And he spake a parable unto them _to this end_, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint; Ver. 1. _Always to pray and not to faint_] Gr. εκκακειν, not shrink back, as sluggards in work or cowards in war. Prayer should be redoubled and reinforced, as those arrows of deliverance, 2 Kings 13:19... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man: Ver. 2. _Which feared not God, nor regarded man_] These two, fear of God and shame of the world, God hath given to men as curbs to restrain them from outrage. But sin hath loaded such an impudency in some men's faces t... [ Continue Reading ]
And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary. Ver. 3. _Avenge me of mine adversary_] A downright request, without either logic or rhetoric to set it forth or enforce it; to teach us that though our prayers be but blunt or broken language, if importu... [ Continue Reading ]
And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man; Ver. 4. _And he would not for awhile_] There is a passive injustice. _Non faciendo nocens, sed patiendo fuit, _ saith Ausonius of Claudius: Not to do justice is injustice.... [ Continue Reading ]
Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me. Ver. 5. _She weary me_] Gr. υπωπιαζη, she buffet me, or club me down. God must be pressed in prayer till we put him (as you would say) to the blush, or leave a blot in his face, unless we may be maste... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith. Ver. 6. _Hear what the unjust judge saith_] _Hic paria non inter se conferuntur, sed minus cum maiore, _ saith Beza.... [ Continue Reading ]
And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them? Ver. 7. _Though he bear long with them_] When they are at the utmost under. When their enemies are above fear, and they below hope; when there is not faith in earth to believe, then are there bo... [ Continue Reading ]
I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth? Ver. 8. _Shall he find faith upon earth?_] God often stays so long till the saints have done looking for him, when they have forgotten their prayers, and he comes, as it were, ou... [ Continue Reading ]
And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Ver. 9. _That they were righteous, and despised others._] Pray to be preserved from this perilous pinnacle of self-exaltation.... [ Continue Reading ]
Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. Ver. 10. _The one a Pharisee_] A Doeg may set his foot as far and farther within the sanctuary as a David. The Pharisee and publican went both of them up to private prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men _are_, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. Ver. 11. _God, I thank thee_] _Non vulnera, sed munera ostendit, _ he shows not his want, but his worth, and stands not only upon his com... [ Continue Reading ]
I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. Ver. 12. _I fast twice a week_] Cardinal Bellarmine did more, for he fasted thrice a week, saith he that writes his life. John, Archbishop of Constantinople, he who first affected the style of Universal Bishop, was surnamed Nesteutes, f... [ Continue Reading ]
And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as _his_ eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. Ver. 13. _Smote upon his breast_] In token of indignation, and that he would have smitten his sin so hard if he could have come at it. _ God... [ Continue Reading ]
I tell you, this man went down to his house justified _rather_ than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. Ver. 14. _Justified rather than the other_] The Pharisee was not at all justified; neither is there more or less in just... [ Continue Reading ]
And they brought unto him also infants, that he would touch them: but when _his_ disciples saw _it_, they rebuked them. Ver. 15. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 19:13 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus called them _unto him_, and said, Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God. Ver. 16. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 19:14 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily I say unto you, Whosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child shall in no wise enter therein. Ver. 17. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 19:14 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And a certain ruler asked him, saying, Good Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life? Ver. 18. _And a certain ruler_] St Mark, Mark 10:17, saith that this ruler came running, which argues his earnestness, and in a man of quality was unusual, for such walk softly for most part, and in state,... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? none _is_ good, save one, _that is_, God. Ver. 19. See Matthew 19:16,17 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Thou knowest the commandments, Do not commit adultery, Do not kill, Do not steal, Do not bear false witness, Honour thy father and thy mother. Ver. 20. See Matthew 19:17,19 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, All these have I kept from my youth up. Ver. 21. See Matthew 19:20 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Now when Jesus heard these things, he said unto him, Yet lackest thou one thing: sell all that thou hast, and distribute unto the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come, follow me. Ver. 22. _Yet lackest thou one thing_] Yea, all things. But our Saviour speaketh thus by a holy irony.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he heard this, he was very sorrowful: for he was very rich. Ver. 23. See Matthew 19:22 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Jesus saw that he was very sorrowful, he said, How hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God! Ver. 24. See Matthew 19:23 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is easier for a camel to go through a needle's eye, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. Ver. 25. _It is easier for a camel_] _Caveant ergo divites_ (saith an interpreter) _et solicite; mane, vesperi, interdiu, noctu, secum de periculosa vitae suae ratione commententur._ Let... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that heard _it_ said, Who then can be saved? Ver. 26. See Matthew 19:26 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, The things which are impossible with men are possible with God. Ver. 27. See Matthew 19:26 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Then Peter said, Lo, we have left all, and followed thee. Ver. 28. See Matthew 19:27 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or parents, or brethren, or wife, or children, for the kingdom of God's sake, Ver. 29. See Matthew 19:28 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Who shall not receive manifold more in this present time, and in the world to come life everlasting. Ver. 30. See Matthew 19:30 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he took _unto him_ the twelve, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem, and all things that are written by the prophets concerning the Son of man shall be accomplished. Ver. 31. See Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For he shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully entreated, and spitted on: Ver. 32. See Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they shall scourge _him_, and put him to death: and the third day he shall rise again. Ver. 33. See Matthew 20:17; Mark 10:32 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And they understood none of these things: and this saying was hid from them, neither knew they the things which were spoken. Ver. 34. _And they understood none, &c._] Prejudicate opinions of Christ's earthly kingdom hung as so many bullets at their eyelids, that they could not perceive so plain a t... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, that as he was come nigh unto Jericho, a certain blind man sat by the way side begging: Ver. 35. See Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And hearing the multitude pass by, he asked what it meant. Ver. 36. See Matthew 20:29; Mark 10:46 .... [ Continue Reading ]