At that time Jesus went on the sabbath day through the corn; and his disciples were an hungred, and began to pluck the ears of corn, and to eat. Ver. 1. _Jesus went on the Sabbath day_] St Luke calleth it "the second Sabbath after the first," Matthew 6:1, that is, the second anniversary or solemn f... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the Pharisees saw _it_, they said unto him, Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do upon the sabbath day. Ver. 2. _Behold, thy disciples do that which is not lawful_] This was as the proverb is, _Sus Minervam, _ a pig is Minerva, when blind Pharisees will be teaching Christ... [ Continue Reading ]
But he said unto them, Have ye not read what David did, when he was an hungred, and they that were with him; Ver. 3. _But he said unto them_] They had not proved a breach of the Sabbath, neither could they. A breach it had been, had not the disciples been hungry, and he denies it not, but confutes... [ Continue Reading ]
How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the shewbread, which was not lawful for him to eat, neither for them which were with him, but only for the priests? Ver. 4. _And did eat the shewbread_] The bread of proposition, _a_ as the Greek text hath it; the face bread, as the Septuagint call... [ Continue Reading ]
Or have ye not read in the law, how that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple profane the sabbath, and are blameless? Ver. 5. _Profane the Sabbath_] As ye count profaning of it: or they profane it by divine dispensation, while they do servile works in slaying sacrifices, and other things t... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That in this place is _one_ greater than the temple. Ver. 6. _But I say unto you_] _q.d._ Whereas you will here object, that that was done in the temple; I tell you I am greater than the temple: for in me the Godhead dwelleth bodily, Colossians 1:19; as in the temple was the ark... [ Continue Reading ]
But if ye had known what _this_ meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice, ye would not have condemned the guiltless. Ver. 7. _But if ye had known_] And it was a foul shame for them not to know. "Who is blind as my servant?" &c., Isaiah 42:19. Varro justly upbraided the Roman priests, that ther... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath day. Ver. 8. _The Son of man is Lord of the Sabbath_] _q.d._ Say they were not innocent, yet have you no cause to condemn them for Sabbath breach; since I am Lord of the Sabbath, and may do with mine own as to me seems best. True it is that Christ hate... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was departed thence, he went into their synagogue: Ver. 9. _He went into their synagogue_] These were chapels of ease to the temple, of ancient use, Acts 15:21, and Divine authority, Psalms 74:8. This here is called the Pharisees' synagogue, because they did _Dominari in concionibus, _... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, there was a man which had _his_ hand withered. And they asked him, saying, Is it lawful to heal on the sabbath days? that they might accuse him. Ver. 10. _Which had his hand withered_] So have all covetous caitiffs, who may well be said, amidst all their hoards, to have no current coin... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto them, What man shall there be among you, that shall have one sheep, and if it fall into a pit on the sabbath day, will he not lay hold on it, and lift _it_ out? Ver. 11. _What man shall there be, &c._] If a sheep slipped into a slough must be relieved, how much more Christ's reason... [ Continue Reading ]
How much then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful to do well on the sabbath days. Ver. 12. _It is lawful to do well_] Nay, it is needful, since not to do well is to do ill, and not to save a life, or a soul, is to destroy it, Mark 3:4. Not to do justice is injustice, and not to sho... [ Continue Reading ]
Then saith he to the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he stretched _it_ forth; and it was restored whole, like as the other. Ver. 13. _And he stretched it forth_] So would our hold fasts stretch out their hands to the poor, would they but come to Christ, and hear his voice, as this man did. But t... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him. Ver. 14. _How they might destroy him_] All envy is bloody. Men wish him out of the world whom they cannot abide; and would rather the sun should be extinguished than their candle obscured. David dared never tru... [ Continue Reading ]
But when Jesus knew _it_, he withdrew himself from thence: and great multitudes followed him, and he healed them all; Ver. 15. _Great multitudes followed him_] Maugre the malice of earth and hell. They lose their labour that seek to quell Christ, and subvert his kingdom: "Yet have I set my king upo... [ Continue Reading ]
And charged them that they should not make him known: Ver. 16. _That they should not make him known_] This, his ambitious kinsmen, who sought to get credit and glory among men by his worthy works, upbraid him with, John 7:4; "If thou do these things, show thyself to the world," say they; and so pro... [ Continue Reading ]
