We heard before, Luke 6:13 of our Saviour's choosing his twelve apostles, and their several names; they were first chosen disciples to be with Christ, to learn of him, and be instructed by him, and to be witnesses of what he said and did. Now after some time thus spent in preparing and fitting them... [ Continue Reading ]
The history of the holy Baptist's beheading by Herod, is briefly here hinted at, by St. Luke, but not so largely set forth by him as we find it by St. Matthew, Matthew 14:10 and St. Mark Mark 6:27. See the notes there. That which St. Luke takes particular notice of is, that great perplexity of mind... [ Continue Reading ]
St. Luke here gives. short account of several material passages, as, 1. Concerning the apostles' return to Christ after their mission and sending forth; they acquaint their Master how they had executed their office, and discharged the trust he had reposed in them. 2. He withdraws privately into. d... [ Continue Reading ]
This miracle of our Saviour's feeding five thousand with five loaves and two fishes, is recorded by all the evangelists, and in the history of it we have these observable particulars: 1. The seasonable expression of the disciples' pity towards the multitude, who had long fasted, and wanted now the... [ Continue Reading ]
These verses relate to us. private conference which our Saviour had with his disciples, touching their own, and others' opinion concerning himself. Where observe, 1. Our Saviour's enquiry, what the generality of the people thought and said of him: WHOM DO MEN SAY THAT. AM? Not as if Christ were ign... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How our Saviour recommends his religion to every person's election and choice, not compelling any one by force and violence to embrace or entertian it: IF ANY MAN WILL BE MY DISCIPLE: that is, if any man chooses and resolves to be. Christian. Observe, 2. Our Saviour's terms propoun... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour goes on to show the folly of those that for saving their temporal lives will expose their eternal life, or the life of their souls, to hazard and danger; yea, sometimes by refusing to lay down our temporal life for Christ, we lose thay also; which renders it the greatest folly in th... [ Continue Reading ]
That is, whosoever shall deny and disown me, either in my person, in my doctrine, or my members, for any fear or favor of man, he shall with shame be disowned by me, and rejected of me, at the great day. There are two passions which cause men to disown Christ in the day of temptation; namely, fear... [ Continue Reading ]
There is. three-fold sense and interpretation of these words given by expositors. 1. Some refer the words to the times of the gospel after Christ's resurrection and ascension, when the gospel was propagated far and near, and the kingdom of God came with power. Learn thence, that where the gospel i... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have recorded the history of our holy Saviour's transfiguration; when he laid, as it were the garments of our frail humanity aside for. little season; and put on the robes of his divine glory to demonstrate and testify the truth of his divinity; for his divine glory was an evidence of his di... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The person brought to Christ for help and healing; one bodily possessed by Satan, who rent and tore him, but rather to torment than to despatch him. Oh how does Satan delight to do hurt to the bodies, as well as the souls, of mankind! Lord, abate his power, since his malice will not... [ Continue Reading ]
Observable it is how frequently our Saviour forewarned his disciples of his approaching sufferings, and as the time of his suffering drew nearer, he did more frequently warn them of his death. But all this was little enough to arm them against the scandal of the cross; and to reconcile them to the t... [ Continue Reading ]
It may justly seem. wonder, that when our blessed Saviour discoursed so frequently with his disciples about his sufferings, that they should at the same time be disputing among themselves about precedency and pre-eminency, which of them should be the greatest, the first in place, and the highest in... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. St. John's relation of. matter of fact to our Saviour; namely, his forbidding one to cast out devils in Christ's name, that did not follow Christ as they did; for though only the disciples which followed Christ had. commission to work miracles, yet were there others, no enemies to C... [ Continue Reading ]
The time now drew on, wherein our Saviour was to be received up into heaven, and accordingly he sets his face to go to Jerusalem, that he might there suffer, and from thence ascend. Now here we have observable, 1. That although Jerusalem was the nest of his enemies, the stage upon which his bloody... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour was now going from Galilee to Jerusalem, and being to pass through. village of Samaria, he sent messengers before him to prepare entertainment for him. The Son of God, who was heir of all things, sends to, and sues for. lodging in,. Samaritan cottage. Oh blessed Saviour, how can we be a... [ Continue Reading ]
Here observe, 1. The crime which these men were guilty of: no affront must be accounted little, no indignity light, that is offered to the Son of God. But these Samaritans did not revile Christ, nor any of his retinue, that we read of; they did not violently assault him, they did not follow him with... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have our Saviour's censure of the rash and hot motion of his disciples, which proceeded first from ignorance of themselves, YE KNOW NOT WHAT SPIRIT YE ARE OF; you are not now under the rough and sour dispensation of the law, but under the calm and gentle institution of the gospel, which desi... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. person resolving to follow Christ,. good resolution if made deliberately and wisely, not for sinister ends, or secular advantages, which it is to be feared was the case here, by our Saviour's answer; for, says he, FOXES HAVE HOLES, AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS, BUT THE SON OF... [ Continue Reading ]
We are not to suppose by this prohibition, that Christ disallows or disapproves of any civil office from one person to another, much less of. child to. parent, either living or dying; but he lets us know, 1. That no office of love and service to man must be preferred before our duty to God, to whom... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have another person that promised to follow Christ, but desired leave first to settle the affairs of his family, and take leave of his friends. Our Saviour tells him if he would be one of his ministers, he must be like. ploughman, who looks forward, and not backward, or he will never make h... [ Continue Reading ]