At that time Herod the tetrarch heard of the fame of Jesus, Ver. 1. _At that time, &c._] When he was cast out by his countrymen, he was heard of at the court. The gospel, as the sea, what it loseth in one place, it getteth in another. But what? had not Herod heard of Christ till now? It is the mise... [ Continue Reading ]
And said unto his servants, This is John the Baptist; he is risen from the dead; and therefore mighty works do shew forth themselves in him. Ver. 2. _And said unto his servants_] So seeking a diversion of his inward terrors and torments. Perplexed he was and could find no way out, as St Luke's word... [ Continue Reading ]
For Herod had laid hold on John, and bound him, and put _him_ in prison for Herodias' sake, his brother Philip's wife. Ver. 3. _For Herod had laid hold on John_] If John touch Herod's white sin (and who will stand still to have his eyes picked out?) John must to prison, without bail or mainprize; _... [ Continue Reading ]
For John said unto him, It is not lawful for thee to have her. Ver. 4. _For John had said unto him, It is not lawful_] Others knew it to be so, but none dared tell him so but John. In like sort Elijah told Ahab that he had troubled israel (those times and these did very much suit; John was another... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he would have put him to death, he feared the multitude, because they counted him as a prophet. Ver. 5. _And when he would have put him to death_] Why, what had the good Baptist done, that he must die? The people must be made believe that he suffereth for practising against the king. But t... [ Continue Reading ]
But when Herod's birthday was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced before them, and pleased Herod. Ver. 6. _But when Herod's birthday was kept_] All this was a mere plot, as St Mark also intimateth, in those words of his, Matthew 6:21; "And when a convenient day was come." This birthday then was t... [ Continue Reading ]
Whereupon he promised with an oath to give her whatsoever she would ask. Ver. 7. _He promised with an oath_] He not only swore rashly, but confessed himself bound thereby to perform his oath (as the Greek word ωμολογησεν signifieth), to give her whatsoever she would ask; as Judah did Tamar, and as... [ Continue Reading ]
And she, being before instructed of her mother, said, Give me here John Baptist's head in a charger. Ver. 8. _And she being before instructed, &c._] _Partus sequitur ventrem, _ the birth follows the belly. Here was like mother like daughter, neither good bird nor good egg, as they say. Κακου κορακο... [ Continue Reading ]
And the king was sorry: nevertheless for the oath's sake, and them which sat with him at meat, he commanded _it_ to be given _her_. Ver. 9. _And the king was sorry_] John's innocence might haply so triumph in Herod's conscience, as to force some grief upon him at the thought of so foul a fact. But... [ Continue Reading ]
And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison. Ver. 10. _And he sent and beheaded John_] Put him to death secrecy, as the Papists did and do still (in the bloody Inquisition house especially) many of the martyrs. Stokesby, bishop of London, caused Mr John Hunne to be thrust in at the nose with hot b... [ Continue Reading ]
And his head was brought in a charger, and given to the damsel: and she brought _it_ to her mother. Ver. 11. _And his head was brought, &c._] This was _merces mundi, _ the world's wages to John for all his pains in seeking to save their souls. Surely as Caesar once said of Herod the Great (this man... [ Continue Reading ]
And his disciples came, and took up the body, and buried it, and went and told Jesus. Ver. 12. _And his disciples came and took_] A pious and courteous office, such as Joseph of Arimathea boldly performed to Christ, and these devout men to Stephen, making great lamentation over him, Acts 8:2. Good... [ Continue Reading ]
When Jesus heard _of it_, he departed thence by ship into a desert place apart: and when the people had heard _thereof_, they followed him on foot out of the cities. Ver. 13. _When Jesus heard of it, &c._] Dangers must be declined, where they may be with a safe conscience. David and Peter (who had... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus went forth, and saw a great multitude, and was moved with compassion toward them, and he healed their sick. Ver. 14. _Was moved with compassion, and healed their sick_] Christ's mercy was not a mouth mercy: such as was that of those in St James's time, that said to their necessitous neigh... [ Continue Reading ]
And when it was evening, his disciples came to him, saying, This is a desert place, and the time is now past; send the multitude away, that they may go into the villages, and buy themselves victuals. Ver. 15. _His disciples came to him_] Not the multitudes. They forgat their bodily necessities to a... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus said unto them, They need not depart; give ye them to eat. Ver. 16. _They need not depart_] Whither should they go from the great housekeeper of the world, the all-sufficient God? _Habet certe omnia, qui habet habentem omnia._ Augustine. Christ hath a cornucopia, a horn of salvation, plen... [ Continue Reading ]
And they say unto him, We have here but five loaves, and two fishes. Ver. 17. _And they say unto him, We have here_] And were therefore ready to say with Nicodemus, "How can this be?" Christ hath said, "Give ye them to eat," to try them only, as St John Joh 6:6 hath it. And upon trial, he found the... [ Continue Reading ]
He said, Bring them hither to me. Ver. 18. _Bring them hither to me_] Bring we all we have and are to Christ, that he may take off the curse and add the blessing. What the apostle saith of meat and marriage, is true of the rest, "all things are sanctified by the word and prayer," 1 Timothy 4:3. To... [ Continue Reading ]
