And when he had called unto _him_ his twelve disciples, he gave them power _against_ unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal all manner of sickness and all manner of disease. Ver. 1. _And when he had called the twelve_] He had set them to pray, Matthew 9:38, and now he sets them to work. _Or... [ Continue Reading ]
Now the names of the twelve apostles are these; The first, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother; James _the son_ of Zebedee, and John his brother; Ver. 2. _Now the names of the twelve, &c._] Their names are registered and had in honour; when the grandees of the earth, those men of ren... [ Continue Reading ]
Philip, and Bartholomew; Thomas, and Matthew the publican; James _the son_ of Alphaeus, and Lebbaeus, whose surname was Thaddaeus; Ver. 3. _Bartholomew_] This, say some, was that Nathanael, Joh 1:45-49 He is by Dionysius quoted to have said of divinity, _Et magnam esse et minimam_ (και πολλην, και... [ Continue Reading ]
Simon the Canaanite, and Judas Iscariot, who also betrayed him. Ver. 4. _Simeon the Canaanite_] Or a man of Cana _a_ in Galilee (as Judas Iscariot), that is, a man of Kerioth: see Joshua 15:25. Simon the zealot, St Luke calls him. Christ, when he called him to the apostleship, either found him or m... [ Continue Reading ]
These twelve Jesus sent forth, and commanded them, saying, Go not into the way of the Gentiles, and into _any_ city of the Samaritans enter ye not: Ver. 5. _These twelve Jesus sent forth_] Out of deep commiseration of those poor scattered sheep, that lay panting for life, and well nigh gasping thei... [ Continue Reading ]
But go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. Ver. 6. _To the lost sheep_] This is the common condition of us all. "All we like sheep have gone astray," Isaiah 53:6. The prophet saith not, like dogs; for these, though lost, will find their way home again, Nor like swine; for these also, w... [ Continue Reading ]
And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand. Ver. 7. _The kingdom of heaven is at hand_] Repent therefore. Men will do much for a kingdom. And nothing less than a kingdom, and that of heaven, can buy men out of their sweet sins. How many hear we daily making answer to the motion... [ Continue Reading ]
Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. Ver. 8. _Heal the sick_] God glorifies himself by the fruits of our sin and the effects of his own wrath. This great Alchemist knows how to extract good out of evil. He can make golden afflicti... [ Continue Reading ]
Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, Ver. 9. _Provide neither gold, &c._] To wit, for this present voyage (for at other times our Saviour had money, and he put it not in a penny pouch, but in a bag so big that it needed a bearer), but now Christ would teach them, by experienc... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor scrip for _your_ journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves: for the workman is worthy of his meat. Ver. 10. _Neither two coats_] This may be a burden to you. _ Neither shoes_] But sandals, a lighter kind of wearing. _ Nor yet staves_] Either for offence or defence; a dog shall... [ Continue Reading ]
And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. Ver. 11. _Inquire who in it is worthy_] That is, faithful, as Lydia was, Acts 16:15, and Philip the Evangelist, Acts 21:8, and Mary the mother of Mark, Acts 12:12. Lo, here, whither mini... [ Continue Reading ]
And when ye come into an house, salute it. Ver. 12. _And when ye come into an house_] Into the synagogues and other places of public meeting, our Saviour sends them not as yet, because they were but young beginners and lacked boldness and other abilities; but bids them teach privately, catechise fr... [ Continue Reading ]
And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it: but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. Ver. 13. _If that house be worthy_] The saints are the only worthies, of whom the world is not worthy,Hebrews 11:38. These shall walk with Christ, for they are worthy, Revelation 3:4. But... [ Continue Reading ]
And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Ver. 14. _And whosoever shall not receive you_] Two sure signs of reprobate goats: 1. Not to receive Christ's ministers to house and harbour, accounting themselves ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily I say unto you, It shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment, than for that city. Ver. 15. _It shall be more tolerable_] God can better bear anything than the abuse of his free grace in the offers of mercy. Profligate professors and profane gospellers... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. Ver. 16. _Behold, I send you forth, &c._] This might seem incredible to the disciples, since they were sent among the "lost sheep of Israel." But strange though it seem, it is not so s... [ Continue Reading ]
But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; Ver. 17. _But beware of men_] Absurd and wicked men, saith Paul, 2 Thessalonians 3:2; "brutish men, skilful to destroy," saith the prophet, Ezekiel 21:31; "Men eaters," saith the Psalmist... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. Ver. 18. _And ye shall be brought before governors_] Yea, they offered themselves to them, crying _Christiani sumus, _ We are Christians, and so tiring them thereby, that one of them _a_ i... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. Ver. 19. _Take no thought how or what ye shall speak_] Be not anxious about either matter or manner of your apology for yourselves. Ye shall be supplied from on... [ Continue Reading ]
For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you. Ver. 20. _But the Spirit of your Father_] Who borroweth your mouth for the present, to speak by. It is he that forms your speeches for you, dictates them to you, filleth you with matter, and furnisheth you with words.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the brother shall deliver up the brother to death, and the father the child: and the children shall rise up against _their_ parents, and cause them to be put to death. Ver. 21. _And the brother shall deliver up the brother_] As Alphonsus Diazius did his own brother John at Neoberg, in Germany.... [ Continue Reading ]
