Chapter 5:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| 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 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
Deuteronomy 5
The general intent of the Ten Commandments as a covenant
between God and Israel, ver. 1-5. The Commandments, ver. 6-21.
God writes them, and grants the people's request, that he would
speak by Moses, ver. 22-28. Exhortations to obedience, ver. 29-33.
Verse 1. All Israel - Namely by their elders, who were to impart it to the
rest.
Verse 3. Not with our fathers - Only: but with us, who are all alive - He
saith not, that all who made the covenant at Sinai are now alive,
but this covenant was made with all that are now alive; which is
most true, for it was made with the elders in their persons, and
with the rest in their parents, who covenanted for them.
Verse 4. Face to face - Personally and immediately, not by the mouth or
ministry of Moses; plainly and certainly, as when two men talk
face to face; freely and familiarly, so as not to overwhelm and
confound you.
Verse 5. Between the Lord and you - As a mediator between you,
according to your desire. The word of the Lord - Not the ten
commandments, which God himself uttered, but the following
statutes and judgments.
Verse 7. There being little said, concerning the spiritual sense of the Ten
Commandments, in the notes on the twentieth of Exodus, I think it
needful to add a few questions here, which the reader may answer
between God and his own soul. Thou shalt have none other gods
before me - Hast thou worshipped God in spirit and in truth? Hast
thou proposed to thyself no end besides him? Hath he been the
end of all thy actions? Hast thou sought for any other happiness,
than the knowledge and love of God? Dost thou experimentally
know the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom he hath sent?
Dost thou love God? Dost thou love him with all thy heart, with
all thy soul, and with all thy strength; so as to love nothing else
but in that manner and degree which tends to increase thy love of
him? Hast thou found happiness in God? Is he the desire of thine
eyes, the joy of thy heart? If not, thou hast other gods before him.
Verse 8. Thou shalt not make any graven image - Hast thou not formed
any gross image of God in thy mind? Hast thou always thought of
him as a pure spirit, whom no man hath seen, nor can see? And
hast thou worshipped him with thy body, as well as with thy
spirit, seeing both of them are God's?
Verse 11. Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain -
Hast thou never used the name of God, unless on solemn and
weighty occasions? Hast thou then used it with the deepest awe?
Hast thou duly honoured his word, his ordinances, his ministers?
Hast thou considered all things as they stand in relation to him,
and seen God in all? Hast thou looked upon heaven as God's
throne? Up on earth as God's footstool? On every thing therein as
belonging to the great king? On every creature as full of God?
Verse 12. Keep the sabbath-day, to sanctify it - Dost thou do no work on
this day, which can be done as well on another? Art thou
peculiarly careful on this day, to avoid all conversation, which
does not tend to the knowledge and love of God? Dost thou watch
narrowly over all that are within thy gates, that they too may keep
it holy? And dost thou try every possible means, to bring all men,
wherever you are, to do the same?
Verse 16. honour thy father and mother - Hast thou not been irreverent
or undutiful to either? Hast thou not slighted their advice? Hast
thou chearfully obeyed all their lawful commands? Hast thou
loved and honoured their persons? Supplied their wants, and
concealed their infirmities? Hast thou wrestled for them with God
in prayer? Hast thou loved and honoured thy prince, and avoided
as fire all speaking evil of the ruler of thy people? Have ye that
are servants done all things as unto Christ? Not with eye-service,
but in singleness of heart? Have ye who are masters, behaved as
parents to your servants, with all gentleness and affection? Have
ye all obeyed them that watch over your souls, and esteemed them
highly in love for their work's sake?
Verse 17. Thou shalt not kill - Have you not tempted any one, to what
might shorten his life? Have you tempted none to intemperance?
Have you suffered none to be intemperate under your roof, or in
your company? Have you done all you could in every place, to
prevent intemperance of all kinds! Are you guilty of no degree of
self-murder? Do you never eat or drink any thing because you like
it, although you have reason to believe, it is prejudicial to your
health? Have you constantly done whatever you had reason to
believe was conducive to it? Have you not hated your neighbour
in your heart? Have you reproved him that committed sin in your
sight? If not, you have in God's account hated him, seeing you
suffered sin upon him. Have you loved all men as your own soul?