And he commanded the multitude to sit down on the grass, and took the five loaves, and the two fishes, and looking up to heaven, he blessed, and brake, and gave the loaves to _his_ disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. Ver. 19. _And looking up to heaven, he blessed_] Heathens consecrated t... [ Continue Reading ]
And they did all eat, and were filled: and they took up of the fragments that remained twelve baskets full. Ver. 20. _And were filled_] So David's cup overflowed, Psalms 23:5; he had not only a sufficience but an affluence. So, at the marriage of Cana, Christ gave them wine enough for 150 guests, J... [ Continue Reading ]
And they that had eaten were about five thousand men, beside women and children. Ver. 21. _Were about five thousand_] Pythias is famous for that he was able, at his own charge, to entertain Xerxes' whole army, consisting of ten hundred thousand men. But he grew so poor upon it, that he lacked bread... [ Continue Reading ]
And straightway Jesus constrained his disciples to get into a ship, and to go before him unto the other side, while he sent the multitudes away. Ver. 22. _Jesus constrained his disciples_] Who seem to have been full loth to leave his sweet company. The presence of friends (how much more of such a f... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had sent the multitudes away, he went up into a mountain apart to pray: and when the evening was come, he was there alone. Ver. 23. _He went up into a mountain apart to pray_] Secret prayer fats the soul, as secret morsels feed the body: therefore is it said to be the banquet of grace,... [ Continue Reading ]
But the ship was now in the midst of the sea, tossed with waves: for the wind was contrary. Ver. 24. _Tossed with waves_] So is the Church often therefore styled, "O thou afflicted and tossed with tempest, that hast no comfort,"Isaiah 54:11. Jesus was absent all the while: so he seemeth to be from... [ Continue Reading ]
And in the fourth watch of the night Jesus went unto them, walking on the sea. Ver. 25. _And in the fourth watch, &c._] Then, and not till then. His time is best, whatever we think of it: his help most sweet, because most seasonable: his hand commonly kept for a deadlift.... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were troubled, saying, It is a spirit; and they cried out for fear. Ver. 26. _They were troubled_] Ere they were helped: things often go backward, before they come forward with us. _Deus plagam sanaturus, graviorem infligit:_ he knows how to c... [ Continue Reading ]
But straightway Jesus spake unto them, saying, Be of good cheer; it is I; be not afraid. Ver. 27. _But straightway Jesus spake, &c._] He waits to be gracious, Isaiah 30:18. Our extremity is his opportunity. _Cum duplicantur lateres venit Moses._ God brings his people to the mount with Abraham, yea,... [ Continue Reading ]
And Peter answered him and said, Lord, if it be thou, bid me come unto thee on the water. Ver. 28. _If it be thou, bid me come unto thee, &c._] This fact of Peter some extol as an argument of his strong faith and love to Christ. But others of better judgment censure it as an effect of unbelief and... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said, Come. And when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus. Ver. 29. _And he said, Come_] Had the Pharisees asked a sign, they should have gone without, and have heard, Wicked and bastardly brood, as Matthew 12:39. But a Peter shall have it, rather than... [ Continue Reading ]
But when he saw the wind boisterous, he was afraid; and beginning to sink, he cried, saying, Lord, save me. Ver. 30. _But when he saw the wind boisterous_] Every bird can sing in a sunny day; and it is easy to swim in a warm bath; but to believe in an angry God, as David; in a killing God, as Job;... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately Jesus stretched forth _his_ hand, and caught him, and said unto him, O thou of little faith, wherefore didst thou doubt? Ver. 31. _O thou of little faith, &c._] Thou petty fidian, small faith; Christ chides Peter, and yet helps him. Involuntary failings, unavoidable infirmities, dis... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they were come into the ship, the wind ceased. Ver. 32. _The wind ceased_] As if it had been weary of blowing so big, and now desired rest after hard labour; as the word here used importeth. Herodotus useth the same word in the same sense, where he speaks of a tempest layed by the magician... [ Continue Reading ]
Then they that were in the ship came and worshipped him, saying, Of a truth thou art the Son of God. Ver. 33. _Of a truth thou art the Son of God_] Not by creation, as Adam and the angels, Luke 3:38; Job 1:6. Nor by adoption, as all believers, John 1:12. But, 1. By eternal generation, Proverbs 8:22... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they were gone over, they came into the land of Gennesaret. Ver. 34. _They came into the land of Gennesaret_] Where he presently found some that observed him. When God sets up a fight in any place, a burning and a shining light, there is some work to be done. A husbandman would not send hi... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the men of that place had knowledge of him, they sent out into all that country round about, and brought unto him all that were diseased; Ver. 35. _They sent out into all that country_] See their charity. The Philistines were not so ambitious of sending the plague, together with the ark, o... [ Continue Reading ]
And besought him that they might only touch the hem of his garment: and as many as touched were made perfectly whole. Ver. 36. _And as many as touched, &c._] Oh the matchless might and mercy of Christ our Saviour! He condescends to their infirmity, and heals them promiscuously, not once questioning... [ Continue Reading ]