That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Ver. 17. _That it might be fulfilled_] The Old Testament is the New foretold; the New Testament is the Old fulfilled. Ezekiel saw a wheel within a wheel. This is, saith Bonaventure, the one Testament in the other.... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold my servant, whom I have chosen; my beloved, in whom my soul is well pleased: I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. Ver. 18. _Behold my servant_] My servant the Messias, as the Chaldee Paraphrast renders and expounds it. The Septuagint somewhat obscure the... [ Continue Reading ]
He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. Ver. 19. _He shall not strive_] To bear away the bell from others. _ Nor cry_] "Nor lift up his voice," saith the prophet, as loth to lie hidden, and therefore making an "O yes," as desirous of vain glory and popula... [ Continue Reading ]
A bruised reed shall he not break, and smoking flax shall he not quench, till he send forth judgment unto victory. Ver. 20. _A bruised reed shall he not break_] A reed shaken with the wind is taken for a thing very contemptible at the best, how much more when bruised, Matthew 11:7. The wick of a ca... [ Continue Reading ]
And in his name shall the Gentiles trust. Ver. 21. _Shall the Gentiles trust_] This trust is here put for the whole service of God, it being the least, and yet the best we can render to him. And the more we know of his name, the more we shall trust in him, Psalms 9:10 .... [ Continue Reading ]
Then was brought unto him one possessed with a devil, blind, and dumb: and he healed him, insomuch that the blind and dumb both spake and saw. Ver. 22. _One possessed with a devil, blind and dumb_] A heavy case, and yet that may be any man's case. _a_ _Cuivis potest contingere, quod cuiquam potest.... [ Continue Reading ]
And all the people were amazed, and said, Is not this the son of David? Ver. 23. _And all the people were amazed_] Admiration bred philosophy, saith the heathen. It bred superstition, saith the Scripture, when the world went wondering after the beast. _a_ We may say, too, that it bred piety in this... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the Pharisees heard _it_, they said, This _fellow_ doth not cast out devils, but by Beelzebub the prince of the devils. Ver. 24. _This fellow doth not cast out devils, &c._] The devil that was cast out of the demoniac's body seems to have gotten into these men's hearts. But he was not his... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus knew their thoughts, and said unto them, Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation; and every city or house divided against itself shall not stand: Ver. 25. _And Jesus knew their thoughts_] That they blasphemed in this sort, out of the devilish venom of their hearts fu... [ Continue Reading ]
And if Satan cast out Satan, he is divided against himself; how shall then his kingdom stand? Ver. 26. _He is divided against himself_] But so he is not. There is a marvellous accordance even between evil spirits. _Squamae Leviathan ira cohaerent, ut earum opere textili densato quasi loricatus ince... [ Continue Reading ]
And if I by Beelzebub cast out devils, by whom do your children cast _them_ out? therefore they shall be your judges. Ver. 27. _By whom do your children, &c._] That is, your countrymen. Not the disciples (as Augustine, _Civ. Dei, _ and other ancients would have it), but the Jewish exorcists, of who... [ Continue Reading ]
But if I cast out devils by the Spirit of God, then the kingdom of God is come unto you. Ver. 28. _Then the kingdom of God is come unto you_] A certain sign of the setting up whereof among you, is this casting out of devils "by the Spirit of God;" or as Luke hath it, "by the finger of God;" for the... [ Continue Reading ]
Or else how can one enter into a strong man's house, and spoil his goods, except he first bind the strong man? and then he will spoil his house. Ver. 29. _A strong man's house, &c._] The devil is strong, but overpowered by Christ. He hath forcibly delivered us from the power of darkness, snatched u... [ Continue Reading ]
He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. Ver. 30. _He that is not with me, is against me_] "But the devil is not with me," saith Christ, "for all I do or suffer is to destroy his works." Let this sentence also be noted against neutals and Nicodemite... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore I say unto you, All manner of sin and blasphemy shall be forgiven unto men: but the blasphemy _against_ the _Holy_ Ghost shall not be forgiven unto men. Ver. 31. _All manner of sin and blasphemy, &c._] All without exception, yea, though it be blasphemy, Isaiah 44:22. God blots out the thi... [ Continue Reading ]
And whosoever speaketh a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but whosoever speaketh against the Holy Ghost, it shall not be forgiven him, neither in this world, neither in the _world_ to come. Ver. 32. _And whosoever speaketh a word, &c._] As Peter did through infirmity, Paul thr... [ Continue Reading ]
