Passage 1: Genesis 27
(Gen 27:1) And when Izhak was olde, and his eyes were dimme (so that he coulde not see) he called Esau his eldest sonne, and sayde vnto him, My sonne. And he answered him, I am here.
(Gen 27:2) Then he sayd, Beholde, I am nowe olde, and knowe not the day of my death:
(Gen 27:3) Wherefore nowe, I pray thee take thine instruments, thy quiuer and thy bowe, and get thee to the fielde, that thou mayest take mee some venison.
(Gen 27:4) Then make mee sauourie meate, such as I loue, and bring it me that I may eat, and that my soule may blesse thee, before I die.
(Notes Reference) And make me savoury meat, such as I love, and bring [it] to me, that I may eat; that my (a) soul may bless thee before I die.
(a) The carnal affection he had for his son made him forget what God spoke to his wife. (Gen 25:23).
(Gen 27:5) (Nowe Rebekah heard, when Izhak spake to Esau his sonne) and Esau went into the fielde to hunt for venison, and to bring it.
(Gen 27:6) Then Rebekah spake vnto Iaakob her sonne, saying, Beholde, I haue heard thy father talking with Esau thy brother, saying,
(Gen 27:7) Bring mee vension, and make mee sauourie meate, that I may eate and blesse thee before the Lord, afore my death.
(Gen 27:8) Nowe therefore, my sonne, heare my voyce in that which I command thee.
(Gen 27:9) Get thee nowe to the flocke, and bring me thence two good kids of the goates, that I may make pleasant meate of them for thy father, such as he loueth.
(Notes Reference) (b) Go now to the flock, and fetch me from thence two good kids of the goats; and I will make them savoury meat for thy father, such as he loveth:
(b) This trickery is worthy of blame because she should have waited for God to perform his promise.
(Gen 27:10) Then shalt thou bring it to thy father, and he shall eate, to the intent that he may blesse thee before his death.
(Gen 27:11) But Iaakob sayde to Rebekah his mother, Beholde, Esau my brother is rough, and I am smoothe.
(Gen 27:12) My father may possibly feele me, and I shall seem to him to be a mocker: so shall I bring a curse vpon me, and not a blessing.
(Gen 27:13) But his mother sayd vnto him, vpon me be thy curse, my sonne: onely heare my voyce, and go and bring me them.
(Notes Reference) And his mother said unto him, (c) Upon me [be] thy curse, my son: only obey my voice, and go fetch me [them].
(c) The assurance of God's decree made her bold.
(Gen 27:14) So he went and set them, and brought them to his mother: and his mother made pleasant meat, such as his father loued.
(Gen 27:15) And Rebekah tooke faire clothes of her elder sonne Esau, which were in her house, and clothed Iaakob her yonger sonne:
(Gen 27:16) And she couered his hands and the smoothe of his necke with the skinnes of the kiddes of the goates.
(Gen 27:17) Afterward she put the pleasant meate and bread, which she had prepared, in the hand of her sonne Iaakob.
(Gen 27:18) And when he came to his father, he sayd, My father. Who answered, I am here: who art thou, my sonne?
(Gen 27:19) And Iaakob sayde to his father, I am Esau thy first borne, I haue done as thou badest me, arise, I pray thee: sit vp and eate of my venison, that thy soule may blesse me.
(Notes Reference) And Jacob said unto his father, (d) I [am] Esau thy firstborn; I have done according as thou badest me: arise, I pray thee, sit and eat of my venison, that thy soul may bless me.
(d) Although Jacob was assured of this blessing by faith: yet he did evil to seek it by lies, even more because he abuses God's name through it.
(Gen 27:20) Then Izhak said vnto his sonne, Howe hast thou founde it so quickly my sonne? Who sayde, Because the Lord thy God brought it to mine hande.
(Gen 27:21) Againe sayde Izhak vnto Iaakob, Come neere nowe, that I may feele thee, my sonne, whether thou be that my sonne Esau or not.
(Gen 27:22) Then Iaakob came neere to Izhak his father, and he felt him and sayd, The voyce is Iaakobs voyce, but the hands are the hands of Esau.
