17. before him--before "the Lord their God"
(Lu 1:16).
By comparing this with
Mal 3:1
and Isa 40:3,
it is plainly "Jehovah" in the flesh of Messiah [CALVIN and OLSHAUSEN] before whom
John was to go as a herald to announce His approach, and a
pioneer o prepare His way.
in the spirit--after the model.
and power of Elias--not his miraculous power, for John did no miracle"
(Joh 10:41),
but his power "turning the heart," or with like success in his
ministry. Both fell on degenerate times; both witnessed fearlessly for
God; neither appeared much save in the direct exercise of their
ministry; both were at the head of schools of disciples; the success of
both was similar.
fathers to the children--taken literally, this denotes the
restoration of parental fidelity [MEYER and others],
the decay of
which is the beginning of religious and social corruption--one prominent
feature of the coming revival being put for the whole. But what follows,
explanatory of this, rather suggests a figurative sense. If "the
disobedient" be "the children," and to "the fathers" belongs "the wisdom
of the just" [BENGEL], the meaning will be, "he shall bring back the
ancient spirit of the nation into their degenerate children" [CALVIN,
&c.]. So Elijah invoked "the God Abraham, Isaac, and Israel," when
seeking to "turn their heart back again"
(1Ki 18:36, 37).
to make ready, &c.--more clearly, "to make ready for the Lord a
prepared people," to have in readiness a people prepared to welcome Him.
Such preparation requires, in every age and every soul, an operation
corresponding to the Baptist's ministry.
JFB.
Picture Study Bible