2 Corinthians 3:9
Verse
Context
Sermons
Zac PoonenZac Poonen
Milton GreenMilton Green
George Fox
A.W. PinkSummary
Commentary
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The ministration of condemnation - The law, which ascertained sin, and condemned it to just punishment. The ministration of righteousness - The Gospel, the grand business of which was to proclaim the doctrine δικαιοσυνης, of justification; and to show how God could be just and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. Exceed in glory - For great, glorious, and awful as the law may be, in its opposition to sin, which is a reproach to man, and a dishonor to God; and in its punishment of sin; yet it must be vastly exceeded by that system which, evidencing an equal abhorrence of sin, finds out a method to forgive it; to take away its guilt from the conscience, and remove all its infection from the soul. That this could be done the law pointed out by its blood of bulls and of goats: but every considerate mind must see that it was impossible for these to take away sin; it is the Gospel that does what the law signified; and forasmuch as the performance of a promise is greater than the promise itself, and the substance of a man is greater than the shadow projected by that substance; so is the Gospel of Jesus Christ greater than the law, with all its promises, types, ceremonies, and shadows.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
ministration of condemnation--the law regarded in the "letter" which "killeth" (Co2 3:6; Rom 7:9-11). The oldest existing manuscript seems to read as English Version. But most of the almost contemporary manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "If to the ministration of condemnation there be glory." the ministration of righteousness--the Gospel, which especially reveals the righteousness of God (Rom 1:17), and imputes righteousness to men through faith in Christ (Rom 3:21-28; Rom 4:3, Rom 4:22-25), and imparts righteousness by the Spirit (Rom 8:1-4). exceed--"abound."
John Gill Bible Commentary
For even that which was made glorious,.... The apostle grants that there was a glory in the law: it "was made glorious"; it was glorious in the author of it, who is God; it was of his appointing and ordaining, agreeable to his nature, and a declaration of his will; his authority was stamped upon it, and it was written by himself, which cannot be said of any other law whatever; it was glorious in its promulgation, God himself appeared in great glory at the giving of it; Christ was then present; it was ordained by angels, and by them delivered into the hands of Moses, on whose face such a glory was left as could not be steadfastly looked upon; and it was attended with thunderings, lightnings, the sound of a trumpet, &c. it was glorious in the matter of it, it contained great and excellent things; the substance of it is love to God, and to our neighbour; and it was glorious in its properties, being, in its nature and substance, holy, just, good, spiritual, perfect, immutable, and eternal; but yet had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. There is such an excelling glory in the Gospel, that the other is swallowed up and lost in it; it excels it in those things in which it was so glorious: in the author of it, which, though the same, yet with this difference; the law was given by God as a judge, the Gospel by him as a Father, as the Father of Christ, and of his people in him; the law is the birth of his holiness and righteousness, the Gospel of his wisdom, grace, and love; the law declares his will with respect to duty, the Gospel with respect to salvation; the authority of God is stamped on the law, but the Gospel is the image of Christ; the law was written by the finger of God, but the Gospel was hid in his heart, and came from thence: in the promulgation of it, through the long train of patriarchs and prophets, that went before it to usher it in; it was published by Christ, the Son of God himself, confirmed by the gifts and miracles of the Holy Ghost, and in it is a greater display of the glory of God; it was attended with angels too, and a voice from heaven delightful and not terrible; and there was a glory on Christ's countenance, far exceeding that of Moses's: in the matter of it; which is the love, grace, and mercy of God; the Lord Jesus Christ, in all the glories and fulness of his person and offices; salvation by him, spiritual blessings, exceeding great and precious promises; neither of which are to be observed in the law: the ordinances of it vastly exceed the legal ones; and it has greatly the advantage of it in its effects on the souls of men, when accompanied by the Spirit of God.
2 Corinthians 3:9
The Glory of the New Covenant
8will not the ministry of the Spirit be even more glorious?9For if the ministry of condemnation was glorious, how much more glorious is the ministry of righteousness!10Indeed, what was once glorious has no glory now in comparison to the glory that surpasses it.
- Scripture
- Sermons
- Commentary
The Danger of Pharisaism
By Zac Poonen5.7K52:59PharisaismMAT 6:33MAT 23:3LUK 1:1LUK 12:42LUK 12:452CO 3:9JAS 1:5In this sermon, the preacher focuses on Luke chapter twelve, verse forty-five, which talks about a slave who becomes abusive towards other slaves because he believes his master will be delayed in returning. The preacher emphasizes the importance of ministers giving people the spiritual nourishment they need at the right time, rather than using their position to criticize and condemn others. He warns against comparing oneself to others and despising them based on external appearances or behaviors. The preacher also highlights the danger of creating a culture of guilt and condemnation within churches, instead of offering hope and assurance of God's love and forgiveness. He references the parable of the laborers in the vineyard to illustrate the idea that even those who have wasted much of their lives can still give themselves to God and receive His grace.