(Notes Reference) And Jacob went near unto Isaac his father; and he felt him, and said, The (e) voice [is] Jacob's voice, but the hands [are] the hands of Esau.
(e) This declares that he suspected something, yet God would not have his decree altered.
(Gen 27:23) (For he knewe him not, because his hands were rough as his brother Esaus hands: wherefore he blessed him)
(Gen 27:24) Againe he sayd, Art thou that my sonne Esau? Who answered, Yea.
(Gen 27:25) Then said he, Bring it me hither, and I will eate of my sonnes venison, that my soule may blesse thee. And he brought it to him, and he ate: also he brought him wine, and he dranke.
(Gen 27:26) Afterward his father Izhak sayd vnto him, Come neere nowe, and kisse me, my sonne.
(Gen 27:27) And hee came neere and kissed him. Then he smellled the sauour of his garmentes, and blessed him, and sayde, Behold, the smelll of my sonne is as the smelll of a fielde, which the Lord hath blessed.
(Gen 27:28) God giue thee therefore of the dewe of heauen, and the fatnesse of the earth, and plentie of wheate and wine.
(Gen 27:29) Let people bee thy seruantes, and nations bowe vnto thee: be Lord ouer thy brethren, and let thy mothers children honour thee. cursed be he that curseth thee, and blessed be he that blesseth thee.
(Gen 27:30) And when Izhak had made an ende of blessing Iaakob, and Iaakob was scarce gone out from the presence of Izhak his father, then came Esau his brother from his hunting,
(Gen 27:31) And hee also prepared sauourie meate and brought it to his father, and sayd vnto his father, Let my father arise, and eat of his sonnes venison, that thy soule may blesse me.
(Gen 27:32) But his father Izhak sayde vnto him, Who art thou? And he answered, I am thy sonne, euen thy first borne Esau.
(Gen 27:33) Then Izhak was stricken with a marueilous great feare, and sayde, Who and where is hee that hunted venison, and brought it mee, and I haue eate of all before thou camest? and I haue blessed him, therefore he shalbe blessed.
(Notes Reference) And Isaac (f) trembled very exceedingly, and said, Who? where [is] he that hath taken venison, and brought [it] me, and I have eaten of all before thou camest, and have blessed him? yea, [and] he shall be blessed.
(f) In perceiving his error, by appointing his heir against God's sentence pronounced before.
(Gen 27:34) When Esau heard the wordes of his father, he cryed out with a great crye and bitter, out of measure, and sayde vnto his father, Blesse me, euen me also, my father.
(Gen 27:35) Who answered, Thy brother came with subtiltie, and hath taken away thy blessing.
(Gen 27:36) Then he sayde, Was hee not iustly called Iaakob? for hee hath deceiued mee these two times: he tooke my birthright, and loe, nowe hath he taken my blessing. Also he sayd, Hast thou not reserued a blessing for me?
(Notes Reference) And he said, Is not he rightly named (g) Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times: he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?
(g) In (Gen 25:26) he was so called because he held his brother by the heel, as though he would overthrow him: and therefore he is here called an overthrower, or deceiver.
(Gen 27:37) Then Izhak answered, and sayd vnto Esau, Beholde, I haue made him thy lorde, and all his brethre haue I made his seruants: also with wheate and wine haue I furnished him, and vnto thee now what shall I doe, my sonne?
(Notes Reference) And Isaac answered and said unto Esau, Behold, I have made
him (h) thy lord, and all his brethren have I given to him for servants; and with corn and wine have I sustained him: and what shall I do now unto thee, my son?
(h) For Isaac did this as he was the minister and prophet of God.
(Gen 27:38) Then Esau sayde vnto his father, Hast thou but one blessing my father? blesse mee, euen me also, my father: and Esau lifted vp his voyce, and wept.
(Gen 27:39) Then Izhak his father answered, and sayde vnto him, Behold, the fatnesse of the earth shall be thy dwelling place, and thou shalt haue of the dewe of heauen from aboue.
(Gen 27:40) And by thy sword shalt thou liue, and shalt be thy brothers seruant. But it shall come to passe, when thou shalt get the masterie, that thou shalt breake his yoke from thy necke.
