There were present at that season some that told him of the Galilaeans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices. Ver. 1. _Told him of the Galileans_] So called from Judas Gaulonites, or Galilaeus, their captain; to whose faction also belonged those four thousand murderers, Acts 21:38.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus answering said unto them, Suppose ye that these Galilaeans were sinners above all the Galilaeans, because they suffered such things? Ver. 2. _Because they suffered such things_] None out of hell ever suffered more than those worthies, Hebrews 11:1,40. Shall any therefore condemn that gene... [ Continue Reading ]
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Ver. 3. _Except ye repent_] _Aut poenitendum, aut pereundum._ Either repent or perish. Men must either turn from sin or burn in hell.... [ Continue Reading ]
Or those eighteen, upon whom the tower in Siloam fell, and slew them, think ye that they were sinners above all men that dwelt in Jerusalem? Ver. 4. _The tower of Siloam_] A tower, belike, upon the wall of Jerusalem, which stood by the fish pool of Siloam, mentioned John 9:17 .... [ Continue Reading ]
I tell you, Nay: but, except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. Ver. 5. _But except ye repent_] Except the best of you all repent more and more when ye see the examples of God's wrath, &c. God would not have the wounds of godly sorrow so healed up in his own children, but that they should ble... [ Continue Reading ]
He spake also this parable; A certain _man_ had a fig tree planted in his vineyard; and he came and sought fruit thereon, and found none. Ver. 6. _A vineyard_] So the Church is frequently called. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 21:33 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said he unto the dresser of his vineyard, Behold, these three years I come seeking fruit on this fig tree, and find none: cut it down; why cumbereth it the ground? Ver. 7. _Cut it down_] Trees that are not for fruit are for the fire. God will lay down his basket and take up his axe. He will no... [ Continue Reading ]
And he answering said unto him, Lord, let it alone this year also, till I shall dig about it, and dung _it_ : Ver. 8. _Lord, let it alone this year_] Happy that people that have praying vinedressers to intercede for them! God will yield somewhat to prayer, when he is bitterly bent against a people... [ Continue Reading ]
And if it bear fruit, _well_ : and if not, _then_ after that thou shalt cut it down. Ver. 9. _Then after that thou shalt cut it down_] The fig tree, they say, if it bear not the fourth year after it is planted, will never bear at all. If good be not done at first coming of the gospel to any place,... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was teaching in one of the synagogues on the sabbath. Ver. 10. _On the sabbath_] The soul's marketday, on which the Lord Christ sells to his people "gold tried in the fire, white raiment, eye salve," &c., Revelation 3:18 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there was a woman which had a spirit of infirmity eighteen years, and was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up _herself_. Ver. 11. _And was bowed together, and could in no wise lift up herself_] This infirmity might proceed from the gonorrhoea; but, besides that, the devil had... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Jesus saw her, he called _her to him_, and said unto her, Woman, thou art loosed from thine infirmity. Ver. 12. _Thou art loosed_] For she had been bound by Satan,Luke 13:16. All wicked worldlings are worse bound, and go grovelling, but feel it not, look not out for help, look not up to he... [ Continue Reading ]
And he laid _his_ hands on her: and immediately she was made straight, and glorified God. Ver. 13. _And he laid his hands upon her_] Both to show his charity, and to signify that his quickening flesh is that ordinary instrument whereby he maketh us partakers of his saving grace.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the ruler of the synagogue answered with indignation, because that Jesus had healed on the sabbath day, and said unto the people, There are six days in which men ought to work: in them therefore come and be healed, and not on the sabbath day. Ver. 14. _Answered with indignation_] He that will b... [ Continue Reading ]
The Lord then answered him, and said, _Thou_ hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the sabbath loose his ox or _his_ ass from the stall, and lead _him_ away to watering? Ver. 15. _Thou hypocrite_] The Syriac rendereth it _Assumens vultum, _ thou that settest a good face upon it, thou that imperson... [ Continue Reading ]
