CHAPTER X. _Jesus calls, commissions, and names his twelve disciples_, 1-4. _Gives them particular instructions relative to the objects of_ _their ministry_, 5, 6. _Mode of preaching, c._, 7-15. _Foretells the afflictions and persecutions they would have to_ _endure, and the support they shoul... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:2. _APOSTLES_] This is the first place where the word is used. αποστολος, an _apostle_, comes from αποστελλω, _I send a_ _message_. The word was anciently used to signify a person commissioned by a king to negotiate any affair between him and any other power or people. Hence αποστολ... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:3. _BARTHOLOMEW_] Many are of opinion that this was _Nathanael_, mentioned John 1:46, whose name was probably _Nathanael bar Talmai_, Nathanael, the son of _Talmai_: here, his own name is repressed, and he is called _Bar Talmai_, or _Bartholomew_, from his _father_. _MATTHEW THE PU... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:4. _SIMON_] He was third son of _Alpheus_, and brother of _James_ and _Jude_, or _Judas_, Matthew 13:55. _THE CANAANITE_] This word is not put here to signify a particular _people_, as it is elsewhere used in the Sacred Writings; but it is formed from the Hebrew קנא _kana_, which s... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:5. _THESE TWELVE JESUS SENT FORTH, AND COMMANDED_] To be properly qualified for a minister of Christ, a man must be, 1. filled with the spirit of holiness; 2. called to this particular work; 3. instructed in its nature, c. and, 4. commissioned to _go_ _forth_, and testify the Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:6. _BUT GO RATHER TO THE LOST SHEEP_, c.] The Jewish Church was the ancient _fold_ of God but the sheep had wandered from their Shepherd, and were lost. Our blessed Lord sends these under-shepherds to seek, find, and bring them back to the Shepherd and Overseer of their souls.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:7. _AND AS YE GO, PREACH_] πορευομενοι δε κηρυσσετε, and as _you proceed, proclaim like heralds _- make this proclamation wherever ye go, and while ye are journeying. Preach and travel; and, as ye travel, preach-proclaim salvation to all you meet. Wherever the ministers of Christ go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:8. _RAISE THE DEAD_] This is wanting in the MSS. marked EKLMS of _Griesbach_, and in those marked BHV of _Mathai_, and in upwards of _one hundred_ others. It is also wanting in the _Syriac_, (Vienna edition,) latter _Persic, Sahidic, Armenian, Sclavonic_, and in one copy of the _It... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:9. _PROVIDE NEITHER GOLD, NOR SILVER, NOR BRASS, IN YOUR_ _PURSES_] εις τας ξωνας υμων, _in your_ GIRDLES. It is supposed that the people of the east carry their money in a fold of their girdles. This is scarcely correct: they carry it in a purse _in_ _their bosom, under their girdl... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:10. _NOR SCRIP FOR_ YOUR _JOURNEY_] To carry provisions. This was called תורמיל _tormil_, by the rabbins; it was a leathern pouch hung about their necks, in which they put their victuals. This was properly, the _shepherd's bag_. _NEITHER TWO COATS_, c.] Nothing to encumber you. _... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:11. _INTO WHATSOEVER CITY OR TOWN YE SHALL ENTER_] In the commencement of Christianity, Christ and his preachers were all _itinerant_. _INQUIRE WHO IN IT IS WORTHY_] That is, of a good character; for a preacher of the Gospel should be careful of his reputation, and lodge only with... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:12. _SALUTE IT_] Λεγουτες, ειρηνη εν τω οικω τουτω, _saying,_ _"Peace be to this house."_ This clause, which, as explanatory of the word ασπασασθε, is necessary to the connection in which it now stands, is added, by the MSS. D and L, and _forty-three_ others, the _Armenian, Ethiopic... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:13. _IF THAT HOUSE BE WORTHY_] If that _family_ be proper for a preacher to lodge in, and the master be ready to embrace the message of salvation. _YOUR PEACE_] The blessings you have prayed for shall come upon the family: God will prosper them in their bodies, souls, and substance... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:14. _SHAKE OFF THE DUST OF YOUR FEET._] The Jews considered themselves defiled by the dust of a heathen country, when was represented by the prophets as a _polluted land_, Amos 7:17, when compared with the land of Israel, which was considered as a _holy land_, Ezekiel 45:1; therefo... