_And he spake_, &c. Ελεγε δε και παραβολην αυτοις. _He also spake a parable to them._ The particle δε, here used, plainly implies, that this parable has a relation to the preceding discourse, of which indeed it is a continuation, but which is improperly interrupted by the division of the Chapter s.... [ Continue Reading ]
_There was in a city a judge, which feared not God_, &c. This magistrate, being governed by atheistical principles, had no inducement from religion to do justice; at the same time, being very powerful, he did not regard what men said or thought of him; wherefore, in all his decisions, he was influen... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith_ “If the repeated, importunate cries of the afflicted do at length make an impression on the hearts even of men so wicked as to glory in their impiety, injustice, and barbarity, they will much more be regarded by God; most gracious, who is ever re... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he spake this parable_ Having in the preceding parable guarded his disciples against faintness and weariness in prayer, he here guards them against the contrary extreme of self-confidence: _unto certain_ For the conviction of certain persons in his train; _who trusted in themselves that they we... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself_ The original clause, σταθεις προς εαυτον ταυτα προσηυχετο, it seems, should rather be rendered, _standing by himself prayed these things._ Read thus, it is characteristical of the sect, who always affected to dread pollution from the touch of those w... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the publican, standing afar off_ 1st, Under a sense of his being unworthy to be permitted to draw near to God, or to go up among his people into the court of Israel, though probably a Jew, he stood at a distance in the court of the Gentiles, probably without the stone wall, termed by the apostl... [ Continue Reading ]
_They brought unto him infants_, &c. The contents of these verses we had Matthew 19:13; Mark 10:13; where see the notes. The passage very fitly follows the story of the publican, as a confirmation of the truth which was to be illustrated by that parable, that those shall be accepted with God and hon... [ Continue Reading ]
_And a certain ruler_ The following account is given us both by Matthew and Mark; from whom we learn, that he was a young man, and very rich: but only Luke informs us that he was _a ruler_, or magistrate. For an explanation at large of this whole paragraph, see notes on Matthew 19:16; Mark 10:17. _Y... [ Continue Reading ]
_Behold, we go up to Jerusalem_, &c. See notes on Matthew 22:17; Mark 10:32. _They understood none of these things_ They could not but understand the literal meaning of what our Lord said. But as they could not reconcile this to their preconceived opinion of the Messiah's kingdom, they were utterly... [ Continue Reading ]
_A certain blind man_, &c. Of the miracle here recorded, see on Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46.... [ Continue Reading ]