 8:35-37, 1Jn 4:4, 1Jn 5:4, Rev 12:11. Luther said of this verse "that it was worthy to be carried from Rome to Jerusalem upon one's knees." The world is a vanquished enemy; Satan is a humbled foe; and all that believers have to do is to put their trust in the Captain of their salvation, putting on the whole armour of God, assured that the victory is theirs, and that the church shall yet shine forth fair as the moon, clear as the sun, and terrible as an army with banners, Song 6:10.

(a) "in me you might have peace" Jn 14:27, Rom 5:1, Eph 2:14 (b) "In the world" Jn 15:19-21, 2Ti 3:12