_And it came to pass_ About this time, probably just as our Lord was finishing his journey through Herod's dominions; _he went into the house of one of the chief Pharisees_ Τινος των αρχοντων Φαρισαιων, _of a certain one of the ruling Pharisees_, that is, of a magistrate, or a member of the great co... [ Continue Reading ]
_And answered them_ Accordingly, while the Pharisees were considering with themselves how to turn the miracle against him, he disconcerted them by proving the lawfulness of what he had done from their own practice. _Which of you shall have an ass, &c., fallen into a pit on the sabbath day_ Will you,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he put forth a parable_ The ensuing discourse is so termed, because several parts of it are not to be understood literally. _To those which were bidden_ From this circumstance, that the guests were bidden, and from what is said, Luke 14:12, it appears that this was a great entertainment, to whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said he also to him that bade him_ In the time of dinner, Jesus directed his discourse to the person who had invited him, and showed him what sort of people he should bid to his feasts. _When thou makest a dinner, &c., call not thy friends_ That is, I do not bid thee call thy friends, or thy r... [ Continue Reading ]
_When one of them that sat at meat heard these things_, being touched therewith, _he said, Blessed is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God_ Blessed is the man who shall live in the time of the Messiah, and share the entertainments he will prepare for his people, when these virtues of humili... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said he, A certain man_, &c. He delivered the following parable to show the person who made the remark, and others, that how great soever the happiness would be of those who should share the blessings of the Messiah's kingdom, yet that many, who, under mistaken notions of it, professed to desi... [ Continue Reading ]
_And they all with one consent_ Απο μιας is all that is in the original. It seems most natural to supply the ellipsis by the word γνωμης, _consent_, as our translators have done, an interpretation maintained by Beza and Wolfius. _Began to make excuse_ As if by mutual agreement they had all contrived... [ Continue Reading ]
_So that servant came, and showed his lord these things_ So ministers ought to lay before the Lord in prayer the obedience or disobedience of their hearers. _Then the master of the house_ Who had made the entertainment; _being angry_ As he reasonably might be, to see such an affront put upon his spl... [ Continue Reading ]
_And there went great multitudes with him_ It seems they accompanied him from place to place, with eager desire, doubtless, to have the Messiah's kingdom erected; proposing to themselves all manner of wealth and temporal advantage therein. One day, therefore, as they were on the road with him, he th... [ Continue Reading ]
_Which of you, intending to build a tower_, (the word πυργος here signifying the same as the Hebrew _migdol_, seems to denote any great building whatever,) _sitteth not down first and counteth the cost_ To illustrate the necessity of their weighing deliberately, whether they were able and prepared t... [ Continue Reading ]
_Salt is good_ If you are not my disciples indeed, your outward profession will be very insignificant: for, though salt in general is a good thing, and my servants, as I formerly intimated (see on Matthew 5:13,) are the salt of the earth; yet I must again add, _if the salt have lost his savour_ Or b... [ Continue Reading ]