_CHRIST SENDETH OUT HIS TWELVE APOSTLES, ENABLING THEM TO DO MIRACLES; GIVETH THEM THEIR CHARGE, TEACHETH THEM, COMFORTETH THEM AGAINST PERSECUTIONS, AND PROMISETH A BLESSING TO THOSE THAT RECEIVE THEM._ _Anno Domini 30._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HAD CALLED UNTO HIM— The distinction of the sacred writings into Chapter s and verses, which is a modern invention to facilitate references, has with that advantage many inconveniencies, because it often breaks that thread of discourse, which is the proper clue to lead us into the meanin... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THE NAMES, &C.— In the catalogue of the apostles, _Simon_ and _Andrew,_ the sons of Jonah, are named first; not because they were greater in dignity than their brethren of the apostolical college, but because they had become Christ's disciples before them. With respect to Andrew, this is plain f... [ Continue Reading ]
GO NOT INTO THE WAY, &C.— It may seem strange that our Lord neither preached himself to the Gentiles in general, nor allowed his disciples to preach among them, during his own lifetime; especially when it is evident that he came into the world on purpose to destroy the polytheism of the heathens, th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP, &C.— See what has been said concerning the metaphors of _sheep_ and _harvest,_ in the note on Matthew 10:1. With respect to the first, it should be remembered, that in the note on ch. Matthew 3:7 it was observed, that men, as animals, have each of them a peculiar res... [ Continue Reading ]
PREACH, SAYING, &C.— The original word is Κηρυσσετε, which is derived from κηρυξ _a herald,_ and signifies "proclaim, with that ardour and zeal which becomes my heralds." Probably they were to make this proclamation with a loud voice, as they passed through the streets of the towns which they visite... [ Continue Reading ]
RAISE THE DEAD— In several copies this clause is wanting; for which reason, and because the disciples did not raise any person from the dead whom we read of, till after Christ's ascension, Dr. Mill takes it for an interpolation. But his opinion is ill-founded; as it is certain that this, with severa... [ Continue Reading ]
BRASS IN YOUR PURSES— The Greek word κτησησθε, which signifies to _possess_, signifies also to _get,_ to _furnish oneself with;_ which is the meaning of it here. The stress seems to lie on this word: they might use what they had already, but they might not delay at all to provide any thing more, nor... [ Continue Reading ]
NOR SCRIP FOR YOUR JOURNEY— The _scrip,_ Πηρα, was a sort of _large bag,_ in which shepherds, and those who journeyed, carried their provisions. See on Luke 10:34. Thus the bag into which David put the _smooth stones,_ wherewith he smote Goliah, is called both a _scrip_ and a _shepherd's bag,_ In th... [ Continue Reading ]
INQUIRE WHO IN IT IS WORTHY— Anciently they had no houses of entertainment for the accommodation of travellers, but only houses for lodging them, called in modern language _caravanseras,_ into which travellers brought their own provisions and accommodated themselves in the best manner they could; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN YE COME, &C.— The Vulgate, and many manuscripts, add to the end of the 12th verse,—_saying, Peace be to this house;_ words which we find in the parallel place, Luke 10:5 and which serve to explain the verse following; for they shew that this salutation was no formal compliment in the mouths of... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT RECEIVE YOU— In Scripture, to _receive one_ signifies to allow him the benefit of our company, to converse familiarly with him, and to do him good offices. See Luke 15:2. It signifies also to entertain one hospitably, being applied twice to Rahab's entertaining the spies, Hebrews... [ Continue Reading ]
BEHOLD, I SEND YOU FORTH AS SHEEP, &C.— Considering the nature of the tidings which the apostles were now sent out to publish, namely, that _the kingdom of heaven was at hand_, the number and variety of miraculous cures which they were enabled to perform in confirmation of their doctrine, and the gr... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT BEWARE OF MEN— "Though I order you to be meek and patient under injuries, I do not mean that you should not be on your guard, and, as far as is consistent with conscience and duty, avoid them: no, the more circumspect you are, the better; for, after all,you will meet with many indignities, and o... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY DELIVER YOU UP, TAKE NO THOUGHT— _Be not solicitous._ This direction was repeated on several occasions afterwards; see particularly Mark 13:11.Luke 12:11. The apostles, being illiterate men, and wholly unacquainted with the laws of the different countries whither they were to go, as we... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE BROTHER SHALL DELIVER UP, &C.— "Such is the nature of the men among whom ye are going, and such the obstinacy with which they will oppose the Gospel, that, were it their brother, their father, or their son who preached it, they would make no scruple of being active in putting these nearest r... [ Continue Reading ]
YE SHALL BE HATED OF ALL MEN— They who believed the testimony of the apostles, as multitudes did, could not but ardently love them, astheir fathers in Christ. See Galatians 4:15. This, therefore, is plainly one of those many scriptures, in which the universal term _all_ is to be taken with great res... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THEY PERSECUTE YOU, &C.— "Let not the persecutions that you are to meet with, in any period of your ministry, discourage you: but when you are sore pressed in any one city, flee to another, where you will meet with an asylum: _for I assure you,_ in spite of all opposition, your labours shal... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER, &C.— "That you may bear all with a becoming fortitude, consider that they have calumniated, traduced, and persecuted me your Master; for which cause you, my disciples, cannot think it hard ifthey calumniate and persecute you." This is a proverbial expression, wh... [ Continue Reading ]
FEAR THEM NOT THEREFORE, &C.— The meaning of this verse is, that the disciples ought not to conceal the truth which had been committed to them, notwithstanding all the contradictions that they might meet with in the course of their ministry; because the design of the Lord Jesus Christ was, that the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT I TELL YOU IN DARKNESS— That is, in private. _In the light,_ means in public. In the next words our Lord alludes to a custom among the Jews, whose teachers were accustomed to have their interpreters, who received the dictates of their masters whispered in the ear, and then publicly proposed the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FEAR NOT THEM, &C.— This was a saying familiar to the Jews. See Wis 16:13-15 and compare Isaiah 51:7. Our Saviour most wisely cautions his disciples against the fear of man, since they were going to encounter all the powers of the world and of darkness, by promoting the gospel of purity, and of... [ Continue Reading ]
ARE NOT TWO SPARROWS SOLD FOR A FARTHING? &C.— Our Saviour here goes on to encourage his disciples, from the important consideration of God's particular providence. "You should consider that your enemies cannot touch even your bodies without your Father's permission; for the meanest of his creatures... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER SHALL CONFESS ME,—WILL I CONFESS, &C.— _Acknowledge,_ &c. To _confess,_ here signifies publicly to acknowledge Jesus Christ for the promised Messiah, and the Son of God. This confession extends to the receiving of his whole doctrines, and even the least of his commands. To _deny_ Jesus Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
THINK NOT THAT I AM COME, &C.— "Because the prophets have spoken glorious things of the peace and happiness which shall flourish under the Messiah, whom they have named, for that reason, _the prince of peace;_ you may imagine that I am come to put the world into that happy state immediately: but thi... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT LOVETH FATHER OR MOTHER, &C.— See Deuteronomy 33:9 to which our Saviour manifestly alludes. "He who preferreth the friendship of his nearest relations, though the sweetest of all earthly satisfactions, to my religion; renouncing it, that he may enjoy their goodwill; is not worthy of being my... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT TAKETH NOT HIS CROSS— This alludes to the custom of criminals carrying the cross to which they were to be fastened; and was a strong intimation, that he should himself be crucified; and that none could be a sincere Christian without a willingness to bear even that shameful and cruel death fo... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT FINDETH HIS LIFE, &C.— "He who makes shipwreck of faith and a good conscience to save his life, shall lose that which is really so,—his everlasting happiness; whereas he who maintains his integrity with the loss of life, and all its enjoyments, shall find what is infinitely better,—a blessed... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT RECEIVETH, &C.— "As you shall be rewarded for perseverance in my faith, Matthew 10:39 so in proportion shall they who entertain you for my sake. _He who receiveth you,_ &c. that is to say, _sheweth you kindness_,—sheweth _me_ kindness, and for the same reason sheweth my Father kindness, who... [ Continue Reading ]