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:15. _IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT_] Or, _punishment_, - κρισεως. Perhaps not meaning _the day_ of _general judgment_, nor the day of the _destruction of the Jewish state_ by the _Romans_; but _a_ day in which God should send _punishment_ on that particular city, or on that person, for the... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:16. _BEHOLD, I SEND YOU FORTH AS SHEEP IN THE MIDST OF_ _wolves_] He who is called to preach the Gospel is called to embrace a state of constant labour, and frequent suffering. He who gets ease and pleasure, in consequence of embracing the ministerial office, neither preaches the Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:17. _BUT BEWARE OF MEN_] Or, be on your guard against _men_, των ανθρωπων THESE men; i.e. your _countrymen_; those from whom you might have reasonably expected comfort and support; and especially those in _power_, who will abuse that power to oppress you. _COUNCILS_] συνεδρια, _sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:18. _YE SHALL BE BROUGHT BEFORE GOVERNORS, C._] "This affords a striking proof of the prescience of Christ. Who could have thought, at _that time_, that these _despised_ and _illiterate_ men could excite so much attention, and be called upon to apologize for the profession of their... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:19. _TAKE NO THOUGHT HOW OR WHAT YE SHALL SPEAK_] μη μεριμνησετε - Be not _anxiously_ careful, because such anxiety argues distrust in God, and infallibly produces a _confused_ mind. In such a state, no person is fit to proclaim or vindicate the truth. This promise, _It shall be giv... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:20. _FOR IT IS - THE SPIRIT OF YOUR FATHER_, c.] This was an extraordinary promise, and was literally fulfilled to those first preachers of the Gospel and to them it was essentially necessary, because the New Testament dispensation was to be fully opened by their extraordinary inspi... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:21. _AND THE BROTHER SHALL DELIVER UP THE BROTHER_, c.] What an astonishing enmity is there in the soul of man against God and goodness! That men should think they did God service, in putting to death those who differ from them in their political or religious creed, is a thing that... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:22. _YE SHALL BE HATED OF ALL_ MEN _FOR MY NAME'S SAKE_] Because ye are attached to me, and saved from the corruption that is in the world; _therefore_ the world will hate you. "The laws of Christ condemn a vicious world, and gall it to revenge." _HE THAT ENDURETH TO THE END SHALL... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:23. _BUT WHEN THEY PERSECUTE YOU_] It is prudence and humility (when charity or righteousness obliges us not to the contrary) to avoid persecution. To deprive those who are disposed to do evil of the opportunities of doing it; to convey the grace which they despise to others; to acc... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:24. _THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER_] Or in plainer terms, _A scholar is not above his teacher_. The saying itself requires no comment, its truth and reasonableness are self-evident, but to the spirit and design we should carefully attend. Jesus is the great _teacher_: we prof... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:25. _IT IS ENOUGH FOR THE DISCIPLE THAT HE BE AS HIS_ _master_] Can any man who pretends to be a scholar or disciple of Jesus Christ, expect to be treated well by the _world_? Will not the world love its _own_, and them _only_? Why, then, so much impatience under sufferings, such an... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:26. _FEAR THEM NOT_] A general direction to all the persecuted followers of Christ. Fear them not, for they can make you suffer nothing worse than they have made Christ suffer; and under all trials he has promised the most ample support. _FOR THERE IS NOTHING COVERED_, c.] God sees... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:27. _WHAT I TELL YOU IN DARKNESS_] A man ought to preach that only which he has learned from God's Spirit, and his testimonies; but let him not pretend to bring forth any thing _new_, or _mysterious_. There is nothing that concerns our salvation that is _newer_ than the _new covenan... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:28. _FEAR NOT THEM WHICH KILL THE BODY_] των αποκτεινοντων. Those who slay with acts of cruelty, alluding probably to the cruelties which persecutors should exercise on his followers in their martyrdom. _But are not able to kill the soul_. Hence we find that the body and the soul ar... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 29. _ARE NOT TWO SPARROWS SOLD FOR A FARTHING?