_See what manner of stones_, &c. Our Lord, in the conclusion of his lamentation over Jerusalem, (Matthew 23:38,) had declared that the temple should never be favoured with his presence any more; a declaration which, doubtless, appeared very strange to the disciples, and affected them much. For which... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he sat upon the mount of Olives, over against the temple_ As this mountain stood eastward from the city, it must have been the eastern wall of the temple, fronting that mountain, which the disciples desired their Master to look at, and which, being built from the bottom of the valley to a prodig... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take heed to yourselves_ Walk circumspectly, and arm yourselves both with patience and fortitude, that you may be able to perform your duty amid all the opposition and persecution which you shall meet with. _For they shall deliver you up to councils_, &c. See note on Matthew 10:17; Matthew 24:9. _A... [ Continue Reading ]
_The gospel must first be published among all nations_ “The fulfilment of this part of the prophecy we learn chiefly from the writings of the New Testament, which inform us that the gospel was preached by Paul in Arabia, and through the vast tract from Jerusalem to Iconium in Lycaonia, and in Galati... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take no thought what ye shall speak_ Be not solicitous beforehand what ye shall say in your defence, to vindicate yourselves and your religion from the unrighteous charges and aspersions of your enemies. _But whatsoever shall be given you_ And strongly suggested to your minds; _in that hour, that s... [ Continue Reading ]
_The brother shall betray the brother to death_ The unbelieving Jews and heathen shall discover, betray, and deliver to be imprisoned, tortured, and put to death, their believing relatives, even their brethren, fathers, or children. With respect to the Jews in particular, their known zeal and cruelt... [ Continue Reading ]
_When ye shall see the abomination_, &c. Our Lord, having foretold both the more remote and more immediate signs of the end of the Jewish economy, proceeds to describe the siege and destruction of Jerusalem. _The abomination_ which caused _the desolation_, whereof Daniel prophesied, (Daniel 9:27,) s... [ Continue Reading ]
_If any shall say to you, Lo, here is Christ_ See on Matthew 24:23. _For there shall arise false Christs_ Grotius, and some others, think our Lord had Barchochebas in view here, because he expressly called himself Messiah, and pretended to work great miracles. But as the passage describes what was t... [ Continue Reading ]
_But in those days_ Of vengeance; _after that tribulation_ Attending the siege and taking of Jerusalem; _the sun shall be darkened,_ &c. Our Lord having, in the preceding part of his discourse, given his disciples a particular account of the various circumstances which should precede and accompany t... [ Continue Reading ]
_But of that day and hour knoweth no man_ See note on Matthew 24:36. _Neither the Son, but the Father_ It must be observed here, that “the words ουδε ο υιος, _neither the Son_, have been omitted in some copies of Mark, as they are inserted in some copies of Matthew: but there is no sufficient author... [ Continue Reading ]
_Take ye heed_ Of every thing that would unfit you for your Master's coming, that might lull you into a fatal security, and render you negligent and slothful: _watch and pray_ Let your minds be always awake to a sense of your danger, and be on your guard against it: watch for the coming of your Lord... [ Continue Reading ]