At the door of the temple, through which all the people passed in and out, who came up three times. year at the solemn feasts, to worship Almighty God in his own house, there was. chest set, (like the poor man's box in some of our churches,) into which all persons cast their free-will offerings and... [ Continue Reading ]
Our blessed Saviour being now ready to depart from the temple, nevermore after this entering into it, and his disciples showing him, with wonder and admiration, the magnificent structures and buildings thereof, apprehending that in regard of its invincible strength it could not be destroyed; not con... [ Continue Reading ]
A double question is here propounded to our Savior: namely, when the destruction of Jerusalem should be, and what would be the signs of it? From whence learn, what an itching curiosity there is in the best of men, to know futurities, and to understand things that shall come to pass hereafter; and w... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, Christ does not gratify his disciples' curiosity, but acquaints them with their present duty; namely, to watch against deceivers and seducers, who should have the impudence to affirm themselves to be Christs, SAYING,. AM CHRIST: some Christs personal, or the Messiah; others Christs doc... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour here goes on in giving farther signs of Jerusalem's destruction. He declares, 1. The sharp persecution that should fall upon the apostles themselves, THEY SHALL LAY THEIR HANDS ON YOU, AND PERSECUTE YOU. Learn hence, that the keenest and sharpest edge of persecution, is usually turned... [ Continue Reading ]
The sense is this: "As soon as ye shall see the Roman army appear before the city of Jerusalem, (called by St. Matthew and St. Mark, THE ABOMINATION OF DESOLATION, that is, the army which is such an abomination to you, and the occasion of such desolation wherever it goes,) then let every one that va... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words our Saviour declares the certainty of his coming to visit Jerusalem for all her barbarous and bloody cruelty towards himself, his prophets, and apostles; he is pleased to set forth this by the similitude of the fig-tree, whose beginning to bud declares the summer at hand; thus our Sav... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Lord cautions his disciples against such. distemper and indisposition of mind, as may render them unfit and unready for his coming and appearance; and to take heed of two dangerous sins, namely, voluptousness and earthly-mindedness, which above any other sins will indispose us for the duty... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Lord had exhorted his disciples in the foregoing verses to diligence and prayer; here he sets an example of both before them. Busying himself in God's service all the day, and at night spending much time in prayer; in the day-time he was in the temple preaching, in the evening he was on the Moun... [ Continue Reading ]