_The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came_ Notwithstanding the difference of their principles, and the alienation of their affections from each other, they now agreed to join in an attempt upon Christ; his doctrine being equally opposed to the errors and vices of both these sects; see the note on... [ Continue Reading ]
_He answered, When it is evening_, &c. As if he had said, It is evident you ask this out of a desire to cavil rather than to discern the divine will, for in other cases you take up with degrees of evidence far short of those which you here reject: as for instance, you know that a red sky in the even... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wicked and adulterous generation_ As if he had said, Ye would seek no further sign, did not your wickedness, and your love of the world, which is spiritual adultery, blind your understanding. _There shall no sign be given, but of the Prophet Jonas_ Or the miracle of Christ's own resurrection, a s... [ Continue Reading ]
_When his disciples were come to the other side_ Namely, of the sea of Tiberias, see Mark 8:13; _they had forgotten to take bread_ They had tarried so long in Dalmanutha, or Magdala, that they had consumed the seven baskets of fragments which they had taken up at the late miracle, recorded Matthew 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jesus came_, &c. There was a large interval of time between what has been related already, and what follows. The passages that follow were but a short time before our Lord suffered: _came into the coasts of Cesarea Philippi_ “This city, while in the possession of the Canaanites, was called Les... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus answered, Blessed_ [or _happy_, as μακαριος signifies] _art thou, Simon Bar-jona_, (or the son of Jonas,) namely, in being brought thus firmly to believe and confess this most important truth, on believing and confessing which the present and everlasting salvation of mankind depends. _For fle... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven_ This expression is metaphorical. As stewards of great families, especially of the royal household, bore a _key_ or _keys_ in token of their office, the phrase of giving a person the keys naturally grew into use, as an expression significative of _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then charged he his disciples_ Greek, διεστειλατο, _he strictly charged_ them: (Luke says, επιτιμησας αυτοις, παρηγγειλε, _having severely charged_, or _charged with threats, he commanded to tell this to no one:_) _that he was Jesus the Christ_ The word _Jesus_ is omitted here in many MSS., some of... [ Continue Reading ]
_From that time forth_ When they had made that full confession of Christ that he was the Messiah, the Son of God; _began Jesus to show unto his disciples_ Another most important point, namely, that he must suffer and be put to death, as a malefactor. If they had not been well grounded in their belie... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Peter took him_ Προσλαβομενος αυτον. What the evangelist meant precisely by this expression, commentators are not agreed. Dr. Doddridge renders it, _taking him by the hand;_ Mr. Wesley, _taking hold of him:_ others again render it, _embracing him;_ and others, _interrupting him._ Dr. Campbell... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he turned and said unto Peter_ Mark reads, _When he had turned about and looked on his disciples_, (who by the air of their countenances, probably, seemed to approve what they had heard Peter say to him,) _he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan_ That is, out of my sight. “He looked... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus unto his disciples_ In Mark we read, _When he had called the people unto him, and his disciples also, he said unto them;_ and in Luke, _He said to them all, If any man will come after me_ Ει τις θελει, _If any man be willing_, no one is forced: but if any will be a Christian, it mus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever will save his life_ At the expense of his conscience: whosoever, in the very highest instance, that of life itself, will not _renounce himself_, shall be lost eternally. But can any man hope he should be able _thus_ to renounce himself, if he cannot do it in the smallest instances? _And w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Verily, there be some standing here_, &c. And that you may not doubt that there shall be a day of judgment, when I shall come clothed with divine majesty, to render unto men according to their actions in this life, let me assure you there are some here present that shall not die till they shall see... [ Continue Reading ]