THE LORD'S PRAYER. THE SIGN OF JONAH 1-4. The Lord's Prayer (Matthew 6:9). See on Mt. If the Lord's Prayer was given only once, St. Luke is probably right as to the occasion. His version, however (as in the case of the Beatitudes), is manifestly inferior to St. Matthew's. Of the seven petitions he... [ Continue Reading ]
OUR FATHER WHICH ART IN HEAVEN] The true reading here is simply 'Father.' THY WILL BE DONE, AS IN HEAVEN, SO ON EARTH] Modern editors omit this clause.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL ('the evil one')] Modern editors omit this clause also.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FRIEND AT MIDNIGHT (peculiar to Lk). The connexion with what goes before is suitable and natural. Having given the disciples a form of intercessory prayer, Jesus encourages them to persevere in its use, and also in the use of other prayers formed on its model, by a homely parable, the lesson of... [ Continue Reading ]
IMPORTUNITY] better, 'shamelessness.'... [ Continue Reading ]
PRAYER AND THE ANSWER TO PRAYER (Matthew 7:7, Sermon on the Mount). See on Mt. 11, 12. In answer to prayer God gives neither what is useless (a stone) nor what is harmful (a serpent, or scorpion). The scorpion (Luke 10:19; Deuteronomy 8:15; Ezekiel 2:6; Revelation 9:3; Revelation 9:5; Revelation 9:1... [ Continue Reading ]
A SIGN FROM HEAVEN DEMANDED. See on Matthew 12:38; Matthew 16:1, and see on Luke 11:29.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST AND BEELZEBUB. See on Matthew 12:25. 21, 22. Lk is here fuller and more picturesque than Mt and Mk. The imagery seems derived from Isaiah 49:24. 21 A STRONG MAN] RV 'the strong man fully armed,' i.e. Satan. HIS PALACE (RV 'own court') is the world, so far as it is under his usurped dominio... [ Continue Reading ]
THE PERIL OF THE VACANT SOUL (Matthew 12:43). See on Mt. 27, 28. A WOMAN CALLS OUR LORD'S MOTHER BLESSED (peculiar to Lk). Mk and Mt insert at this point the incident of our Lord's mother and brethren wishing to see Him (Matthew 12:46; Mark 3:31), which St. Luke has already recorded in a quite diff... [ Continue Reading ]
AS HE SPAKE] What our Lord had just said about the danger of a relapse after a superficial repentance (Luke 11:26) struck the woman as so true to life (probably through some unfortunate experience in her own family), that she was moved to express her appreciation of His teaching openly. BLESSED, etc... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SIGN OF JONAH (Matthew 12:38). See on Mt.... [ Continue Reading ]
A favourite saying of Christ's occurring in various connexions (Luke 8:16; Matthew 5:15; Mark 4:21). Here it means that Christ by His public preaching and miracles has made Himself so conspicuous and public a 'sign' to this generation, that they ought to ask for no other. 34-36. (Matthew 6:22, q.v.... [ Continue Reading ]
INWARD LIGHT AND DARKNESS. Christ is still rebuking those who refused to believe in Him without a special sign from heaven. In St. Matthew these vv. form part of the Sermon on the Mount.... [ Continue Reading ]
CHRIST IS ENTERTAINED BY A PHARISEE. HE DENOUNCES PHARISAIC FORMALISM AND HYPOCRISY. For the relation of this discourse to Matthew 23:1, see on Matthew 23:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
WASHED] lit. 'baptised': see on Mark 7:1. 39-41. See on Matthew 23:25; Matthew 23:26. 'What is the use of you Pharisees cleansing the outward appearance of your conduct (symbolised by the outside of the cup and the platter), if your souls within are full of greed and wickedness? God, who made both... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE ALMS OF SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE] A possible, but unlikely translation. Better, 'Give as alms what is within (the cup and platter).' Others render, 'Give your hearts to almsgiving.' ALL THINGS] i.e. all your vessels.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Matthew 23:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Matthew 23:6.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Matthew 23:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Matthew 23:4. 47, 48. See on Matthew 23:29. 49-51. See on Matthew 23:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ALSO SAID THE WISDOM OF GOD] In Matthew 23:34 the words are an utterance of Christ Himself. Christ's knowledge of the divine counsels is so complete that His utterances are also utterances of the Wisdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]
See on Matthew 23:13. THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE] i.e. the key which opens the door to knowledge of the things concerning the kingdom of God.... [ Continue Reading ]