AND IT CAME TO PASS,.... In the course of things, and as before determined and resolved on, that WHEN JESUS HAD MADE AN END OF COMMANDING HIS TWELVE DISCIPLES; when he had given them a commission to preach the Gospel, had finished all his instructions he thought fit to give them, and orders he enjo... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN JOHN HAD HEARD IN THE PRISON,.... The person here spoken of is John the Baptist, the forerunner of Christ, who was now in the prison of Machaerus; being put there by Herod, for his reproving him for taking Herodias, his brother Philip's wife; and whilst he was there, an account was brought... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAID UNTO HIM,.... By the disciples he sent; this was the message they came with, and this the question they were to ask, and did, ART THOU HE THAT SHOULD COME? A "periphrasis" of the Messiah, well known to the Jews; for he had been spoken of frequently in the prophecies of the Old Testament, a... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM,.... Not by an express declaration, that he was the Messiah that was to come, and they were not to look for any other; but he bids them GO, AND SHOW JOHN AGAIN, THOSE THINGS WHICH YE DO HEAR AND SEE. Christ would have them go back to John in prison, and relate to h... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLIND RECEIVE THEIR SIGHT,.... Our Lord here, has reference to several prophecies concerning the Messiah, in Isaiah 35:6 and which having their accomplishment in him, John and his disciples might easily and strongly conclude, that he was he that was to come, and that they should not look for ano... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLESSED IS HE WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT BE OFFENDED IN ME. The Jews were offended at Christ's parentage and birth, at the poverty of his parents, and at the manner of his birth, by a virgin; and at the place of his birth, which they thought to be Galilee; at his education, because he had not learnt le... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THEY DEPARTED,.... That is, the messengers of John, Luke 7:24 when they returned to their master, to give an account to him of what they had heard and seen, JESUS BEGAN TO SAY UNTO THE MULTITUDES CONCERNING JOHN; he took this opportunity before the whole company, who had heard what passed in... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHAT WENT YE OUT FOR TO SEE?.... Since it cannot be thought it was to see the reeds in the wilderness blow to and fro by the wind, or a man like one of them, either in gesture or doctrine; was it to see A MAN CLOTHED IN SOFT RAIMENT? In raiment made of soft materials, as fine wool, cotton, silk... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHAT WENT YE OUT FOR TO SEE?.... Since it was not any thing so mean as a shaking reed, or so grand as a man in gay clothing, pray what was it you went out to see? A PROPHET? This was the truth of the matter, they expected to see a prophet, and they believed he was one; this was the common voice... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THIS IS HE OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN,.... Malachi 3:1 BEHOLD I SEND MY MESSENGER BEFORE THY FACE, WHICH SHALL PREPARE THY WAY BEFORE THEE. That these words belong לעולם הבא, to the world to come, or the times of the Messiah, that is, the Gospel dispensation, the Jews z themselves own; but as to the... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU,.... What Christ had before said, he proved from a testimony of Scripture; what he was about to say depending on his word, he asseverates in the most solemn manner: AMONG THEM THAT ARE BORN OF WOMEN, THERE HATH NOT RISEN A GREATER THAN JOHN THE BAPTIST. The phrase, "them that... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FROM THE DAYS OF JOHN THE BAPTIST UNTIL NOW,.... From the time that he began to preach, to the then present time, THE KINGDOM OF HEAVEN, the Gospel, and the ministry of it, first by John, then by Christ and his apostles, SUFFERETH VIOLENCE; or "comes with force", and power upon the souls of me... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR ALL THE PROPHETS AND THE LAW PROPHESIED UNTIL JOHN. These words are to be considered in connection with Matthew 11:11 and are a further proof of John's being greater than any of the prophets; because all the inspired writers and prophets, who were before him, prophesied of the Messiah as to come... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE WILL RECEIVE IT,.... The words carry in them some suspicion of unbelief and hardness of heart, as though they would not receive it: however, whether they would or not, it was a certain truth, that THIS same person, "John the Baptist", IS ELIAS, WHICH WAS FOR TO COME; who was appointed by... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT HATH EARS TO HEAR, LET HIM HEAR. A way of speaking used by Christ, when anything serious, and of great importance, was delivered; and which required attention, and was not easily understood: and such were the several things he had mentioned in this context; as that John was more than a proph... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEREUNTO SHALL I LIKEN THIS GENERATION? The men of that age, the stubborn and perverse Jews; who were pleased with nothing, with no man's ministry, neither with John's, nor with Christ's, but found fault with whatever they heard, or saw done: IT IS LIKE UNTO CHILDREN SITTING IN THE MARKETS, AN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAYING, WE HAVE PIPED UNTO YOU, AND YE HAVE NOT DANCED,.... The allusion is to Jewish children, who having seen their parents and friends at their festivals and weddings, some play upon the pipe, and others dance to them, mimicked the same in their diversions; and also having observed, at funera... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN CAME NEITHER EATING NOR DRINKING,.... This and the following verse are an explanation of the foregoing "parable"; and this shows, that John and his disciples are the persons that mourned, of which his austere life was a proof: for when he "came", being sent of God, and appeared as a public... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF MAN CAME EATING AND DRINKING,.... Meaning himself, who ate and drank as men usually do, lived in the common way of life, was free and sociable, went to feasts, entertainments, and weddings, when he was invited; and was affable, courteous, and friendly in his deportment, to all men; AND T... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BEGAN HE TO UPBRAID THE CITIES,.... When he had sent forth his disciples to preach, and had been in these several cities hereafter mentioned himself, and had taught and preached in them, and confirmed his doctrine by many wonderful works; when he had observed how ill they had used both John and... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO THEE, CHORAZIN!.... Though many of Christ's mighty works were done in this place, yet mention is made of it no where else, but here; whether it was a single city, or a country, is not easy to determine: the word חורשין, "Chorasin", signifying "woody places", Dr. Lightfoot l conjectures it m... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU,.... What may be depended upon as true, and which shall certainly come to pass, however the inhabitants of these cities might flatter themselves; or in whatsoever light they might look upon their neighbours, the Tyrians and Sidonians; and fancy themselves to be the favourites of h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THOU CAPERNAUM,.... This city is singled out from all the rest, and spoken to particularly, because of its peculiar advantages: WHICH ART EXALTED UNTO HEAVEN; which has respect to the very great privileges this place enjoyed, it being the city where Christ chose to dwell, and for a time fixed h... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU,.... Capernaum, and the inhabitants thereof, as before, to Chorazin and Bethsaida. IT SHALL BE MORE TOLERABLE FOR THE LAND OF SODOM, IN THE DAY OF JUDGMENT, THAN FOR THEE: though the punishment of the men of Sodom will be very great, their iniquities being horribly dreadful and e... [ Continue Reading ]
AT THAT TIME JESUS ANSWERED, AND SAID,.... The time referred to is, when the disciples returned to him, and gave him an account of the success of their ministry, Luke 10:17 who say nothing of the conversion of sinners, but of the spirits being subject to them; and may also refer to the several thing... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN SO, FATHER, FOR SO IT SEEMED GOOD IN THY SIGHT. Or, "so is the good will", or "pleasure before thee": thus, רצון מלפניך יהי, "let it be the good will before thee", or "in thy sight, O Lord", is a phrase often to be met with in the Jews' forms of prayer x. Here the word designs the sovereign co... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS ARE DELIVERED UNTO ME OF MY FATHER,.... This is to be understood of Christ, as mediator; for, as God, nothing was delivered to him; he had all things, all perfections, power, and glory his Father has; and is to be considered in the utmost extent: all persons are delivered to him, angels a... [ Continue Reading ]
COME UNTO ME,.... Christ having signified, that the knowledge of God, and the mysteries of grace, are only to be come at through him; and that he has all things relating to the peace, comfort, happiness, and salvation of men in his hands, kindly invites and encourages souls to come unto him for the... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE MY YOKE UPON YOU,.... The phrase is Rabbinical. The Jewish doctors often speak a of עול מלכות שמים, "the yoke of the kingdom of heaven", and of persons taking it upon them; and which they exhort to, and express in much such language as here b; קדישא קבילו עלייכו עול מלכותא, "take upon you the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MY YOKE IS EASY, AND MY BURDEN IS LIGHT. Christ calls a profession of faith in him, and subjection to his ordinances, a yoke, in allusion to the law of Moses, and in distinction from it; and a "burden", with respect to the very heavy ones the Scribes and Pharisees laid upon the shoulders of the... [ Continue Reading ]