Three Marks of New Convenant Life
By Zac Poonen3.4K59:16New CovenantNUM 15:32MAT 5:19MAT 12:1JHN 5:12CO 3:62CO 3:9In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of not turning back and instead, pressing forward to win the battle and conquer new territories. He encourages the audience to open their hearts to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to bring about transformation in their lives. The speaker challenges the audience to examine their priorities and not spend excessive amounts of money on themselves, but rather give to God and His work. He also highlights the urgency of reaching out to those who are perishing in their sins and not sitting idly by. The speaker emphasizes that God's blessing is seen in our transformation to become more like Jesus and urges the audience to be immediate in their reactions to temptation and evil, as a mark of a life led by the Spirit.
(Christian Leadership) the Danger of Phariseism
By Zac Poonen2.3K50:05MAT 6:33MAT 20:12LUK 12:42LUK 12:452CO 3:9JAS 1:5In this sermon, the speaker reflects on the importance of feeding people with the word of God rather than beating them with it. He references Luke chapter 12, verse 45, which warns against mistreating others while waiting for the master's return. The speaker emphasizes the need for ministers of the word to have the heart of a father and mother, being patient and long-suffering in feeding people spiritually. They caution against using God's word to judge and make others feel uncomfortable, instead urging a focus on understanding the proper proportion and importance of different truths in scripture. The sermon concludes with a challenge to consider the cost of rebuking sin and the willingness to pay that price in order to deliver others from worldliness.
The Wilderness
By Milton Green1.3K05:24ROM 4:151CO 3:52CO 3:72CO 3:9GAL 3:13EPH 3:4HEB 3:4In this sermon, the speaker emphasizes the importance of obeying God's law and loving the Lord. They explain that practicing sins breaks God's law and gives ground to the powers of darkness. The speaker references various Bible verses, such as Romans 4:15, Galatians 3:13, and 2 Corinthians 3:7 and 3:9, to support their points about the curse, wrath, condemnation, and death that result from not following God's law. They also discuss the concept of possessing the land and becoming mature and complete in Christ, and highlight the role of apostles, pastors, and teachers in leading and encouraging believers.
Church - Part 1
By Milton Green1.2K03:41MAT 6:33ROM 4:151CO 3:52CO 3:72CO 3:9GAL 3:13EPH 6:10In this sermon, the preacher emphasizes the importance of living a life that is aligned with the love of the Lord and His commandments. He explains that practicing sins such as unforgiveness, envy, worry, and greed goes against God's law and opens the door for the powers of darkness to have influence. The preacher highlights that the law brings condemnation and death, but through the gospel, believers can possess the land and overcome these sins. He warns that failing to possess the land and falling into sin will result in negative consequences. The preacher encourages the audience to use their weapons, which are mighty in God, to tear down strongholds and cast down thoughts that go against the Word of God.
Epistle 73
By George Fox02CO 3:9George Fox preaches about the importance of living in the eternal light to understand the true substance of spiritual matters, contrasting shadows and types with the ministry of life and condemnation. He emphasizes the significance of witnessing Christ Jesus as the ultimate substance and denouncing practices that go against the light. Fox encourages believers to stand firm in their faith, even in the face of persecution, and to focus on the unchangeable priesthood of Christ Jesus above all worldly inventions and conflicts.
Preaching False and True
By A.W. Pink0Righteousness and GraceBalance in PreachingACT 20:24ROM 1:162CO 3:9A.W. Pink emphasizes the critical balance between legality and licentiousness in preaching, asserting that true evangelical preaching must uphold both the righteousness and grace of God. He warns against the dangers of legalistic preaching that distorts the Gospel by promoting self-righteousness, as well as licentious preaching that undermines the seriousness of sin and repentance. Pink stresses that a faithful minister must clearly communicate the necessity of Christ's atonement while also calling for a life of holiness and obedience. He highlights the importance of being taught by the Holy Spirit to effectively convey these truths, ensuring that the message remains true to Scripture. Ultimately, Pink calls for a return to authentic preaching that honors both God's justice and mercy.
To Whom Belongest Thou?