Either make the tree good, and his fruit good; or else make the tree corrupt, and his fruit corrupt: for the tree is known by _his_ fruit. Ver. 33. _Either make the tree good, &c._] _q.d._ Your blasphemy is therefore irremissible, because it is the fruit of so base a root of bitterness, as the desp... [ Continue Reading ]
O generation of vipers, how can ye, being evil, speak good things? for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh. Ver. 34. _How can ye, being evil, &c._] The stream riseth not higher its source; the bell is known of what metal by the clapper; what is in the well will be in the bucket; wh... [ Continue Reading ]
A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things. Ver. 35. _Out of the good treasure, &c._] Out of his habit of heavenly mindedness, out of that law of grace in his heart, "his mouth speaketh wisdom, and... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. Ver. 36. _That every idle word, &c._] Idle and waste words are to be accounted for; what then evil and wicked? Therefore "let thine own words grieve thee," as David somewhere hath... [ Continue Reading ]
For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Ver. 37. _For by thy words thou shalt be justified_] Our Saviour insists upon this subject because by words they had sinned against the Holy Ghost. A man's most and worst sins be his words. St Paul, making the anato... [ Continue Reading ]
Then certain of the scribes and of the Pharisees answered, saying, Master, we would see a sign from thee. Ver. 38. _Then certain of the scribes and Pharisees_] Had not these, as one said of Nero, _os ferreum, cor plumbeum, _ an iron face, a leaden heart, that could call for a sign after so many sig... [ Continue Reading ]
But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: Ver. 39. _An evil and adulterous generation, &c._] _Spuria soboles, _ a bastardly brood. So he calleth them, because utterly degener... [ Continue Reading ]
For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale's belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth. Ver. 40. _For as Jonas was three days, &c._] In the history of Jonah, Christ found the mystery of his death, burial, and resurrection; teaching us the... [ Continue Reading ]
The men of Nineveh shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they repented at the preaching of Jonas; and, behold, a greater than Jonas _is_ here. Ver. 41. _They repented at the preaching of Jonas_] At one single sermon of a mere stranger, who sang so doleful a ditt... [ Continue Reading ]
The queen of the south shall rise up in the judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: for she came from the uttermost parts of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon; and, behold, a greater than Solomon _is_ here. Ver. 42. _The queen of the south, &c._] The Ethiopian chronicles call her... [ Continue Reading ]
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest, and findeth none. Ver. 43. _When the unclean spirit_] Unclean the devil is called: 1. _Affectione_ (saith Jacobus de Voragine), because he loveth uncleanness. 2. _Persuasione, _ because he persuades men to it... [ Continue Reading ]
Then he saith, I will return into my house from whence I came out; and when he is come, he findeth _it_ empty, swept, and garnished. Ver. 44. _He findeth it empty_] That is, idle and secure, swept of grace, garnished with vice, the devil's fairest furniture. _Otia dant vitia._... [ Continue Reading ]
Then goeth he, and taketh with himself seven other spirits more wicked than himself, and they enter in and dwell there: and the last _state_ of that man is worse than the first. Even so shall it be also unto this wicked generation. Ver. 45. _And taketh seven other spirits_] As the jailor lays more... [ Continue Reading ]
While he yet talked to the people, behold, _his_ mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. Ver. 46. _Desiring to speak with him_] Either out of curiosity or ambition, as Ambrose thinks; certain it is, at a most unseasonable time. Now as fish and flesh, so everything else is... [ Continue Reading ]
Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. Ver. 47. _Behold, thy mother and thy brethren_] This was a weakness in his mother; though otherwise full of grace, yet not without, original sin, as the Sorbonists contend, but had need of a Savi... [ Continue Reading ]
But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? Ver. 48. _Who is my mother, and who, &c._] This meekest lamb was stirred with a holy indignation at so absurd an interruption, and sharps him up that delivers the message. Great is the honour that is due to... [ Continue Reading ]
And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! Ver. 49. _Behold my mother and my brethren_] _Sanctior est copula cordis quam corporis._ Spiritual kindred is better than carnal: "there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother,"Proverbs 18:24.... [ Continue Reading ]
For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother. Ver. 50. _For whosoever shall do the will_] Lo, here is the right way of becoming akin to Christ; and can we better prefer ourselves? It was an honour to Mark, that he was Barnabas's sis... [ Continue Reading ]