John 1:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The law

Grace

General references

Matthew 22:40

Acts 13:24

Bible References

The law

don't imagine that I shall accuse you to my father: even Moses himself in whom you confide, will be your accuser.

we know that God commission'd Moses: as for this fellow, we don't know who sent him.

'twas he that was in the assembly with our fathers in the wilderness, and with the angel that spoke to him on mount Sina: and delivered the oracles to him by word of mouth for our use.

Having therefore set him a day, they came in great numbers to his lodgings; where he explain'd and confirm'd the reality of the gospel-dispensation, from morning to night, enforcing what the writings of Moses and the prophets had affirm'd concerning Jesus.

Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law: that every one may be silenc'd, and all the world plead guilty before God.

the law was introduc'd, that the greatness of the fall might fully appear; but the more sin display'd its enormity, the divine favour was so much the more transcendent.

now if the law engraven on stone, the letter of whose sanction is death, was delivered with such glory, that the children of Israel could not steadily behold the face of Moses, for the glory of his countenance, tho' it was transient;

but they that rest themselves upon the works of the law, are obnoxious to the curse: for it is written, " cursed is every one, who continueth not in all things, which are written in the book of the law, to do them:"

besides Moses throughout his whole administration acted in quality of a servant, representing to the people what he was order'd to say.

nor for that reproach, which was made to our fathers, where 'tis said, "behold, the days come, saith the Lord, when I will make a new alliance with the house of Israel, and with the house of Juda:

Grace

and the truth shall make you free.

Jesus said to him, I am the way, and the truth, and the life: no man can come to the father, but by me.

he has taken Israel his servant into his protection, in pursuance of the mercy,

and to show that he rais'd him from the dead, never more to return to corruption, he said thus, "I will faithfully perform the promises, which I made to David."

but the divine justification certified by the law and the prophets, is now clearly proposed independently of the law:

that as sin prevailed unto death, even so might the divine favour prevail by righteousness unto eternal life, thro' Jesus Christ our Lord.

for then sin shall have no dominion over you: because you are not under the legal, but under the gospel dispensation.

for I tell you, that Jesus Christ was a minister to the Jews, to manifest the veracity of God in fulfilling the promises made to the fathers:

for all the promises of God do center in him, and are verifyed by him to the glory of God by our preaching.

and indeed according to the law almost every thing is purified with blood, without the effusion of which, there is no remission of sins.

And indeed it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats, should take away the guilt of sin.

Tho' these were all celebrated for their faith, they did not receive the reward that was promised:

when he had taken the book, the four animals, and the four and twenty elders fell down before the lamb, every one of them having harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of the saints.

After this I beheld, and there was a great multitude, which no man could number, of every nation, tribe, people, and language, who stood before the throne, and before the lamb cloathed in white robes, having palms in their hands.

General references

these two precepts comprehend the substance of all the law and the prophets.

before his appearance, John had preach'd the baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel.