_JOHN SENDETH HIS DISCIPLES TO CHRIST. CHRIST'S TESTIMONY CONCERNING JOHN. THE OPINION OF THE PEOPLE BOTH CONCERNING JOHN AND CHRIST. CHRIST UPBRAIDETH THE UNTHANKFULNESS AND IMPENITENCE OF CHORAZIN, BETHSAIDA, AND CAPERNAUM: AND, PRAISING HIS FATHER'S WISDOM IN REVEALING THE GOSPEL TO THE SIMPLE, H... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD MADE AN END OF COMMANDING— _Had finished his instructions to,_ &c. Heylin. _In their cities_—means "in the other cities of the Jews;" for the pronoun is often put without having a noun going before, to which it refers. Compare Luke 4:15; Luke 5:17.: or else, by the _cities_ here mentioned, we ma... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN JOHN HAD HEARD, &C.— Beausobre and Lenfant, with some others, think, that John was so discouraged by his own long imprisonment, that he began himself to doubt whether Jesus was himself the Messiah; and agreeably to this he supposes, that when our Lord says, _happy is he that is not offended... [ Continue Reading ]
ART THOU HE THAT SHOULD COME— It seems that by their speaking of the Messiah in the phrase _he that cometh,_ or _he that is coming,_ ('Ο ερχομενος,) the pious Jews in the most lively manner expressed their confident expectation of him, and their eager longing for his appearance, as the greatest, mos... [ Continue Reading ]
GO, AND SHEW JOHN, &C.— This answer is a clear reference to a signal prophesy of Isaiah concerning the Messiah; and therefore it is manifest that Jesus referred the inquirers for conviction at once to the evidence of prophesies and miracles. The finger of God is manifest in the whole occurrence. It... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT— Nothing can be more apposite, natural, and convincing, than such an answer as this; which took its rise from what Christ was then doing, and rested on the most apparent testimony of God himself, in astonishing miracles, to which they knew their master made no pretences... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED IS HE WHOSOEVER, &C.— See the note on chap. Matthew 5:29. It was foretold of the Messiah, that the world should be _offended at him,_ Isaiah 8:14; Isaiah 53:1. Thisisintimatedinthepresentwords;whereinourSaviourhints,thatnotwithstanding the great works which he did among them, which testified... [ Continue Reading ]
WHAT WENT YE OUT, &C.— These, and the following questions, are in the style of the Hebrews; and according to the idiom of their language, imply a strong negation. The reader by recurring to the book of Job will meet many passages to confirm this observation; so that, according to this interpretation... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HE, OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN— See the note on Malachi 3:1. Dr. Hammond observes, that what is here _before thy face,_ is in Malachi _before my face,_ or _before me_. Hence it appears, that Christ, here referred to by the word _thy,_ is there the same with God; or, yet farther, that the _face_ o... [ Continue Reading ]
AMONG THEM THAT ARE BORN OF WOMEN— "As he is, with regard to his moral and religious character, one of the best men, so he has some peculiar honours superior to any prophet of former generations: Nevertheless, there is a sense in which he that is least in the kingdom of heaven, not only in its final... [ Continue Reading ]
THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN SUFFERETH VIOLENCE— _Is violently invaded._ Dr. Heylin reads it, _The kingdom of heaven is entered by force, and they who strive with all their might take it, as by violence._ The kingdom of heaven was indeed the inheritance both of Jews and Gentiles; but _the Jews esteemed all... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE WILL RECEIVE IT— There is nothing for the particle _it_ in the original; therefore Dr. Heylin reads _him;_ and if this be the proper supplement, says he, we must understand that total perfect repentance which constitutes the common character both of him and Elias. For more on this subject... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, &C.— In the prophetic style of writing in general, there are two senses exhibited to the reader; first the literal, and then the figurative; for, as the words are intended to be the vehicle of the literal sense, so the literal sense is intended to be the vehicle of the fig... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEREUNTO SHALL I LIKEN, &C.— For the better understanding of our Saviour in this place, see Luke 7:29. To shew the Pharisees more plainly the perverseness of their disposition, our Saviour told them they were like children at play, who never do what their companions desire them; peevish and fro... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN CAME NEITHER EATING, &C.— Our Lord justifies the application of the proverb in the preceding verse to the Pharisees, by observing, that the divine Wisdom had tried every method proper for converting them, but in vain; for, first of all, the Baptist was sent unto them, in the stern dignity o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BEGAN HE TO UPBRAID THE CITIES— After reproving the Pharisees, Jesus pronounced heavy judgments against Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, cities which he had often blessed with his presence; for though they had heard him preach many awakening sermons, and seen him perform many astonishing mir... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID— Dr. Doddridge reads this, _Jesus took occasion to say;_ and when the words so introduced, says he, are not a reply to any preceding speech, I apprehend the version here given expresses the sense of them with greater exactness. Dr. Heylin renders it, _Jesus conti... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO, FATHER— The Prussian editors render this verse, _Thus it is, O Father, because such was thy will;_ and Mr. Wynne observes, that possibly the Greek would be more properly rendered, _Be it so, O Father, since such has been thy pleasure._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THINGS ARE DELIVERED, &C.— "Every thing relating to the salvation of the world is committed by my Father to my care as Mediator." _And no one knoweth,_ &c.—"Knoweth his nature and dignity, what he hath done, and what he is yet to do, for the salvation of the world." _Neither knoweth any one the... [ Continue Reading ]
COME UNTO ME, &C.— Our Saviour here shews to whom he is pleased to reveal these things. Warmed with the most ardent love to men, he graciously invites _all_ who are weary of the slavery of sin, and desire to be in a state of reconciliation with God, to _come unto him_ or _to believe in him:_ not bec... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU— The word _yoke_ is used even by the heathen philosophers, to signify doctrine and precepts. St. John interpreting this passage in his first Epistle, 1 John 1:3 substitutes the word _commandments_ instead of _yoke._ The meaning is, "My doctrine and precepts are easy and pleasan... [ Continue Reading ]