And ye shall be hated of all _men_ for my name's sake: but he that endureth to the end shall be saved. Ver. 22. _And ye shall be hated_] _Haud perinde crimine incendii quam odio humani generis convicti sunt, _ saith Tacitus of those poor Christians, that by Nero were haled to death for setting the... [ Continue Reading ]
But when they persecute you in this city, flee ye into another: for verily I say unto you, Ye shall not have gone over the cities of Israel, till the Son of man be come. Ver. 23. _Flee ye into another_] That is, make all the haste that may be, as Song of Solomon 8:14. _Fuge, fuge, Brenti, cito, cit... [ Continue Reading ]
The disciple is not above _his_ master, nor the servant above his lord. Ver. 24. _The disciple is not above his master_] Sweeten we the tartness of all our sufferings with this sentence, as with so much sugar. Blandina the martyr being grievously racked and tortured, cried out ever and anon, _Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more _shall they call_ them of his household? Ver. 25. _It is sufficient for the disciple, &c._] And a fair preferment too,John 21:18. Peter thinks mu... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear them not therefore: for there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; and hid, that shall not be known. Ver. 26. _Fear them not therefore_] Be not reviled out of your religion, but say, If this what it means to be vile, I will be yet more vile. _Contra sycophantae morsum non est remedi... [ Continue Reading ]
What I tell you in darkness, _that_ speak ye in light: and what ye hear in the ear, _that_ preach ye upon the housetops. Ver. 27. _What I tell you in darkness, &c._] _q.d._ See that ye be valiant and violent for the truth: declare unto the world all the counsel of God, which you have therefore lear... [ Continue Reading ]
And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell. Ver. 28. _And fear not them which kill the body_] That cruelly kill it, αποκτεινειν (as the word signifies), that wittily torture it, as those primitive... [ Continue Reading ]
Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father. Ver. 29. _Are not two sparrows, _ _ a_ _&c._] Birds flying seem to be at liberty, yet are guided by an overruling hand: they fly freely, yet fall by Divine dispose, and not as the fowler will... [ Continue Reading ]
But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Ver. 30. _But the very hairs of your head, &c._] As things of price, and such as God sets great store by. Hence he enjoined his Nazarites, when they had accomplished their vow, to shave their heads, and put the hair in the fire, under their peace of... [ Continue Reading ]
Fear ye not therefore, ye are of more value than many sparrows. Ver. 31. _Fear not therefore_] This is the third time, in six verses, that they and we are bidden to banish this cowardly base passion, this causeless, fruitless, harmful, sinful fear of men. He that fears God needs fear none else. Mos... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 32. _Whosoever therefore shall confess me_] A bold and wise confession of Christ is required of all his, who are therefore said to be marked in their foreheads,Revelation 7:3, an open... [ Continue Reading ]
But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 33. _But whosoever shall deny me_] Not only utterly to renounce Christ, but out of base respects to dissemble him, is to deny him. Peter denied his Master as well in saying, "I wot not what thou s... [ Continue Reading ]
Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword. Ver. 34. _Think not that I came to send peace_] Peace is twofold, _temporis et pectoris, _ of country and of conscience. This latter is Christ's legacy, and the saints are sure of it. But the former they seldom... [ Continue Reading ]
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. Ver. 35. _For I am come to set a man at variance, &c._] By accident it happened so, through men's singular corruption, causing them as bats to fly again... [ Continue Reading ]
And a man's foes _shall be_ they of his own household. Ver. 36. _And a man's foes shall be they, &c._] Nicholas of Jenvile, a young man newly come from Geneva, was condemned and set in the cart. His own father, coming with a staff, would have beaten him but that the officers kept him off. Julius Pa... [ Continue Reading ]
He that loveth father or mother more than me is not worthy of me: and he that loveth son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Ver. 37. _He that loveth father or mother_] Levi said unto his father and his mother, "I have not seen him;" neither did he acknowledge his brethren, in that cause... [ Continue Reading ]
And he that taketh not his cross, and followeth after me, is not worthy of me. Ver. 38. _And he that taketh not up his cross_] _Omnis Christianus crucianus, _ saith Luther. Every Christian is sure of his cross; but, first, it must be "his" cross, such as God hath laid upon him, not such as he hath... [ Continue Reading ]
He that findeth his life shall lose it: and he that loseth his life for my sake shall find it. Ver. 39. _He that findeth his llfe shall lose it_] This is a strange expression, a riddle to the world, a seeming contradiction, _a_ such as natural reason can never reconcile. But if the paradoxes of the... [ Continue Reading ]
He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me. Ver. 40. _He that receiveth you, receiveth me_] And who would not be glad to entertain the Lord Christ? Elizabeth held it a great matter that the another of her Lord should come to her, Luke 1:43. Behold, Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet shall receive a prophet's reward; and he that receiveth a righteous man in the name of a righteous man shall receive a righteous man's reward. Ver. 41. _He that receiveth a prophet in the name, &c._] Though, haply, he be no prophet. This takes aw... [ Continue Reading ]
And whosoever shall give to drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold _water_ only in the name of a disciple, verily I say unto you, he shall in no wise lose his reward. Ver. 42. _Unto one of these little ones_] So the saints are called, either because but a little flock, or little in their... [ Continue Reading ]