Matthew Henry Commentary John 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
John 2
Matthew Henry Commentary
John 2
"And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there: and Jesus also was bidden, and his disciples, to the marriage. And when the wine failed, the mother of Jesus saith unto him, They have no wine. And Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? mine hour is not yet come. His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever he saith unto you, do it. Now there were six waterpots of stone set there after the Jews` manner of purifying, containing two or three firkins apiece. Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim. And he saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the ruler of the feast. And they bare it. And when the ruler of the feast tasted the water now become wine, and knew not whence it was (but the servants that had drawn the water knew), the ruler of the feast calleth the bridegroom, and saith unto him, Every man setteth on first the good wine; and when [men] have drunk freely, [then] that which is worse: thou hast kept the good wine until now. This beginning of his signs did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested his glory; and his disciples believed on him." — John 2:1-11 (ASV)
It is very desirable when there is a marriage, to have Christ acknowledge and bless it. Those who want Christ with them at their marriage must invite him by prayer, and he will come. While in this world we sometimes find ourselves in hardships, even when we think ourselves in abundance. There was lack at a marriage feast. Those who begin to care for the things of the world must look for trouble and expect disappointment.
In our appeals to Christ, we must humbly present our situation before him, and then entrust 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 later ages, in giving excessive honors to his mother. His hour has come when we do not know what to do.
Delays of mercy are not denials of prayer. Those who expect Christ's favors must observe his orders with prompt obedience. The way of duty is the way to mercy; and Christ's methods must not be objected to. The beginning of Moses' miracles was turning water into blood (Exodus 7:20); the beginning of Christ's miracles was turning water into wine. This may remind us of the difference between the law of Moses and the gospel of Christ. He showed that he improves creature-comforts for all true believers, and makes them comforts indeed. And Christ's works are all for use.
Has he turned your water into wine, given you knowledge and grace? It is for profitable use; therefore draw it out now, and use it. It was the best wine. Christ's works commend themselves even to those who do not know their Author. What was produced by miracles was always the best of its kind.
Though Christ by this allows a right use of wine, he does not in the least diminish his own caution, which is, that our hearts be not at any time overcharged with surfeiting and drunkenness (Luke 21:34). Though we need not hesitate to feast with our friends on proper occasions, yet every social gathering should be so conducted that we might invite the Redeemer to join with us, if he were now on earth; and all frivolity, luxury, and excess offend him.
"After this he went down to Capernaum, he, and his mother, and [his] brethren, and his disciples; and there they abode not many days. And the passover of the Jews was at hand, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem. And he found in the temple those that sold oxen and sheep and doves, and the changers of money sitting: and he made a scourge of cords, and cast all out of the temple, both the sheep and the oxen; and he poured out the changers` money, and overthrew their tables; and to them that sold the doves he said, Take these things hence; make not my Father`s house a house of merchandise. His disciples remembered that it was written, Zeal for thy house shall eat me up. The Jews therefore answered and said unto him, What sign showest thou unto us, seeing that thou doest these things? Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. The Jews therefore said, Forty and six years was this temple in building, and wilt thou raise it up in three days? But he spake of the temple of his body. When therefore he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered that he spake this; and they believed the scripture, and the word which Jesus had said." — John 2:12-22 (ASV)
The first public work in which we find Christ engaged was driving the traders from the temple, whom the covetous priests and rulers encouraged to make a marketplace of its courts. Those today make God's house a house of merchandise whose minds are filled with cares about worldly business when attending religious services, or who perform divine services for love of gain.
Christ, having thus cleansed the temple, gave a sign to those who demanded it to prove His authority for doing so. 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.
People make mistakes by understanding literally what the Scripture speaks figuratively. When Jesus was risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this. It greatly helps in understanding the divine word to observe the fulfillment of the Scriptures.
"Now when he was in Jerusalem at the passover, during the feast, many believed on his name, beholding his signs which he did. But Jesus did not trust himself unto them, for that he knew all men, and because he needed not that any one should bear witness concerning man; for he himself knew what was in man." — John 2:23-25 (ASV)
Our Lord knew all people—their nature, dispositions, affections, and designs—in a way that we do not know any person, 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 people; 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 people impose on others or themselves, they cannot impose on the heart-searching God.
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