1:21 As it is written in the a prophets, Behold, b I send
my messenger c before thy face, which shall prepare thy
way before thee.
(1) John goes before Christ as it was foretold by the prophets.
(a) This is the figure of speech called metonymy, by which
is meant the books of the prophets Malachi and Isaiah.
(b) The prophet uses the present tense when he speaks of a
thing to come, as he is as sure of it as if he had
already seen it.
(c) A metaphor taken from the practice of kings,
who used to have ushers go before them.
1:42 John did baptize in the wilderness, and preach the d
baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.
(2) The sum of John's doctrine, or rather Christ's, is
remission of sins and amendment of life.
(d) The Jews used many kinds of washings: but here a
peculiar kind of washing is spoken of, which contains
within it true baptism, amendment of life, and
forgiveness of sins.
1:73 And preached, saying, There cometh one mightier than I
after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to e
stoop down and unloose.
(3) John and all ministers cast their eyes upon Christ the
Lord.
(e) The evangelist is expressing here the condition of the
basest servant.
1:8 I indeed have f baptized you with water: but he shall
baptize you with the Holy Ghost.
(f) He shows that all the power of baptism proceeds from
Christ, who baptizes the inner man.
1:94 And it came to pass in those days, that Jesus came from
Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptized of John in Jordan.
(4) Christ consecrates our baptism in himself.
1:105 And straightway g coming up out of the water, he saw
the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending
upon him:
(5) The vocation of Christ from heaven, as head of the Church.
(g) John, who went down into the water with Christ.
1:11 And there came a voice from heaven, [saying], Thou art my
beloved Son, in whom I am h well pleased.
(h) )See Geneva "Mt 3:17")
1:126 And immediately the Spirit i driveth him into the
wilderness.
(6) Christ being tempted overcomes.
(i) "Driveth" here does not refer to something violent and
forcible: but the divine power clothes Christ (who had
lived until this time as a private man) with a new
person, and prepares him for the battle that was at
hand, and for his ministry.
1:147 Now after that John was put in prison, Jesus came into
Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God,
(7) After John is taken Christ shows himself more fully.
1:168 Now as he walked by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon
and Andrew his brother casting a net into the sea: for they
were fishers.
(8) The calling of Simon and Andrew.
1:199 And when he had gone a little further thence, he saw
James the [son] of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also
were in the ship mending their nets.
(9) The calling of James and John.
1:21 And they went into k Capernaum; and straightway on the
sabbath day he entered into the synagogue, and taught.
(k) From the city of Nazareth.
1:2310 And there was in their synagogue a man l with an
unclean spirit; and he cried out,
(10) He preaches that doctrine by which alone Satan is driven
out of the world, which he also confirms by a miracle.
(l) Literally, "a man in an unclean spirit", that is to
say, possessed with an evil spirit.
1:24 Saying, Let [us] alone; what have we to do with thee, thou
m Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know
thee who thou art, the n Holy One of God.
(m) He was born in Bethlehem, but through the error of the
people he was called a Nazarene, because he was
brought up in Nazareth.
(n) He alludes to the name that was written in the golden
plate which the high Priest wore; (Ex 28:36)
1:26 And when the unclean spirit o had torn him, and cried
with a loud voice, he came out of him.
1:27 And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned p
among themselves, saying, What thing is this? what new
doctrine [is] this? for with authority q commandeth he
even the unclean spirits, and they do obey him.
(p) As men who were amazed.
(q) By his own authority, or as a lord.
1:28 And immediately his fame spread abroad throughout all the
region r round about Galilee.
(r) Not only into Galilee, but also into the countries
bordering upon it.
1:2911 And forthwith, when they were come out of the
synagogue, they entered into the house of Simon and Andrew,
with James and John.
(11) By healing different diseases he shows that he has brought
true life into the world.
1:34 And he healed many that were sick of divers diseases, and
cast out many devils; and f suffered not the devils to
speak, because they knew him.
(s) For it is not proper for the demons to preach the
gospel; (Ac 16:18)
1:38 And he said unto them, Let us go into the t next towns,
that I may preach there also: for therefore came I forth.
(t) Villages which were like cities.
1:4012 And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and
kneeling down to him, and saying unto him, If thou wilt,
thou canst make me clean.
(12) By healing the leprous he shows that he came for this
reason: to wipe out the sins of the world with his
touch.
1:4413 And saith unto him, See thou say nothing to any man:
but go thy way, shew thyself to the u priest, and offer
for thy cleansing those things which Moses commanded, for a
testimony unto them.
(13) He shows that he was not motivated by ambition, but only
by the desire for his Father's glory, and by his love
towards poor sinners.
(u) All the posterity of Aaron had the authority to judge
a leper.