As Christ loved us? Have you done unto all men, as in like
circumstances, you would they should do to you? Have you done
all in your power to help your neighbours, enemies as well as
friends? Have you laboured to deliver every soul you could from
sin and misery? Have you shewed that you loved all men as
yourself, by a constant, earnest endeavour, to fill all places with
holiness and happiness, with the knowledge and love of God?
Verse 18. Neither shalt thou commit adultery - If thou hast not been
guilty of any act of uncleanness, hath thy heart conceived no
unclean thought? Hast thou not looked on a woman so as to lust
after her? Hast thou not betrayed thy own soul to temptation, by
eating and drinking to the full, by needless familiarities, by
foolish talking, by levity of dress or behaviour? Hast thou used all
the means which scripture and reason suggest, to prevent every
kind and degree of unchastity? Hast thou laboured, by watching,
fasting, and prayer, to possess thy vessel in sanctification and
honour?
Verse 19. Neither shalt thou steal - Have you seriously considered, that
these houses, lands, money, or goods, which you are used to call
your own, are not your own, but belong to another, even God?
Have you ever considered, that God is the sole proprietor of
heaven and earth? The true owner of every thing therein? Have
you considered, that he has only lent them to you? That you are
but a steward of your Lord's goods? And that he has told you
expressly the uses and purposes for which he intrusts you with
them? Namely, for the furnishing first yourselves, and then as
many others as you can, with the things needful for life and
godliness? Have you considered, that you have no right at all, to
apply any part of them to any other purpose? And that if you do,
you are as much a robber of God, as any can be a robber of you?
Verse 20. Neither shalt thou bear false witness against thy neighbour -
Have you not been guilty of evil-speaking? Of needlessly
repeating the real fault of your neighbour? If I see a man do an
evil thing, and tell it to another, unless from a full and clear
conviction, that it is necessary to mention it just then, for the glory
of God, the safety or good of some other person, or for the benefit
of him that hath done amiss; and unless I then do it only so far, as
is necessary to these ends, that is evil-speaking. O beware of this!
It is scattering abroad arrows, fire-brands, and death.
Verse 21. Neither shalt thou covet any thing that is thy neighbour's - The
plain meaning of this is, thou shalt not desire any thing that is not
thy own, any thing which thou hast not. Indeed why shouldst
thou? God hath given thee whatever tends to thy one end,
holiness. Thou canst not deny it, without making him a liar: and:
when any thing else will tend thereto, he will give thee that also.
There is therefore no room to desire any thing which thou hast
not. Thou hast already every thing that is really good for thee,
wouldst thou have more money, more pleasure, more praise still?
Why this is not good for thee. God has told thee so, by
withholding it from thee. O give thyself up to his wise and
gracious disposal!
Verse 22. Out of the midst of the fire, of the cloud, and of the thick
darkness - That was a dispensation of terror, designed to make the
gospel of grace the more welcome, and to be a specimen of the
terrors of the judgment-day. He added no more - He ceased for
that time to speak immediately, and with that loud voice unto the
people; for the rest were delivered to Moses, and by him
communicated unto them. This he did to shew the preeminence of
that law above the rest, and its everlasting obligation.
Verse 25. Why should we die? - For though God hath for this season
kept us alive, yet we shall never be able to endure any farther
discourse from him in such a terrible manner, but shall certainly
sink under the burden of it.
Verse 26. Flesh - Is here put for man in his frail, corruptible, and mortal
state.
Verse 29. O that there were such an heart in them! - A heart to fear God,
and keep his commandments forever! The God of heaven is truly
and earnestly desirous of the salvation of poor sinners. He has
given abundant proof that he is so: he gives us time and space to
repent; by his mercies invites us to repentance, and waiteth to be
gracious: has sent his son to redeem us, published a general offer
of pardon, promised his spirit to those that pray for him; and has
said, yea and sworn, that he hath no pleasure in the death of a
sinner!
Chapter 5:
| Darby
| Geneva
| Gill
| Jamieson Faussett Brown
| Matthew Henry
| Matthew Henry Concise
| 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 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 Numbers Joshua
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.
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