At the same time came the disciples unto Jesus, saying, Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven? Ver. 1. _At the same time_] When he by paying tribute had been teaching them humility and modesty, they most unseasonably discover their folly and ambition: so another time, after he had been washi... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus called a little child unto him, and set him in the midst of them, Ver. 2. _And Jesus called a little child_] Nicephorus saith this was Ignatius, who was afterwards Bishop of Antioch; but I am not bound to believe him. It is well known that he is full of fictions. Christ calling for a litt... [ Continue Reading ]
And said, Verily I say unto you, Except ye be converted, and become as little children, ye shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 3. _Except ye be converted_] _i.e._ Except ye turn over a new leaf, and cast away these fond conceits and crotchets, _a_ these golden dreams of an earthly king... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, the same is greatest in the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 4. _Whosoever therefore shall humble, &c._] Children are not lifted up with pride, for the great things they are born to, neither mind they high places: but the child of a prince will... [ Continue Reading ]
And whoso shall receive one such little child in my name receiveth me. Ver. 5. _And whoso shall receive one such, &c._] St Luke Luk 9:48 hath it, "whosoever shall receive this child in my name." Meaneth our Saviour the child, or those that were humble as that child? Both surely. See here how highly... [ Continue Reading ]
But whoso shall offend one of these little ones which believe in me, it were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and _that_ he were drowned in the depth of the sea. Ver. 6. _But whoso shall offend, &c._] By false doctrine, or loose life, or making a prey of their simplicity... [ Continue Reading ]
Woe unto the world because of offences! for it must needs be that offences come; but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh! Ver. 7. _Woe to the world, because of offences_] Σκανδαλον, _proprie tendicula, hoc est, lignum illud curvum, quo moto decipula clauditur._ The world, besides the offence... [ Continue Reading ]
Wherefore if thy hand or thy foot offend thee, cut them off, and cast _them_ from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life halt or maimed, rather than having two hands or two feet to be cast into everlasting fire. Ver. 8. _If thy hand or foot offend thee, &c._] Matthew 5:29,30, our Saviour fo... [ Continue Reading ]
And if thine eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast _it_ from thee: it is better for thee to enter into life with one eye, rather than having two eyes to be cast into hell fire. Ver. 9. _Pluck it out_] This is the circumcision of the heart, the mortification of earthly members, which is no less ha... [ Continue Reading ]
Take heed that ye despise not one of these little ones; for I say unto you, That in heaven their angels do always behold the face of my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 10. _Take heed that ye despise not, &c._] Gr. Look to it if you do, a foul mischief is towards you. _a_ Look to it as you tender yo... [ Continue Reading ]
For the Son of man is come to save that which was lost. Ver. 11. _For the Son of man came, &c._] Therefore angels are so active and officious about them. This the reprobate angels could not bring their hearts to yield to, and therefore fell through envy from their first estate: and whereas the soci... [ Continue Reading ]
How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? Ver. 12. _Doth he not leave the ninety and nine_] I am not, saith a divine, of their fond opinion that think the... [ Continue Reading ]
And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that _sheep_, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Ver. 13. _And if so be that he find it_] As he will most surely, for none can take them out of his hands; nor can he discharge his trust, should he suffer any o... [ Continue Reading ]
Even so it is not the will of your Father which is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish. Ver. 14. _It is not the will of your Father_] Happy for us, that we are kept by the power of God to salvation, 1 Peter 1:5, for else it were possible for us to fall away and perish: an interci... [ Continue Reading ]
Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone: if he shall hear thee, thou hast gained thy brother. Ver. 15. _If thy brother shall trespass_] As trespass he will, "for it must needs be that offences come," Matthew 18:7, such is human frail... [ Continue Reading ]
But if he will not hear _thee, then_ take with thee one or two more, that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. Ver. 16. _Then take with thee one or two more_] Such as are faithful, and able both to keep counsel and to give counsel; that so, if we cannot lead him by... [ Continue Reading ]
And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell _it_ unto the church: but if he neglect to hear the church, let him be unto thee as an heathen man and a publican. Ver. 17. _Tell it unto the church_] That is, unto the church governors, the church representatives, as some think. Not the pope, whom Papists... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Ver. 18. _Whatsoever ye shall bind_] Let no man despise your censure, for I will ratify it. Whatever you bind, _i.e._ forbid, prohibit, &c. As whateve... [ Continue Reading ]
Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. Ver. 19. _If two of you shall agree_] How much more then a whole church full of you! Great is the power of joint prayer, Acts 12:12; Da... [ Continue Reading ]
For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. Ver. 20. _There am I in the midst_] As to eye their behaviour, so to hear their suits. All that he requireth is, that they bring lawful petitions and honest hearts; and then they shall be sure to receive whats... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times? Ver. 21. _And I forgive him? till seven times_] How many good people even at this day think if they forgive an offending brother some few times, that they have supererogated, _a_ an... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven. Ver. 22. _Until seventy times seven_] _i.e._ _Infinities, toties quoties._ God multiplieth pardons, Isaiah 55:7; so should we. "Love covereth all sins," Proverbs 10:12, so large is the skirt of love's mant... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants. Ver. 23. _Which would take account of his servants_] This God doth daily. 1. In the preaching of the law with its direction or correction, which he that trembleth not in hearing, saith that mar... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents. Ver. 24. _Which owed him ten thousand talents_] A talent is said to be 600 crowns; 10,000 talents are well nigh 12 tons of gold. As often therefore as thy brother offends thee, think with thyself what a... [ Continue Reading ]
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made. Ver. 25. _His lord commanded him to be sold_] Those that sell themselves to do wickedly with Ahab, will sure repent them sore of their bargain, when God sh... [ Continue Reading ]
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Ver. 26. _The servant therefore fell down_] This was the ready way to disarm his master's indignation, and procure his own peace, viz., to submit to justice and implore mercy. Thus Abi... [ Continue Reading ]
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt. Ver. 27. _Loosed him and forgave him the debt_] Every sin is a debt; and the breach of the ten commandments set us in debt to God ten thousand talents. He requires no more but to acknowledge the debt,... [ Continue Reading ]
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took _him_ by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest. Ver. 28. _And he laid hands on him, and took him, &c._] Had he truly apprehended the pardon of his own sins, h... [ Continue Reading ]
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all. Ver. 29. _And his fellow servant fell down_]. This had been sufficient to have broken the heart of a better man than he was any. The more manly and valiant any are, the more gentle... [ Continue Reading ]
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt. Ver. 30. _And he would not, but went, &c._] The true portraiture of an ungrateful and cruel man, that plucketh up the bridge before others, whereby himself had passed over. He that will lend no mercy, how doth he thin... [ Continue Reading ]
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done. Ver. 31. _So when his fellow servants_] The angels, say some, who when they see us backward to business of this nature, are sorry, and say our errand to their and our common Lord... [ Continue Reading ]
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me: Ver. 32. _O thou wicked servant_] Wicked with a witness, as that wicked Haman, so Esther called him, Ezra 2:6, who never till then had heard his true title. Go... [ Continue Reading ]
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee? Ver. 33. _Shouldst not thou also, &c._] Which because he did not, his patent was called in again into the pardoning office, and he deservedly turned over to the tormentor. God will set off his own and all... [ Continue Reading ]
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him. Ver. 34. _And his lord was wroth_] So God is said to be, when he chides and smites for sin, as men used to do in their anger; but somewhat worse than they, for his anger "burneth to the lowest... [ Continue Reading ]
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses. Ver. 35. _If ye from your hearts forgive not_] Forget as well as forgive, which some protest they will never do, neither think they that any do. But what saith the heath... [ Continue Reading ]