_CHRIST PREACHETH REPENTANCE, UPON THE PUNISHMENT OF THE GALILEANS, AND OTHERS. THE FRUITLESS FIG-TREE MAY NOT STAND. HE HEALETH THE CROOKED WOMAN: SHEWETH THE POWERFUL WORKING OF THE WORD IN THE HEARTS OF THE FAITHFUL, BY THE PARABLE OF THE GRAIN OF MUSTARD-SEED, AND OF LEAVEN: EXHORTETH TO ENTER I... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WERE PRESENT, &C.— Some of our Lord's hearers thought proper to confirm the doctrine in the latter part of the preceding chapter by what they supposed an example of it; for the scope and connection of the passage, as well as our Lord's answer, shew it to have been the thought of these persons,... [ Continue Reading ]
SUPPOSE YE THAT THESE GALILEANS, &C.— Our Lord's hearers had insinuated a very wrong notion of Providence; for which cause he not only condemned it in the question just now mentioned, but told them expressly, that these Galileans were not to be reckoned greater sinners than others, because they had... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOWER IN SILOAM— This tower, by its name, appears to have been built beside the bason, or pool of Siloam, (see John 9:7.) whose waters running into a lower bason, formed what was called _the pool of fleeces,_ probably from the sheep which were washed in it. The upper bason, or pool of Siloam, se... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL ALL LIKEWISE PERISH.— That is, "either by the sword, or in the ruins of your city." See on Luke 13:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, THESE THREE YEARS I COME— See how long I have waited, even three years past, in vain, and still this fig-tree is entirely barren: cut it down; why should it any longer take up the place of better plants, and draw away the fructifying juices of my ground, which might be profitable to other tr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF IT BEAR FRUIT, WELL:— _Perhaps it may bear fruit; but if not,_ &c. Heylin and Doddridge. In the original there is something of an abrupt wayof speaking in this passage, of which the reader will find many examples in Raphelius Annot. ex Xenoph. p. 102. By this parable our Lord plainly represen... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A WOMAN, &C.— Jesus happening to preach in one of the synagogues of Perea on a sabbath-day, cast his eyes upon a woman in the congregations, who had not been able to stand upright during the space of _eighteen years._ Wherefore pitying her affliction, he restored her body to its natural so... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IMMEDIATELY SHE WAS MADE STRAIGHT,— The great favour conferred on her so suddenly, filled the woman with admiration and gratitude; insomuch that she immediately offered up thanksgiving to God. As our blessed Lord undertook this benevolent miracle without any solicitation, it affords us a fine id... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH NOT EACH ONE OF YOU— Our Lord soon put the hypocritical ruler to silence, by placing the action which he found fault with, in the light of their allowed practice. They loosed and led their cattle on the sabbath day to water, and thought the mercy of the work justified them in so doing. He, by u... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT TREE;— _A great plant,_ or _shrub;_ another of the evangelists calls it λαχανος, _the greatest among herbs._ See Matthew 13:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, ARE THERE FEW THAT BE SAVED? &C.— Our Lord was now travelling by slow journies towards Jerusalem, beingon his way to Jordan, from the north-east parts of Judea. Somewhere on the road, probably soon after he had described the success of the gospel by the parables of the mustard-seed and the lea... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HAVE EATEN AND DRUNK IN THY PRESENCE,— "Over and above the privileges which you have enjoyed by the Mosaic dispensation, you shall plead on that occasion the peculiar favour which I shewed you in the days of my flesh, by exercising myministry among you, and by conversing familiarly with you." Per... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SHALL COME, &C.— This part of the answer was levelled directly against the Jewish prejudice, and is a plain declaration that the salvation of God shall be extended to people of all parts of the world; and that many who thought themselves alone entitled to God's favour, in virtue of their peculi... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE CAME CERTAIN OF THE PHARISEES,— From the known disposition of the Pharisees, who were always the professed enemies of Christ, as well as from his answer, it is more than probable that their concern for his safety was feigned, and that their real design was to intimidate him, and make him flee... [ Continue Reading ]
I DO CURES TO-DAY AND TO-MORROW,— Some apply this to the years of Christ's ministry, supposing that a _day_ is put for a _year;_ but the explication is improper, because if the three days here mentioned were intended to comprehend the whole time of our Lord's ministry, this conversation must have ha... [ Continue Reading ]
NEVERTHELESS, I MUST WALK, &C.— _I must continue my course._ "I know all that is to befall me; I know who are my enemies, what their intentions are, and how far they will be able to accomplish them; for which reason you need give yourselves no trouble about me. _I must continue my course to-day and... [ Continue Reading ]