_And when they drew nigh unto Jerusalem_ Namely, on the first day of the week, five days before his death, for the passover was kept on the fourteenth day of the month, and this was the tenth; on which day the law appointed that the paschal-lamb should be taken up, Exodus 12:3, and set apart for tha... [ Continue Reading ]
_All this was done, &_ c. Ινα πληρωθη το ρηθεν δια του προφητου, _that what was spoken by the prophets might be fulfilled_, that is, not only hereby the words of the prophet were fulfilled, but our Lord directed this to be done, that they might be fulfilled. As the prophets looked forward to him, an... [ Continue Reading ]
_The disciples went, &c._ (_and found even as he had said unto them_, Luke,) found his prediction exactly true. And how convincing must this have been of the divine mission of Jesus, not only to the two disciples that were sent, but to every unprejudiced person in that great multitude who were witne... [ Continue Reading ]
_And the multitude that went before, and that followed_ In this triumphal procession, _cried, saying_ Probably from a divine impulse; for certainly most of them understood not the words they uttered, _Hosanna_ (_Lord, save us,_) which was a solemn word in frequent use among the Jews. The meaning is,... [ Continue Reading ]
_And Jesus went into the temple_ He did not go up to the court, or to the palace, though he came in as a king; but to the temple; for his kingdom is spiritual, and not of this world. It is in holy things that he rules, and in the temple of God that he exercises authority. _And cast out them that sol... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the chief priests, &c., saw the wonderful things he did_ The undeniable and astonishing miracles which he performed, _and the children crying in the temple_, and continuing the song which the multitude had begun, _Hosanna to the son of David, they were sore displeased_ Inwardly vexed and fille... [ Continue Reading ]
_In the morning, as he returned, he hungered_ For, being a man, he was subject to all the innocent infirmities of our nature, and he had come out from Bethany early without eating any thing: _And when he saw a fig-tree_ (Gr. συκην μιαν, _a single fig-tree_) _in the way_ Having a fine spread of leave... [ Continue Reading ]
_When he was come into the temple, the chief priests came_ Who thought he violated their right: _And the elders of the people_ Probably, members of the sanhedrim, to whom that title most properly belonged: which is the more probable, as they were the persons under whose cognizance the late action of... [ Continue Reading ]
_But what think ye_ As if he had said, You have evaded a direct answer to my question concerning the baptism of John, and have acknowledged your ignorance whence it was; but what think you of your own conduct in these circumstances? and of all the high professions you make of an extraordinary revere... [ Continue Reading ]
_Hear another parable_ In which you are very nearly concerned, as your own consciences must quickly tell you. In the preceding parable of the _two sons_, our Lord convicted the Pharisees, the chief priests, and elders, of absolute disobedience to God, their heavenly Father, notwithstanding all their... [ Continue Reading ]
_And when the time of fruit drew near_ And a return was to be made to the proprietor from the profits of the vineyard, which was only let out to these husbandmen, that they might render to him duly the fruits agreed on, namely, those of gratitude, love, and obedience; _he sent his servants_ His extr... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the Lord cometh_ Armed with a power which they will be utterly unable to resist, _What will he do unto these husbandmen_ Who had been so treacherous and cruel? With a view to their stronger conviction, he refers it to themselves to judge in this case. For God's proceedings are so unexceptionab... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus saith unto them_ Luke says, εμβλεψας αυτοις, ειπε, _having looked on them_, namely, with great compassion and solemnity in his countenance, _he said, Did ye never read_, or never reflect upon this remarkable passage in the Scriptures, _The stone which the builders refused_, &c.? As if he had... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever shall fall on this stone_ Which the builders have rejected, but which God will make the head of the corner; that is, whosoever shall stumble at me and my doctrine, while I am here on earth in this humble form; _shall be broken_ Shall receive much damage. This is spoken in allusion to a pe... [ Continue Reading ]