Mat 1:18, 2:5, Joh 21:1, Heb 4:4 | Barnes | STEP | Verse 18. On this wise . Thus. In this manner. Espoused . Betrothed, or engaged to be married. There was commonly an interval of ten or twelve months, among the Jews, between the contract of marriage and the celebration of the nuptials, see ; , yet such was the nature of this engagement, that unfaithfulness to each other was deemed adultery. See . With child of the Holy Ghost . . (u) "birth of Jesus" (*) "espoused to Joseph" "Fifth year before the account called A.D."

Matthew 1:18

Verse 18. On this wise. Thus. In this manner.

Espoused. Betrothed, or engaged to be married. There was commonly an interval of ten or twelve months, among the Jews, between the contract of marriage and the celebration of the nuptials, see Gen 24:55; Jud 14:8, yet such was the nature of this engagement, that unfaithfulness to each other was deemed adultery. See De 22:25,28.

With child of the Holy Ghost. Lk 1:35.

(u) "birth of Jesus" Lk 1:27 (*) "espoused to Joseph" "Fifth year before the account called A.D."

Matthew 2:5

Verses 5, 6. By the prophet. The sanhedrim answered without hesitation. It was settled by prophecy. This prophecy is found in Mic 5:2. In that prophecy, both the place of his birth and the character of the Messiah are so clearly set forth, that there was no room to doubt. It will be observed that there is a considerable difference between the passage as quoted by the sanhedrim, and as it stands in Micah The main point, however, is retained--the place of his birth. We are not concerned, therefore, in showing how these passages can be reconciled. Matthew is not responsible for the correctness of the quotation. He affirms only that they gave this answer to Herod, and that Herod was satisfied. Admitting that they did not quote the passage correctly, it does not prove that Matthew has not reported their answer as they gave it; and this is all that he pretends to give.

Art not the least. In Micah, "though thou be little." Though a small place so far as population is concerned, yet it shall not be small, or least, in honour; for the Messiah shall be born there. His birth gave the place an honour which could not be conferred on the larger cities by all their numbers, their splendour, and their wealth. The birth of a distinguished personage was always supposed to give honour and importance to a city or country. Thus seven cities contended for the honour of giving birth to Homer; Stratford-upon-Avon is distinguished as the birth-place of Shakespeare; and Corsica as the birth-place of Napoleon.

A Governor. A Ruler. This is one of the characters of the Messiah, who is the King of his people, Jn 18:37. The word rule here means to rule as a shepherd does his flock, in faithfulness and tenderness. Comp. Jn 10:11, Is 40:10,11, 9:6.

(g) "by the prophet" Mic 5:2, Jn 7:42

John 21:1

Verse 1. The sea of Tiberias. Called also the Sea of Galilee, being situated in Galilee. Mt 4:18. In this place Jesus had promised to meet them, Mk 14:28, 16:7, Mt 26:32, 28:10. This interview of Jesus is but just mentioned by Matthew (Mt 28:16), and is omitted by both Mark and Luke. This is the reason why John relates so particularly what occurred there. Galilee was a retired place where they would be free from danger, and was therefore a safe and convenient situation for Jesus to meet them, in order to give them his last instructions.

On this wise. Thus. In this manner.

Hebrews 4:4

Verse 4. For he spake. Gen 2:2.

And God did rest. "At the close of the work of creation he rested. The work was done. That was the rest of God. He was happy in the contemplation of his own works; and he instituted that day to be observed as a memorial of his resting from his works, and as a type of the eternal rest which remained for man." The idea is this-- that the notion of rest of some kind runs through all dispensations. It was seen in the finishing of the work of creation; seen in the appointment of the Sabbath; seen in the offer of the promised land, and is seen now in the promise of heaven. All dispensations contemplate rest, and there must be such a prospect before men now. When it is said that "God did rest," of course it does not mean that he was wearied with his toil, but merely that he ceased from the stupendous work of creation. He no more put forth creative energy, but calmly contemplated his own works in their beauty and grandeur, Gen 1:31. In carrying forward the great affairs of the universe, he always has been actively employed, Jn 5:17, but he is not employed in the work of creation, properly so called. That is done; and the sublime cessation from that constitutes the "rest of God."

(b) "wise" Gen 2:2.