Q. What are the “earthly things,” and why so called?
A. The “earthly” blessings are those of this earth — of the kingdom for which a Jew looked according to the promises of God, and for which a new birth was needed, as the Teacher in Israel, Nicodemus, should have well known from the Prophets, as Ezek. 37, etc., showed. They are called “earthly” in contrast with the “heavenly” blessings which Jesus had come to reveal.