(Notes Reference) And (i) by thy sword shalt thou live, and shalt (k) serve thy brother; and it shall come to pass when thou shalt have the dominion, that thou shalt break his yoke from off thy neck.
(i) Because your enemies will be all around you.
(k) Which was fulfilled in his posterity the Idumeans: who were tributaries for a time to Israel, and later came to freedom.
(Gen 27:41) Therefore Esau hated Iaakob, because of the blessing, wherewith his father blessed him. And Esau thought in his minde, The dayes of mourning for my father will come shortly, then I will slay may brother Iaakob.
(Notes Reference) And Esau hated Jacob because of the blessing wherewith his father blessed him: and Esau said in his heart, The days of mourning for my father are at hand; (l) then will I slay my brother Jacob.
(l) Hypocrites only abstain from doing evil for fear of men.
(Gen 27:42) And it was told to Rebekah of the wordes of Esau her elder sonne, and shee sent and called Iaakob her yonger sonne, and sayd vnto him, Beholde, thy brother Esau is comforted against thee, meaning to kill thee:
(Notes Reference) And these words of Esau her elder son were told to Rebekah: and she sent and called Jacob her younger son, and said unto him, Behold, thy brother Esau, (m) as touching thee, doth comfort himself, [purposing] to kill thee.
(m) He hopes to recover his birthright by killing you.
(Gen 27:43) Now therefore my sonne, heare my voyce, arise, and flee thou to Haran to my brother Laban,
(Gen 27:44) And tarie with him a while vntill thy brothers fiercenesse be swaged,
(Gen 27:45) And till thy brothers wrath turne away from thee, and hee forget the thinges, which thou hast done to him: then will I sende and take thee from thence: why shoulde I bee depriued of you both in one day?
(Notes Reference) Until thy brother's anger turn away from thee, and he forget [that] which thou hast done to him: then I will send, and fetch thee from thence: why should I be (n) deprived also of you both in one day?
(n) For the wicked son will kill the godly: and the plague of God will later come on the wicked son.
(Gen 27:46) Also Rebekah said to Izhak, I am weary of my life, for the daughters of Heth. If Iaakob take a wife of the daughters of Heth like these of the daughters of the lande, what auaileth it me to liue?
(Notes Reference) And Rebekah said to Isaac, I am weary of my life because of the (o) daughters of Heth: if Jacob take a wife of the daughters of Heth, such as these [which are] of the daughters of the land, (p) what good shall my life do me?
(o) Who were Esau's wives.
(p) By this she persuaded Isaac to agree to Jacob's leaving.
Passage 2: Psalms 32
(Psa 32:1) A Psalme of David to give instruction. Blessed is he whose wickednes is forgiuen, and whose sinne is couered.
(Notes Reference) "[A Psalm] of David, (a) Maschil." Blessed [is he whose] transgression [is] (b) forgiven, [whose] sin [is] covered.
(a) Concerning the free remission of sins, which is the chief point of our faith.
(b) To be justified by faith, is to have our sins freely remitted, and to be declared just, (Rom 4:6).
(Psa 32:2) Blessed is the man, vnto whom the Lord imputeth not iniquitie, and in whose spirite there is no guile.
(Psa 32:3) When I helde my tongue, my bones consumed, or when I roared all the day,
(Notes Reference) When I kept (c) silence, my bones waxed old through my (d) roaring all the day long.
(c) Between hope and despair.
(d) Was not eased by silence nor crying, signifying that before the sinner is reconciled to God, he feels a perpetual torment.
(Psa 32:4) (For thine hand is heauie vpon me, day and night: and my moysture is turned into ye drought of summer. Selah)
(Psa 32:5) Then I acknowledged my sinne vnto thee, neither hid I mine iniquitie: for I thought, I will confesse against my selfe my wickednesse vnto the Lord, and thou forgauest the punishment of my sinne. Selah.
(Notes Reference) I (e) acknowledged my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah.
(e) He shows that as God's mercy is the only cause of forgiveness of sins, so the means of it are repentance and confession which proceed from faith.
(Psa 32:6) Therefore shall euery one, that is godly, make his prayer vnto thee in a time, when thou mayest be founde: surely in the flood of great waters they shall not come neere him.
