Cana of Galilee - This was a small city in the tribe of Asher, Joshua 19:28.
Our Savior had lived on the earth for thirty years, and had worked no miracle. There was the hiding of his power. He had been subject unto his parents, and had lived in obscurity. Now He has broken through the obscurity, and He begins his public ministry by working a miracle.
2:2 And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage.
Jesus and His disciples were invited to the marriage - Christ does not take away human society, but sanctifies it.
2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine.
They have no wine - Though the blessed virgin is supposed to have never seen her son work a miracle before this time, yet she seems to have expected him to do something extraordinary on this occasion; as, from her acquaintance with him, she must have formed some adequate idea of his power and goodness.
2:2 And both Jesus was called, and His disciples, to the marriage.
Jesus and His disciples were invited to the marriage - Christ does not take away human society, but sanctifies it.
2:3 And when they wanted wine, the mother of Jesus saith unto Him, They have no wine.
They have no wine - Though the blessed virgin is supposed to have never seen her son work a miracle before this time, yet she seems to have expected him to do something extraordinary on this occasion; as, from her acquaintance with him, she must have formed some adequate idea of his power and goodness.
And when they wanted wine,.... Or wine was wanting; not through the intemperance of the guests, rather through the poverty of the family, who were not able to provide very largely; and it may be by reason of a larger number of guests than were expected; however, so it was ordered by Divine Providence, that there might be an opportunity for Christ to manifest forth His glory.
2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.
Woman, what have I to do with thee? - Τι εμοι και σοι, γυναι: O, woman, what is this to thee and me? This is an abrupt denial, as if He had said: "We are not employed to provide the necessaries for this feast: this matter belongs to others, who should have made a proper and sufficient provision for the persons they had invited." The words seem to convey a reproof to the virgin, for meddling with that which did not particularly concern her.
2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
His mother said unto the servants,.... She took the reproof in good part, and by the words He said, and the manner in which He spoke them, or by the looks He gave, and the gestures He might use, she hoped, and even believed, that the thing she moved for would be done; and therefore went immediately to the servants, and gave them the following instructions: whatsoever He saith unto you, do it; punctually observe and obey His orders in every circumstance.
2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Containing two or three firkins apiece - Measures or metretes, μετρητας. Bishop Cumberland supposes that the Syrian metretes is here meant, which he computes to have held seven pints and one eighth of a pint; and, if this computation be right, the whole six water pots might have contained about fourteen gallons and a quart. Others make each metretes to contain ten gallons and two pints: see Arbuthnot. But the contents of the measures of the ancients are so very uncertain that it is best, in this and numberless other cases, to attempt to determine nothing.
2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
They filled them up to the brim - They obeyed Christ to the letter. If Christ says to you, “Fill the waterpots with water”, fill them up to the brim. Never cut down His commandments; carry them out as far as the largest interpretation can go.
2:8 And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
Governor of the feast - The original word, αρχιτρικλινος, signifies one who is chief or head over three couches, or tables. In the Asiatic countries, they take their meals sitting, or rather reclining, on small low couches. And when many people are present, so that they cannot all eat together, three of these low tables or couches are put together in form of a crescent, and some one of the guests is appointed to take charge of the persons who sit at these tables.
2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
But the servants which drew the water knew; they knew from whence they had it, out of the water pots; and they knew that they filled them with water;
2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
But thou hast kept the good wine until now; which shows he knew nothing of the miracle wrought.
2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.
2:4 Jesus saith unto her, Woman, what have I to do with thee? Mine hour is not yet come.
Woman, what have I to do with thee? - Τι εμοι και σοι, γυναι: O, woman, what is this to thee and me? This is an abrupt denial, as if He had said: "We are not employed to provide the necessaries for this feast: this matter belongs to others, who should have made a proper and sufficient provision for the persons they had invited." The words seem to convey a reproof to the virgin, for meddling with that which did not particularly concern her.
2:5 His mother saith unto the servants, Whatsoever He saith unto you, do it.
His mother said unto the servants,.... She took the reproof in good part, and by the words He said, and the manner in which He spoke them, or by the looks He gave, and the gestures He might use, she hoped, and even believed, that the thing she moved for would be done; and therefore went immediately to the servants, and gave them the following instructions: whatsoever He saith unto you, do it; punctually observe and obey His orders in every circumstance.
2:6 And there were set there six waterpots of stone, after the manner of the purifying of the Jews, containing two or three firkins apiece.
Containing two or three firkins apiece - Measures or metretes, μετρητας. Bishop Cumberland supposes that the Syrian metretes is here meant, which he computes to have held seven pints and one eighth of a pint; and, if this computation be right, the whole six water pots might have contained about fourteen gallons and a quart. Others make each metretes to contain ten gallons and two pints: see Arbuthnot. But the contents of the measures of the ancients are so very uncertain that it is best, in this and numberless other cases, to attempt to determine nothing.
2:7 Jesus saith unto them, Fill the waterpots with water. And they filled them up to the brim.
They filled them up to the brim - They obeyed Christ to the letter. If Christ says to you, “Fill the waterpots with water”, fill them up to the brim. Never cut down His commandments; carry them out as far as the largest interpretation can go.
2:8 And He saith unto them, Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the feast. And they bare it.
Governor of the feast - The original word, αρχιτρικλινος, signifies one who is chief or head over three couches, or tables. In the Asiatic countries, they take their meals sitting, or rather reclining, on small low couches. And when many people are present, so that they cannot all eat together, three of these low tables or couches are put together in form of a crescent, and some one of the guests is appointed to take charge of the persons who sit at these tables.
2:9 When the ruler of the feast had tasted the water that was made wine, and knew not whence it was: (but the servants which drew the water knew;) the governor of the feast called the bridegroom,
But the servants which drew the water knew; they knew from whence they had it, out of the water pots; and they knew that they filled them with water;
2:10 And saith unto him, Every man at the beginning doth set forth good wine; and when men have well drunk, then that which is worse: but thou hast kept the good wine until now.
But thou hast kept the good wine until now; which shows he knew nothing of the miracle wrought.
2:11 This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth His glory; and His disciples believed on Him.
This beginning of miracles - It was probably the first He ever wrought: - at any rate, it was the first He wrought after His baptism, and the first He wrought publicly.
2:12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many days.
After this He went down to Capernaum,.... After He had been at Cana, and at the wedding there: 2:12 After this He went down to Capernaum, He, and His mother, and His brethren, and His disciples: and they continued there not many days.
--after He had wrought the miracle of turning water into wine;
--and after He had manifested forth the glory of His deity thereby,
--and had confirmed the faith of His disciples,
He departed from thence, and went lower into the country of Galilee, to Capernaum, a city near the sea of Tiberias; and which, from henceforward, he made the more usual place of His residence, and whither he frequently resorted, and therefore it is called His city, Matthew 9:1.
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