14. gave himself--"The forcible 'Himself, His whole self, the
greatest gift ever given,' must not be overlooked."
for us--Greek, "in our behalf."
redeem us--deliver us from bondage by paying the
price of His precious blood. An appropriate image in
addressing bond-servants
(Tit 2:9, 10):
from all iniquity--the essence of sin, namely, "transgression of the
law": in bondage to which we were till then. The aim of His redemption
was to redeem us, not merely from the penalty, but from the being of all
iniquity. Thus he reverts to the "teaching" in righteousness, or
disciplining effect of the grace of God that bringeth salvation
(Tit 2:11, 12).
peculiar--peculiarly His own, as Israel was of old.
zealous--in doing and promoting "good works."
JFB.
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