And he entered again into the synagogue; and there was a man there which had a withered hand. Ver. 1. _There was a man there, &c._] A fit object inciteth and should elicit our bounty. Where God sets us up an altar, we should be ready with our sacrifices, with such sacrifice "God is well pleased," H... [ Continue Reading ]
And they watched him, whether he would heal him on the sabbath day; that they might accuse him. Ver. 2. _And they watched him_] So carnal men do still watch and pry into professors and their conversation, εποπτευοντες, 1 Peter 3:2, curiously observing what they may catch and carp at. But it is a br... [ Continue Reading ]
And he saith unto the man which had the withered hand, Stand forth. Ver. 3. _Stand forth_] That the miracle might be notified, and God the more glorified. It is a dishonour to a parent to hang his picture in a dark corner; so here, we should show forth the virtues of him who hath called us, 1 Peter... [ Continue Reading ]
And he saith unto them, Is it lawful to do good on the sabbath days, or to do evil? to save life, or to kill? But they held their peace. Ver. 4. _To do good or to do evil_] Not to do good, then, as there is opportunity, is to do evil. _Qui non, cum potest, servat, occidit. Non faciendo nocens, sed... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had looked round about on them with anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, he saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched _it_ out: and his hand was restored whole as the other. Ver. 5. _With anger, being grieved_] A sweet mixture of sinless passions,... [ Continue Reading ]
And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him. Ver. 6. _With the Herodians_] Whom yet they hated in their hearts; but they can easily comport and comply to do Christ a mischief, as conceiving that Christ pertained to Herod's ju... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus withdrew himself with his disciples to the sea: and a great multitude from Galilee followed him, and from Judaea, Ver. 7. _But Jesus withdrew himself_] Tertullian condemneth flight in any case: _a_ but _Patres legendi cum venia._ His scholar Cyprian was of another and better judgment. _Ma... [ Continue Reading ]
And from Jerusalem, and from Idumaea, and _from_ beyond Jordan; and they about Tyre and Sidon, a great multitude, when they had heard what great things he did, came unto him. Ver. 8. _From beyond Jordan_] περαν του ιορδανου. This country by Josephus is called Peraea, as Ultrajectum in Germany.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he spake to his disciples, that a small ship should wait on him because of the multitude, lest they should throng him. Ver. 9. _Lest they should throng him_] Gr. θλιβωσιν, afflict him, press, or pinch him, as they did a piece of his passion,Mark 3:10 .... [ Continue Reading ]
For he had healed many; insomuch that they pressed upon him for to touch him, as many as had plagues. Ver. 10. _As many as had plagues_] Gr. μαστιγας, stripes, scourgings. Whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth with lesser and lighter afflictions, and scourgeth every son, &c., with hard and heavy judgm... [ Continue Reading ]
And unclean spirits, when they saw him, fell down before him, and cried, saying, Thou art the Son of God. Ver. 11. _Thou art the Son, &c._] The matter is well amended since Satan's first onset upon Christ. Then it was, If thou be the Son of God. The same power, when he listeth, can change the note... [ Continue Reading ]
And he straitly charged them that they should not make him known. Ver. 12. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:16 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he goeth up into a mountain, and calleth _unto him_ whom he would: and they came unto him. Ver. 13. _And calleth unto him whom he would_] _Nec volentis, nec volantis, sed Dei miserentis, _ as a nobleman, after Paul gave it for his motto. It is not in him that willeth, nor in him that runneth, t... [ Continue Reading ]
And he ordained twelve, that they should be with him, and that he might send them forth to preach, Ver. 14. _That they should be with him_] As his household servants, more happy therein than those of Solomon. Christ hath many retainers, few fast and faithful servants that follow him in the regenera... [ Continue Reading ]
And to have power to heal sicknesses, and to cast out devils: Ver. 15. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 10:8 _"_ _Mallem obedire quam miracula facere, _ saith Luther. A man may do miracles in Christ's name, and yet perish. But whoso calleth upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.... [ Continue Reading ]
And Simon he surnamed Peter; Ver. 16. _And Simon he surnamed Peter_] Not now, but after that famous confession of his,Matthew 16:16 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And James the _son_ of Zebedee, and John the brother of James; and he surnamed them Boanerges, which is, The sons of thunder: Ver. 17. _Boanerges_] Syr. _Benai regeschi, filii fragoris._ Nazianzen saith they were so called, δια το μεγαλοφωνον, for the volume of their voice. Farellus was famous for... [ Continue Reading ]
And Andrew, and Philip, and Bartholomew, and Matthew, and Thomas, and James the _son_ of Alphaeus, and Thaddaeus, and Simon the Canaanite, Ver. 18. _And Bartholomew_] _See Trapp on "_ Mat 10:3 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And Judas Iscariot, which also betrayed him: and they went into an house. Ver. 19. _And they went into the house_] But could not rest in the house; for a demoniac was brought home to him, and the multitude met to hear; and Christ gratified them, with the neglect of himself, Matthew 12:22. Now to al... [ Continue Reading ]
And the multitude cometh together again, so that they could not so much as eat bread. Ver. 20. _They could not so much as eat bread_] For when he was in the house to repose and refresh himself, they brought unto him a possessed person.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when his friends heard _of it_, they went out to lay hold on him: for they said, He is beside himself. Ver. 21. _They went out to lay hold on him_] Some read, to lay hold on the multitude, as mad, because so eager and earnest, that they left not our Lord liberty for his necessary repose and rep... [ Continue Reading ]
And the scribes which came down from Jerusalem said, He hath Beelzebub, and by the prince of the devils casteth he out devils. Ver. 22. _By the prince of devils, &c._] A devilish blasphemy, occasioned perhaps by the former calumny of his kinsmen. What advantages make our adversaries of our smaller... [ Continue Reading ]
And he called them _unto him_, and said unto them in parables, How can Satan cast out Satan? Ver. 23. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:25 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:26 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And if a kingdom be divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. Ver. 24. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:25 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:26 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And if a house be divided against itself, that house cannot stand. Ver. 25. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:25 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:26 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And if Satan rise up against himself, and be divided, he cannot stand, but hath an end. Ver. 26. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:25 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:26 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
No man can enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he will first bind the strong man; and then he will spoil his house. Ver. 27. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:29 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily I say unto you, All sins shall be forgiven unto the sons of men, and blasphemies wherewith soever they shall blaspheme: Ver. 28. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:31 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:32 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
But he that shall blaspheme against the Holy Ghost hath never forgiveness, but is in danger of eternal damnation: Ver. 29. _Hath never forgiveness_] And yet Bellarmine teacheth that the sin against the Holy Ghost may be forgiven (lib. 2, _de Poenitentia, _ cap. 16). But it may be he was of their op... [ Continue Reading ]
Because they said, He hath an unclean spirit. Ver. 30. _Because they said_] That sin unto death begins in apostasy, goes on in persecution, and ends in blasphemy.... [ Continue Reading ]
There came then his brethren and his mother, and, standing without, sent unto him, calling him. Ver. 31. _Then came his brethren_] Here the Evangelist returneth to the history he had begun to set forth Mark 3:21 .... [ Continue Reading ]
And the multitude sat about him, and they said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. Ver. 32. _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:47 _"_ _See Trapp on "_ Mat 12:48 _"_... [ Continue Reading ]
And he answered them, saying, Who is my mother, or my brethren? Ver. 33. _Who is my mother, &c._] Bishop Ridley is likewise said to have been very kind to his kinsfolks, yet not bearing with them any otherwise than right would require. (Acts and Mon.) 34 And he looked round about on them which sat... [ Continue Reading ]