_] ασσαριου. A Roman AS was one-tenth of a DENARIUS, which was about _sevenpence-halfpenny_, and one-tenth of sevenpence-halfpenny makes just three _farthings_. The word ασσαριον, which we translate _farthing_, is found among the rabbins in the w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 30. _BUT THE VERY HAIRS OF YOUR HEAD ARE ALL NUMBERED._] Nothing is more astonishing than the care and concern of God for his followers. The least circumstances of their life are regulated, not merely by that _general_ providence which extends to all things, but by a _particular_ providence, w... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 31. _FEAR YE NOT - YE ARE OF MORE VALUE_] None can estimate the value of a soul, for which Christ has given his _blood_ and _life_! Have confidence in his goodness; for he who so dearly purchased thee will miraculously preserve and save thee. Did the poet intend to contradict Christ when he sa... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 32. _WHOSOEVER THEREFORE SHALL CONFESS ME BEFORE MEN_] That is, whosoever shall acknowledge me to be the Messiah, and have his heart and _life_ regulated by my spirit and doctrine. It is not merely sufficient to have the _heart_ right before God; there must be a firm, manly, and public profess... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 33. _WHOSOEVER SHALL DENY ME_] Whosoever prefers his worldly interest to his duty to God, sets a greater value on earthly than on heavenly things, and prefers the friendship of _men_ to the approbation of GOD. Let it be remembered, that to be renounced by Christ is to have him neither for a M... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 34. _THINK NOT THAT I AM COME TO SEND PEACE_, c.] The meaning of this difficult passage will be plain, when we consider the import of the word _peace_, and the _expectation_ of the Jews. I have already had occasion to remark, (Matthew 10:12,) that the word שלום _shalom_, rendered by the Greek... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 35. _I AM COME TO SET A MAN AT VARIANCE_] The spirit of Christ can have no union with the spirit of the world. Even a father, while unconverted, will oppose a godly child. Thus the spirit that is in those who sin against God is opposed to that spirit which is in the followers of the Most High.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 36. _A MAN'S FOES SHALL BE THEY OF HIS OWN HOUSEHOLD._] Our Lord refers here to their own traditions. So _Sota_, fol. 49. "A little before the coming of the Messiah, the son shall insult the father, the daughter rebel against her mother, the daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and each... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 37. _HE THAT LOVETH FATHER OR MOTHER MORE THAN ME_] He whom we love the most is he whom we study most to please, and whose will and interests we prefer in all cases. If, in order to please a father or mother who are opposed to vital godliness, we abandon God's ordinances and followers, we are... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 38. _HE THAT TAKETH NOT HIS CROSS_] i.e. He who is not ready, after my example, to suffer death in the cause of my religion, _is not worthy of me_, does not deserve to be called my disciple. This alludes to the custom of causing the criminal _to bear his_ _own cross_ to the place of execution... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse 39. _HE THAT FINDETH HIS LIFE_, c.] i.e. He who, for the sake of his _temporal interest_, abandons his _spiritual concerns_, shall lose his soul and he who, in order to avoid _martyrdom_, abjures the pure religion of Christ, shall lose his _soul_, and perhaps his _life_ too. _He that findeth h... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:40. _HE THAT RECEIVETH YOU_] Treats you kindly, _receiveth_ _me_; I will consider the kindness as shown to myself; for he who receiveth me, as the true Messiah, receiveth that God by whose counsels and through whose love I am come.... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:41. _HE THAT RECEIVETH A PROPHET_] προφητην, a _teacher_, not a _foreteller of future events_, for this is not always the meaning of the word; but one commissioned by God to _teach the_ _doctrines_ of eternal life. It is no small honour to receive into one's house a minister of Jes... [ Continue Reading ]
Verse Matthew 10:42. _A CUP OF COLD WATER_] υδατος, of _water_, is not in the common text, but it is found in the _Codex Bezae, Coptic,_ _Armenian, Gothic, Anglo-Saxon, Slavonic_, all copies of the _Itala_, _Vulgate_, and _Origen_. It is necessarily understood; the ellipsis of the same _substantive_... [ Continue Reading ]