(Notes Reference) For this shall every one that is godly pray unto thee in a (f) time when thou mayest be found: surely in the floods of great waters (g) they shall not come nigh unto him.
(f) When necessity causes him to seek you for help, (Isa 55:6).
(g) That is, the waters and great dangers.
(Psa 32:7) Thou art my secret place: thou preseruest me from trouble: thou compassest me about with ioyfull deliuerance. Selah.
(Psa 32:8) I will instruct thee, and teache thee in the way that thou shalt goe, and I will guide thee with mine eye.
(Notes Reference) I will (h) instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.
(h) David promises to make the rest of God's children partakers of the benefits which he felt, and that he will diligently look and take care to direct them in the way of salvation.
(Psa 32:9) Be ye not like an horse, or like a mule, which vnderstand not: whose mouthes thou doest binde with bit and bridle, least they come neere thee.
(Notes Reference) Be ye not as the horse, [or] as the mule, [which] have no understanding: whose (i) mouth must be held in with bit and bridle, lest they come near unto thee.
(i) If men can rule brute beasts, do they think that God will not bridle and tame their rage?
(Psa 32:10) Many sorowes shall come to the wicked: but he, that trusteth in the Lord, mercie shall compasse him.
(Psa 32:11) Be glad ye righteous, and reioyce in the Lord, and be ioyfull all ye, that are vpright in heart.
(Notes Reference) Be glad in the LORD, and (k) rejoice, ye righteous: and shout for joy, all [ye that are] upright in heart.
(k) He shows that peace and joy of conscience in the Holy Spirit is the fruit of faith.
Passage 3: Matthew 17
(Mat 17:1) And after sixe dayes, Iesus tooke Peter, and Iames and Iohn his brother, and brought them vp into an hie mountaine apart,
(Notes Reference) And (1) (a) after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into an high mountain apart,
(1) Christ in his present company is humble in the gospel, but all the while he is Lord both of heaven and earth.
(a) Luke counts eight days, containing in that number the first and last, and Matthew speaks but of the days between them.
(Mat 17:2) And was transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the Sunne, and his clothes were as white as the light.
(Notes Reference) And was (b) transfigured before them: and his face did shine as the sun, and his raiment was white as the light.
(b) Changed into another colour.
(Mat 17:3) And beholde, there appeared vnto them Moses, and Elias, talking with him.
(Mat 17:4) Then answered Peter, and saide to Iesus, Master, it is good for vs to be here: if thou wilt, let vs make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias.
(Mat 17:5) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloude shadowed them: and beholde, there came a voyce out of the cloude, saying, This is that my beloued Sonne, in whom I am well pleased: heare him.
(Notes Reference) While he yet spake, behold, a bright cloud overshadowed them: and behold a voice out of the cloud, which said, This is (c) my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear ye him.
(c) The word "my" distinguishes Christ from other children. For he is God's natural son, we by adoption; therefore he is called the first begotten among the brethren, because although he is by right the only son, yet he is chief among many, in that he is the source and head of the adoption.
(Mat 17:6) And when the disciples heard that, they fell on their faces, and were sore afraide.
(Notes Reference) And when the disciples heard [it], they (d) fell on their face, and were sore afraid.
(d) Fell down flat on their faces and worshipped him, as in (Mat 2:11).
(Mat 17:7) Then Iesus came and touched them, and said, Arise, and be not afraide.
(Mat 17:8) And when they lifted vp their eyes, they sawe no man, saue Iesus onely.
(Mat 17:9) And as they came downe from the moutaine, Iesus charged them, saying, Shewe the vision to no man, vntil the Sonne of man rise againe from the dead.
(Notes Reference) And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying, Tell the (e) vision to no man, until the Son of man be risen again from the dead.
(e) Which they saw, otherwise the word used in this place is usually used in referring to that which is seen in a dream.
(Mat 17:10) And his disciples asked him, saying, Why then say the Scribes that Elias must first come?
(Mat 17:11) And Iesus answered, and saide vnto them, Certeinely Elias must first come, and restore all thinges.
(Mat 17:12) But I say vnto you that Elias is come alreadie, and they knewe him not, but haue done vnto him whatsoeuer they would: likewise shall also the Sonne of man suffer of them.