And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom Satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the sabbath day? Ver. 16. _Whom Satan hath bound_] So he held Job in captivity, Job 42:10, by afflicting his body, buffeting his soul for a year together, say the Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had said these things, all his adversaries were ashamed: and all the people rejoiced for all the glorious things that were done by him. Ver. 17. _For all the glorious things_] Which yet his adversaries sought to deprave and denigrate, as if done by I know not what superstitious abuse of... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said he, Unto what is the kingdom of God like? and whereunto shall I resemble it? Ver. 18. See Mark 4:30,31 .... [ Continue Reading ]
It is like a grain of mustard seed, which a man took, and cast into his garden; and it grew, and waxed a great tree; and the fowls of the air lodged in the branches of it. Ver. 19. See Matthew 13:31 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And again he said, Whereunto shall I liken the kingdom of God? Ver. 20. See Matthew 13:33 .... [ Continue Reading ]
It is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened. Ver. 21. See Matthew 13:33 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went through the cities and villages, teaching, and journeying toward Jerusalem. Ver. 22. See Matthew 9:35; Mark 6:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Then said one unto him, Lord, are there few that be saved? And he said unto them, Ver. 23. _Are there few, &c._] Few received Christ in the flesh, John 1:12 : he wondered at one good Nathanael. They are _Methe mispar_ that look towards heaven. _Apparent rari nantes in gurgite vasto._ The most rest... [ Continue Reading ]
Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able. Ver. 24. _Strive to enter_] Strive even to an agony; or as they did for the garland in the Olympic games, to the which the word αγωνιζεσθε, here used, seemeth to allude. All would come to... [ Continue Reading ]
When once the master of the house is risen up, and hath shut to the door, and ye begin to stand without, and to knock at the door, saying, Lord, Lord, open unto us; and he shall answer and say unto you, I know you not whence ye are: Ver. 25. _And hath shut to_] God is not always with men in the opp... [ Continue Reading ]
Then shall ye begin to say, We have eaten and drunk in thy presence, and thou hast taught in our streets. Ver. 26. _We have eaten and drunk, &c._] These pretenders to Christ perish by catching at their own catch, hanging on their own fancy, making a bridge of their own shadow, &c.; they verily beli... [ Continue Reading ]
But he shall say, I tell you, I know you not whence ye are; depart from me, all _ye_ workers of iniquity. Ver. 27. See Matthew 7:23; Matthew 25:40. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 7:23 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 25:40 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
There shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when ye shall see Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the prophets, in the kingdom of God, and you _yourselves_ thrust out. Ver. 28. See Matthew 8:12; Matthew 13:42; Matthew 24:51 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall come from the east, and _from_ the west, and from the north, and _from_ the south, and shall sit down in the kingdom of God. Ver. 29. _And shall sit down_] As at a sumptuous supper. When, therefore, we are invited to a full feast, think of heaven: as Fulgentius beholding at Rome the... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there are last which shall be first, and there are first which shall be last. Ver. 30. See Matthew 19:30; Matthew 20:16; Mark 10:31 .... [ Continue Reading ]
The same day there came certain of the Pharisees, saying unto him, Get thee out, and depart hence: for Herod will kill thee. Ver. 31. _For Herod will kill thee_] " _Tu vero Herodes sanguinolente timo._ " (Beza, Ep.) If Herod or these Pharisees had been as wise as Pilate's wife, they would never h... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Go ye, and tell that fox, Behold, I cast out devils, and I do cures to day and to morrow, and the third _day_ I shall be perfected. Ver. 32. _Today and tomorrow_] _i.e._ As long as I wish, without his leave. Faith makes a man walk about the world as a conqueror. _ I shall be... [ Continue Reading ]
Nevertheless I must walk to day, and to morrow, and the _day_ following: for it cannot be that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem. Ver. 33. _Out of Jerusalem_] That slanghterhouse of the saints, that bloody city, Isaiah 1:21; Ezekiel 24:6 .... [ Continue Reading ]
O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, which killest the prophets, and stonest them that are sent unto thee; how often would I have gathered thy children together, as a hen _doth gather_ her brood under _her_ wings, and ye would not! Ver. 34. See Matthew 23:37 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, your house is left unto you desolate: and verily I say unto you, Ye shall not see me, until _the time_ come when ye shall say, Blessed _is_ he that cometh in the name of the Lord. Ver. 35. See Matthew 23:38,39 .... [ Continue Reading ]