Commentaries:
People's Commentary (NT)
John 2:10
Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine. The language
of the ruler is sportive, but still he states a custom. The best wine
was offered when the appetite of the guests was sharpest and most
critical.
Have well drunk. Not intoxicated, but have drunk considerable.
Satan gives his good wine first; so the drunkard finds it; so did the
prodigal son. Afterwards he gives the bitter; red eyes, pain, hunger,
wretchedness.
Thou hast kept the good wine until now. What meaneth Christ making
wine? In Palestine there were three kinds of wine: (1) Fermented wines,
which, however, were very unlike our fiery liquors, and contained only
a small per cent of alcohol. These were mixed with two or three parts
of water. The fermented wine was only intoxicating when used in
enormous quantities. (2) The unfermented juice of the grape. (3) An
intoxicating drink called "new wine" in Acts 2:13. Whedon says:
``We see no reason for supposing that the wine of the present
occasion was that upon which Scripture places its strongest
interdict (Proverbs 20:1 23:31; Isaiah 22:13), rather than
that eulogized as a blessing (Psalms 104:15; Isaiah 55:1).
Even adopting the view that it was fermented wine, it was
totally unlike the fiery and undiluted drinks sold as wines
in saloons, used in many families, offered at hotels and wine
parties, and even poured out at communion tables. In the use
of the usual wine of Palestine there is not the slightest
apology for drinking as a beverage the alcoholic drinks which
are the curse of our times. With regard to them the only safe
rule is "to touch not, taste not, handle not" (Colossians 2:21).'
Other commentary entries containing this verse:
Matthew 4:12
Matthew 22:2
John 2:10
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