_As he was praying in a certain place_ Our Lord's whole time was occupied, either in instructing his numerous followers, or in confirming his doctrine by miracles of mercy, wrought for the relief of the afflicted, or in the exercises of devotion. This evangelist has mentioned Christ's praying much m... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said_, &c. “Having, by a short form, taught his disciples that they were not in prayer to use a multiplicity of words, with vain repetitions; he proceeded to caution them, on the other hand, against coldness, indifference, and slackness in their supplications. The evil of this, and the neces... [ Continue Reading ]
_I say unto you, Ask_, &c. Pray frequently, and be most earnest and importunate in your prayers, because thus you shall obtain whatsoever you ask agreeably to the will of God. For if importunity would prevail thus with a man that was displeased at it, much more will it prevail with God, who is infin... [ Continue Reading ]
_If a son shall ask bread of any of you_ Further to assist your faith on these occasions, reflect upon the workings of your own hearts toward your offspring. Let any of you, that is a father, and knows the heart of a father, a father's affection to, and care for, a child, say, _if_ his _son ask brea... [ Continue Reading ]
_If ye then, being evil If ye_, who are, at least, comparatively _evil_, and perhaps inclined to a penurious and morose temper, yet _know how to give good gifts to your children_ And find your hearts disposed to relieve their returning necessities, by a variety of daily provisions; if earthly parent... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he was casting out a devil_ See on Matthew 9:32; and Matthew 12:22. _Some said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub_ These he answers, Luke 11:17. Others, to try whether it were so or not, _sought a sign from heaven_ These he reproves, in the 29th and following verses. Beelzebub signifies _... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the unclean spirit_ See notes on Matthew 12:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he spake these things, a certain woman_, &c. While Jesus thus reasoned, in confutation of the Pharisees, a woman of the company, ravished with his wisdom, and perhaps believing him to be their long-expected Messiah, expressed her admiration of his character in an exclamation upon the happiness o... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the people were gathered thick together._ It seems, on this occasion, the multitude gathered round him in a great crowd, and pressed upon him, in expectation that he was going to show them the sign from heaven which some of them had required from him. But he repulsed them, by telling them that... [ Continue Reading ]
_No man, when he hath lighted a candle_ The meaning is, God gives you this gospel-light, that ye may repent. Let your eye be singly fixed on him, aim only at pleasing God; and while ye do this, your whole soul will be full of wisdom, holiness, and happiness. But _when thine eye is evil_ When thou ai... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as he spake, a Pharisee besought him to dine with him_ Our Lord having proved the truth of his mission, against the malicious cavils of his enemies, in the manner above stated, when he had made an end of speaking, one of the Pharisees present invited him to dine with him. It is not said whether... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wo unto you, for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues_, &c. Here he denounces the judgment of God against them for their pride, which was so excessive, that it appeared in their carriage in the streets, and at all public meetings. See on Matthew 23:6. _Wo unto you, scribes and Pharisees_ I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then answered one of the lawyers_, &c. A doctor, or interpreter of the law. The Jewish _lawyers_ (as our translation not very properly terms them) were the most considerable species of scribes, who applied themselves peculiarly to study and explain the law. Probably many of them were Pharisees, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wo unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge_ Ye have obscured and destroyed the true knowledge of the Messiah, which is the key both of the present and the future kingdom of heaven. Or, by your wrong interpretations of Scripture, you have filled the people with strong prejudic... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he said these things, the scribes and Pharisees began to urge him_ The freedom which Jesus now took with the Pharisee and his guests, provoked them exceedingly, for they were guilty of the crimes which he laid to their charge; and to be revenged, they urged him to speak upon a variety of topics... [ Continue Reading ]