Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary on the Whole Bible
back to:
John
Book: John
Chapter: 2
Overview:
The
Miracle at
Cana.
(1-11) Christ casts the buyers and
sellers out of the
Temple.
(12-22) Many believe in
Christ.
(23-25)
1-11 It is very desirable when there is a
Marriage, to have
Christ own and
Bless it. Those that would have
Christ with them
at their
Marriage, must invite him
By Prayer, and he will come.
While in this world we sometimes find ourselves in straits, even
when we think ourselves in
Fulness. There was want at a
Marriage
Feast. Those who are come to care for the things of the world,
must look for trouble, and count upon disappointment. In our
addresses to
Christ, we must humbly spread our case before him,
and then refer ourselves to him to do as he pleases. In
Christ's
reply to his mother there was
No disrespect. He used the same
Word when speaking to her with
Affection from the
Cross; yet it
is a standing
Testimony against the
Idolatry of after-ages, in
giving undue honours to his mother. His
Hour is come when we
know not what to do. Delays of
Mercy are not denials of
Prayer.
Those that expect
Christ's favours, must observe his orders with
ready obedience. The way of duty is the way to
Mercy; and
Christ's methods must not be objected against. The beginning of
Moses' miracles was turning water into
Blood, Ex 7:20; the
beginning of
Christ's miracles was turning water into
Wine;
which may remind us of the difference between the
Law of
Moses
and the
Gospel of
Christ. He showed that he improves
Creature-comforts to all true believers, and make them comforts
indeed. And
Christ's
Works are all for use. Has he turned thy
water into
Wine, given thee knowledge and
Grace? it is to profit
withal; therefore draw out now, and use it. It was the best
Wine.
Christ's
Works commend themselves even to those who know
not their Author. What was produced
By miracles, always was the
best in its kind. Though
Christ hereby allows a right use of
Wine, he does not in the least do away his own caution, which
is, that our hearts be not at any time overcharged with
surfeiting and drunkenness, Lu 21:34. Though we need not
scruple to
Feast with our friends
On proper occasions, yet every
social interview should be
So conducted, that we might invite
the
Redeemer to join with us, if he were now
On Earth; and all
levity, luxury, and excess offend him.
12-22 The first public work in which we find
Christ engaged,
was driving from the
Temple the traders whom the covetous
priests and rulers encouraged to make a
Market-place of its
courts. Those now make
God's
House a
House of merchandise, whose
minds are filled with cares about worldly business when
attending religious exercises, or who perform Divine offices for
Love of gain.
Christ, having thus cleansed the
Temple, gave a
sign to those who demanded it, to prove his authority for
So
doing. He foretells his
Death By the Jews' malice, Destroy ye
this
Temple; I will permit you to destroy it. He foretells his
resurrection
By his own power; In three days I will raise it up.
Christ took again his own
Life. Men mistake
By understanding
that according to the
Letter, which the
Scripture speaks
By way
of figure. When
Jesus was risen from the dead, his disciples
remembered he has said this. It
Helps much in understanding the
Divine
Word, to observe the fulfilling of the Scriptures.
23-25 Our
Lord knew all men, their nature, dispositions,
affections, designs,
So as we do not know any
Man, not even
ourselves. He knows his crafty enemies, and all their secret
projects; his false friends, and their true characters. He knows
who are truly his, knows their uprightness, and knows their
weaknesses. We know what is done
By men;
Christ knows what is in
them, he tries the
Heart. Beware of a dead
Faith, or a formal
profession:
Carnal, empty professors are not to be trusted, and
however men impose
On others or themselves, they cannot impose
On the
Heart-searching
God.