By C.H. Spurgeon0MAT 25:41LUK 18:9JHN 3:18ROM 1:20ROM 2:14ROM 3:19ROM 5:12ROM 8:12CO 3:9The preacher delves into the concept of being 'Accountable' before God, emphasizing that all individuals are answerable to God as the Judge of all, liable to judgment and punishment. Romans 3:19 highlights this accountability, indicating that all are guilty, culpable, and subject to trial or condemnation. The sermon explores how divine revelation through creation, conscience, and the Law exposes humanity's sinfulness, leaving no room for defense against God's righteous judgment. Despite attempts to deceive oneself or others, every individual stands guilty before God, unable to justify themselves based on personal character or behavior.
- Adam Clarke
- Jamieson-Fausset-Brown
- John Gill
Adam Clarke Bible Commentary
The ministration of condemnation - The law, which ascertained sin, and condemned it to just punishment. The ministration of righteousness - The Gospel, the grand business of which was to proclaim the doctrine δικαιοσυνης, of justification; and to show how God could be just and yet the justifier of him who believeth in Jesus. Exceed in glory - For great, glorious, and awful as the law may be, in its opposition to sin, which is a reproach to man, and a dishonor to God; and in its punishment of sin; yet it must be vastly exceeded by that system which, evidencing an equal abhorrence of sin, finds out a method to forgive it; to take away its guilt from the conscience, and remove all its infection from the soul. That this could be done the law pointed out by its blood of bulls and of goats: but every considerate mind must see that it was impossible for these to take away sin; it is the Gospel that does what the law signified; and forasmuch as the performance of a promise is greater than the promise itself, and the substance of a man is greater than the shadow projected by that substance; so is the Gospel of Jesus Christ greater than the law, with all its promises, types, ceremonies, and shadows.
Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary
ministration of condemnation--the law regarded in the "letter" which "killeth" (Co2 3:6; Rom 7:9-11). The oldest existing manuscript seems to read as English Version. But most of the almost contemporary manuscripts, versions, and Fathers, read, "If to the ministration of condemnation there be glory." the ministration of righteousness--the Gospel, which especially reveals the righteousness of God (Rom 1:17), and imputes righteousness to men through faith in Christ (Rom 3:21-28; Rom 4:3, Rom 4:22-25), and imparts righteousness by the Spirit (Rom 8:1-4). exceed--"abound."
John Gill Bible Commentary
For even that which was made glorious,.... The apostle grants that there was a glory in the law: it "was made glorious"; it was glorious in the author of it, who is God; it was of his appointing and ordaining, agreeable to his nature, and a declaration of his will; his authority was stamped upon it, and it was written by himself, which cannot be said of any other law whatever; it was glorious in its promulgation, God himself appeared in great glory at the giving of it; Christ was then present; it was ordained by angels, and by them delivered into the hands of Moses, on whose face such a glory was left as could not be steadfastly looked upon; and it was attended with thunderings, lightnings, the sound of a trumpet, &c. it was glorious in the matter of it, it contained great and excellent things; the substance of it is love to God, and to our neighbour; and it was glorious in its properties, being, in its nature and substance, holy, just, good, spiritual, perfect, immutable, and eternal; but yet had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. There is such an excelling glory in the Gospel, that the other is swallowed up and lost in it; it excels it in those things in which it was so glorious: in the author of it, which, though the same, yet with this difference; the law was given by God as a judge, the Gospel by him as a Father, as the Father of Christ, and of his people in him; the law is the birth of his holiness and righteousness, the Gospel of his wisdom, grace, and love; the law declares his will with respect to duty, the Gospel with respect to salvation; the authority of God is stamped on the law, but the Gospel is the image of Christ; the law was written by the finger of God, but the Gospel was hid in his heart, and came from thence: in the promulgation of it, through the long train of patriarchs and prophets, that went before it to usher it in; it was published by Christ, the Son of God himself, confirmed by the gifts and miracles of the Holy Ghost, and in it is a greater display of the glory of God; it was attended with angels too, and a voice from heaven delightful and not terrible; and there was a glory on Christ's countenance, far exceeding that of Moses's: in the matter of it; which is the love, grace, and mercy of God; the Lord Jesus Christ, in all the glories and fulness of his person and offices; salvation by him, spiritual blessings, exceeding great and precious promises; neither of which are to be observed in the law: the ordinances of it vastly exceed the legal ones; and it has greatly the advantage of it in its effects on the souls of men, when accompanied by the Spirit of God.