(Mat 17:13) Then the disciples perceiued that he spake vnto them of Iohn Baptist.
(Mat 17:14) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a certaine man, and fell downe at his feete,
(Notes Reference) (2) And when they were come to the multitude, there came to him a [certain] man, (f) kneeling down to him, and saying,
(2) Men are unworthy of Christ's goodness, yet nonetheless he pays attention to them.
(f) As men used to do when making supplication.
(Mat 17:15) And saide, Master, haue pitie on my sonne: for he is lunatike, and is sore vexed: for oft times he falleth into the fire, and oft times into the water.
(Notes Reference) Lord, have mercy on my son: for he is (g) lunatick, and sore vexed: for ofttimes he falleth into the fire, and oft into the water.
(g) They that at certain times of the moon are troubled with the falling sickness, or any other kind of disease: but in this case, we must so understand it, that besides the natural disease he had a demonic derangement.
(Mat 17:16) And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not heale him.
(Mat 17:17) Then Iesus answered, and said, O generation faithlesse, and crooked, how long now shall I be with you! howe long nowe shall I suffer you! bring him hither to me.
(Mat 17:18) And Iesus rebuked the deuill, and he went out of him: and the childe was healed at that houre.
(Mat 17:19) Then came the disciples to Iesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
(Notes Reference) (3) Then came the disciples to Jesus apart, and said, Why could not we cast him out?
(3) Incredulity and distrust hinder and break the direction of God's benefits.
(Mat 17:20) And Iesus said vnto them, Because of your vnbeliefe: for verely I say vnto you, if ye haue faith as much as is a graine of mustarde seede, ye shall say vnto this mountaine, Remooue hence to yonder place, and it shall remoue: and nothing shalbe vnpossible vnto you.
(Mat 17:21) Howbeit this kinde goeth not out, but by prayer and fasting.
(Notes Reference) (4) Howbeit this kind goeth not out but by (h) prayer and fasting.
(4) The remedy against distrust.
(h) To help us to understand the watchfulness and diligence of earnest prayer, which cannot be without sobriety.
(Mat 17:22) And they being in Galile, Iesus said vnto them, The Sonne of man shall be deliuered into the handes of men,
(Notes Reference) (5) And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:
(5) Our minds must be prepared more and more for the offence of the cross.
(Mat 17:23) And they shall kill him, but the thirde day shall he rise againe: and they were very sorie.
(Mat 17:24) And when they were come to Capernaum, they that receiued polle money, came to Peter, and sayd, Doeth not your Master pay polle money?
(Notes Reference) (6) And when they were come to Capernaum, they that received tribute [money] came to Peter, and said, Doth (i) not your master (k) pay (l) tribute?
(6) In that Christ willingly obeys Caesar's edicts, he shows that civil policy is not taken away by the Gospel.
(i) He does not deny, but he asks.
(k) Should he not pay?
(l) They that were from twenty years of age to fifty, paid half a shekel to the Sanctuary, (Exo 30:13). This was an Attic didrachma which the Roman exacted after they had subdued Judea.
(Mat 17:25) He sayd, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Iesus preuented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? Of whome doe the Kings of the earth take tribute, or polle money? of their children, or of strangers?
(Notes Reference) He saith, Yes. And when he was come into the house, Jesus prevented him, saying, What thinkest thou, Simon? of whom do the kings of the earth take custom or tribute? of their own (m) children, or of strangers?
(m) By children we must not understand subjects who pay tribute, but natural children.
(Mat 17:26) Peter sayd vnto him, Of strangers. Then said Iesus vnto him, Then are the children free.
(Mat 17:27) Neuerthelesse, lest we should offend them: goe to the sea, and cast in an angle, and take the first fish that commeth vp, and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt finde a piece of twentie pence: that take, and giue it vnto them for me and thee.
(Notes Reference) Notwithstanding, lest we should offend them, go thou to the sea, and cast an hook, and take up the fish that first cometh up; and when thou hast opened his mouth, thou shalt find a (n) piece of money: that take, and give unto them for me and thee.
(n) The word used here is "stater", which is in value four didrachmas; every drachma is about five pence.