A PARABLE - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. TO THIS END - To show this. ALWAYS - At all times. That is, we must not neglect regular stated seasons of prayer; we must seize on occasions of remarkable providences as afflictions or signal blessings to seek God in prayer; we must “always” maintain a sp... [ Continue Reading ]
A JUDGE WHICH FEARED NOT GOD - One appointed by law to determine causes brought before him. This judge had no reverence for God, and consequently no regard for the rights of man. These two things go together. He that has no regard for God can be expected to have none for man; and our Lord has here i... [ Continue Reading ]
A WIDOW - This is a circumstance that gives increasing interest to the parable. Judges were bound to show special attention to widows, Isaiah 1:17; Jeremiah 22:3. The reason of this was that they were defenseless, were commonly poor, and were liable to be oppressed by those in power. AVENGE ME - Th... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A WHILE - Probably this means for a “considerable” time. It was his duty to attend to the claims of justice, but this was long delayed. WITHIN HIMSELF - He thought, or came to a conclusion. THOUGH I FEAR NOT ... - This contains the reason why he attended to the case at all. It was not from any... [ Continue Reading ]
HEAR ... - Give attention to this, and derive from it practical instruction.... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL NOT GOD AVENGE ... - We are not to suppose that the character of God is at all represented by this judge, or that “his” principles of conduct are at all like those of the judge. This parable shows us conclusively that many “circumstances” of a parable are not to be interpreted closely: they ar... [ Continue Reading ]
SPEEDILY - Suddenly, unexpectedly. He will surely vindicate them, and that at a time, perhaps, when they were nearly ready to give over and to sink into despair. This may refer to the deliverance of the disciples from their approaching trials and persecutions among the Jews; or, in general, to the f... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTO CERTAIN - Unto some. WHICH TRUSTED IN THEMSELVES - Who confided in themselves, or who supposed that they were righteous. They did not trust to God or the Messiah for righteousness, but to their own works. They vainly supposed they had themselves complied with the demands of the law of God. DES... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TEMPLE - Into one of the courts of the temple - the court where prayer was commonly offered. See the notes at Matthew 21:12. A PHARISEE - See the notes at Matthew 3:7. PUBLICAN - See the notes at Matthew 5:46.... [ Continue Reading ]
STOOD AND PRAYED THUS WITH HIMSELF - Some have proposed to render this, “stood by himself” and prayed. In this way it would be characteristic of the sect of the Pharisees, who dreaded the contact of others as polluting, and who were disposed to say to all, Stand by yourselves. The Syraic so renders... [ Continue Reading ]
I FAST TWICE ... - This was probably the Jewish custom. The Pharisees are said to have fasted regularly on the second and fifth days of every week in private. This was “in addition” to the public days of fasting required in the law of Moses, and they, therefore, made more a matter of “merit” of it b... [ Continue Reading ]
STANDING AFAR OFF - Afar off from the “temple.” The place where prayer was offered in the temple was the court of women. The Pharisee advanced to the side of the court nearest to the temple, or near as he could; the publican stood on the other side of the same court if he was a Jew, or in the court... [ Continue Reading ]
I TELL YOU - The Pharisees would have said that the first man here was approved. Jesus assures them that they judged erroneously. God judges of this differently from people. JUSTIFIED - Accepted or approved of God. The word “justify” means to declare or treat as righteous. In this case it means tha... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 19:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 20:17. BY THE PROPHETS - Those who foretold the coming of the Messiah, and whose predictions are recorded in the Old Testament. SON OF MAN - The Messiah. They predicted that certain things would take place respecting the Messiah that was to come. See the Daniel 9:25 notes;... [ Continue Reading ]
UNDERSTOOD NONE OF THESE THINGS - Though they were “plainly” revealed, yet such were their prejudices and their unwillingness to believe them that they did not understand them. They expected that he would be a temporal prince and a conqueror, and they were not “willing” to believe that he would be d... [ Continue Reading ]
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 20:29.... [ Continue Reading ]