And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he departed thence to teach and to preach in their cities. Ver. 1. _He departed thence to teach, &c._] Never out of action: the end of one good work was with our Saviour the beginning of another. So must it be with... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, Ver. 2. _Now when John had heard in the prison_] "Put this fellow in prison," said Ahab of Micaiah, 1 Kings 22:27; who is thought to have been he that told him so barely of letting go Benhadad. So Jeremiah, tha... [ Continue Reading ]
And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? Ver. 3. _Art thou he that should come, &c._] This question the Baptist moved not for his own sake (for he was well assured, and had sufficiently testified, Joh 3:27-36), but for his disciples' better settlement and satisfac... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: Ver. 4. _Jesus answered and said, &c._] Our Saviour rated them not, chased them not away from his presence, though zealously affecting their master, but not well, John 3:3,21, and envying for his sake,... [ Continue Reading ]
The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. Ver. 5. _The blind receive their sight_] Our Saviour seems to say the same to John, that she did to Judah, Genesis 38:25. Discern, I p... [ Continue Reading ]
And blessed is _he_, whosoever shall not be offended in me. Ver. 6. _And blessed is he, &c._] This he adds, as correcting the preposterous emulation of John's disciples, who stumbled also at his meanness. Howbeit our Saviour saith not, Cursed be ye for being offended in me; but, Blessed is he, &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? Ver. 7. _And as they departed_] Due praise is to be given to the good parts and practices of others; but rather behind their backs than before thei... [ Continue Reading ]
But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft _clothing_ are in kings' houses. Ver. 8. _A man clothed in softs?_] ειματα ανηρ Which most men gaze at, go after, fawn upon. _Hunc homines decorant, quem vestimenta decorant._ Herein they resemble those dogs... [ Continue Reading ]
But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. Ver. 9. _And more than a prophet_] Because he pointed out Christ with the finger, whom they only saluted afar off. αστασαμενοι _, _ Heb 11:13 Chrysologus calleth him, _legis et gratiae fibulam._ The hinge of l... [ Continue Reading ]
For this is _he_, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. Ver. 10. _Behold, I send my messenger_] Gr. τον αγγελον μου, mine angel. So Phinehas is called an angel, Judges 2:1. The priest an angel, Ecclesiastes 5:6. Ministers of the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he. Ver. 11. _There hath not risen a greater_] Because he was Christ's immediate forerunner, now the nearer to Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence, and the violent take it by force. Ver. 12. _And from the days of John, &c._] The Baptist is further commended from the good success of his ministry, a sweet seal, but no sure sign of a sanctified preacher; sin... [ Continue Reading ]
For all the prophets and the law prophesied until John. Ver. 13. _For all the prophets and the law, &c._] _i.e._ The ministry of the prophets and the shadows of the law determined in John's preaching. As for the substance of the law, Christ came not to destroy, but fulfil it, Matthew 5:17,18. _See... [ Continue Reading ]
And if ye will receive _it_, this is Elias, which was for to come. Ver. 14. _This is Elias_] Not the Tishbite, but yet the same that Malachi foretold should come in the "spirit and power of Elias." And surely, if we observe it (as here, Christ saith to the Jews, If ye will receive it), there is a w... [ Continue Reading ]
He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. Ver. 15. _He that hath ears to hear, let him hear_] Let him attentively listen, not with that outward ear only, that gristle that grows upon his head: but let him draw up his heart to his ears, that one sound may pierce both at once. Thus hear, and your soul... [ Continue Reading ]
But whereunto shall I liken this generation? It is like unto children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, Ver. 16. _But whereunto shall I liken this generation?_] So great was the contumacy and obstinace of this perverse people, the Pharisees especially, that the wisdom of God s... [ Continue Reading ]
And saying, We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented. Ver. 17. _We have piped unto you, &c._] It is probable that children in those days were wont to solace themselves with songs in this sort: and thence our Saviour seeks to repress the prid... [ Continue Reading ]
For John came neither eating nor drinking, and they say, He hath a devil. Ver. 18. _For John came neither eating, &c._] So froward men are and gobble up, that no preacher can please them. If he preach plainly, it will seem careless slubbering: if elaborately, curious affectation. And for his life;... [ Continue Reading ]
The Son of man came eating and drinking, and they say, Behold a man gluttonous, and a winebibber, a friend of publicans and sinners. But wisdom is justified of her children. Ver. 19. _The Son of man came eating and drinking_] Teaching us thereby, in the use of things indifferent, to do what we can... [ Continue Reading ]
Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein most of his mighty works were done, because they repented not: Ver. 20. _Then began he to upbraid_] Haply, because these cities, drawn by the authority of the Pharisees, made less account of our Saviour's doctrine or miracles, by them maliciously depraved... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe unto thee, Chorazin! woe unto thee, Bethsaida! for if the mighty works, which were done in you, had been done in Tyre and Sidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Ver. 21. _Woe unto thee, Chorazin_] These littorals, or those that dwell by the sea coast, are noted to be _... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon at the day of judgment, than for you. Ver. 22. _It shall be more tolerable_] Men are therefore the worse, because they ought to be better: _a_ and shall be deeper in hell, because heaven was offered unto them, but they would not. _In... [ Continue Reading ]
And thou, Capernaum, which art exalted unto heaven, shalt be brought down to hell: for if the mighty works, which have been done in thee, had been done in Sodom, it would have remained until this day. Ver. 23. _Which art exalted unto heaven_] viz. In the abundance of the means of grace, many times... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee. Ver. 24. _It shall be more tolerable_] Infidelity then is, in some respect, a worse sin than sodomy, and a heavier doom abides it. They that suffer least in hell, suffer more than they c... [ Continue Reading ]
At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes. Ver. 25. _At that time Jesus answered_] Here to answer is to continue to speak. Albeit if we compare herewith Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so, Father: for so it seemed good in thy sight. Ver. 26. _Even so, Father, for so, &c._] Christ being tired out, as it were, by the untractableness of his hearers, turns him to his Father, and comforts himself with the consideration of his most wise decree and counsel: so must we in like case,... [ Continue Reading ]
All things are delivered unto me of my Father: and no man knoweth the Son, but the Father; neither knoweth any man the Father, save the Son, and _he_ to whomsoever the Son will reveal _him_. Ver. 27. _All thinys are delivered unto me_] This the world's wizards acknowledge not; hence they stand off.... [ Continue Reading ]
Come unto me, all _ye_ that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Ver. 28. _Come unto me_] Why do ye go about, as Jeremiah Jer 31:22 hath it, and fetch a compass? "Why labour ye for that which satisfieth not?" Isaiah 4:2; "Can the son of Jesse give you vineyards and olive yards," &c... [ Continue Reading ]
Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. Ver. 29. _Take my yoke upon you_] _q.d._ Though freed by me from the damning and domineering power of sin, you must not think to live as you wish. In the greatest freedom is the least l... [ Continue Reading ]
For my yoke _is_ easy, and my burden is light. Ver. 30. _For my yoke is easy_] _a_ After a man is once used to it a little: he cannot fudge so well with it perhaps at first, because an untamed heifer: but after a while, his commandments will be nothing grievous, "I delight to do thy will, O God," s... [ Continue Reading ]