For the kingdom of heaven is like unto a man _that is_ an householder, which went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. Ver. 1. _For the kingdom of heaven, &c._] That last sentence Christ further illustrateth and enforceth by this following parable. Peter and the rest were i... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he had agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. Ver. 2. _For a penny a day_] Not for eternal life (for this those murmuring merit mongers never had, who yet had their penny), but something (whatever it were) that gave the labourers good content; that it... [ Continue Reading ]
And he went out about the third hour, and saw others standing idle in the marketplace, Ver. 3. _Others standing idle_] For any good they did, or could do, till sent into the vineyard, and set awork by God. Till then we are mere excrements of human society. _Nos numerus sumus, &c._... [ Continue Reading ]
And said unto them; Go ye also into the vineyard, and whatsoever is right I will give you. And they went their way. Ver. 4. _Go ye also into the vineyard_] God hath his times to call men in; only let them stand in God's way, wait at the posts of wisdom's gates, at the pool of Bethesda, &c. _Gratuit... [ Continue Reading ]
Again he went out about the sixth and ninth hour, and did likewise. Ver. 5. _About the sixth and ninth hour_] God hath his servants of all sexes and sizes, calling when and whom he pleaseth. And they have the comfort and credit of it that are first called, so they walk worthy of their time, and tha... [ Continue Reading ]
And about the eleventh hour he went out, and found others standing idle, and saith unto them, Why stand ye here all the day idle? Ver. 6. _And about the eleventh hour_] About five o'clock in the afternoon; when it was well nigh time to leave work. _Nunquam sero si serio._ Never too late if in earne... [ Continue Reading ]
They say unto him, Because no man hath hired us. He saith unto them, Go ye also into the vineyard; and whatsoever is right, _that_ shall ye receive. Ver. 7. _Go ye also into, the vineyard_] At this hour the penitent thief was sent in, and he bestirred him; for he justifies Christ, condemns himself,... [ Continue Reading ]
So when even was come, the lord of the vineyard saith unto his steward, Call the labourers, and give them _their_ hire, beginning from the last unto the first. Ver. 8. _Saith unto his steward_] That is, to his Son Christ, whom he hath made judge of all, to give unto every man according to his works... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they came that _were hired_ about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. Ver. 9. _And when they came_] These last labourers were first paid, because they trusted not to the worth of their own works, but to God's free grace and goodness; when the other are fumed off in displeas... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the first came, they supposed that they should have received more; and they likewise received every man a penny. Ver. 10. _They supposed that they, &c._] Good works are _mercatura regni coelestis, _ saith Bellarmine. But God is no such merchant. _Cerium gratis non accipiam, _ I will not ha... [ Continue Reading ]
And when they had received _it_, they murmured against the goodman of the house, Ver. 11. _They murmured, &c._] They had what they agreed for, some temporal blessings, which is all that carnal men commonly care for. Or if any seek after spiritual things, it is not for any beauty he seeth or taste h... [ Continue Reading ]
Saying, These last have wrought _but_ one hour, and thou hast made them equal unto us, which have borne the burden and heat of the day. Ver. 12. _Thou hast made them equal_] Lo, this is the guise of graceless hypocrites, to be quarrelling and contending with God and man, as unworthily dealt withal.... [ Continue Reading ]
But he answered one of them, and said, Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst not thou agree with me for a penny? Ver. 13. _Friend, I do thee no wrong_] Friend he is called, not reprobate, though he were a murmurer, a merit monger. In arguing the case with others, use hard arguments, but in a soft langu... [ Continue Reading ]
Take _that_ thine _is_, and go thy way: I will give unto this last, even as unto thee. Ver. 14. _Take that thine is, and go_] A fearful sentence. David blesseth himself from those men of God's hand, which have their portion here, and that is all they are to look for,Psalms 17:14. _Valde protestatus... [ Continue Reading ]
Is it not lawful for me to do what I will with mine own? Is thine eye evil, because I am good? Ver. 15. _Is it not lawful for me, &c._] This is God's speech (who is the great Proprietary of all); it may not be ours, who have nothing of our own, but all in trust: so that when we present anything to... [ Continue Reading ]
So the last shall be first, and the first last: for many be called, but few chosen. Ver. 16. _So the last shall be first, &c._] This is the purport of the preceding parable. Application is the life of preaching. _ Few are chosen_] It is a strange speech of Chrysostom, in his fourth sermon to the p... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Ver. 17. _Took the twelve disciples_] To rouse them and raise them out of their carnal fears and dejections. Jerusalem was the saints' slaughter house,Luke 13:33; (as Rome is now, which therefore is spir... [ Continue Reading ]
Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death, Ver. 18. _Behold, we go up to Jerusalem_] Behold, as it requires attention (and this was no more than need; for St Luke, Luke 18:34, tells us that th... [ Continue Reading ]
And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify _him_ : and the third day he shall rise again. Ver. 19. _To mock, and to scourge, and to crucify him_] What are all our sufferings to his? and yet we think ourselves undone, if but touched; and in setting forth our calami... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came to him the mother of Zebedee's children with her sons, worshipping _him_, and desiring a certain thing of him. Ver. 20. _Then came to him, &c._] Then, most unseasonably, when Christ had by the parable been teaching them humility, and now was discoursing of his death and passion, then came... [ Continue Reading ]
And he said unto her, What wilt thou? She saith unto him, Grant that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on the left, in thy kingdom. Ver. 21. _What wilt thou?_] We may not overly hasty engage ourselves by promise of this or that to our best friends, but hold off and... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus answered and said, Ye know not what ye ask. Are ye able to drink of the cup that I shall drink of, and to be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with? They say unto him, We are able. Ver. 22. _Ye know not what ye ask_] Ye ask and miss, "because ye ask amiss," James 4:1. A prayer... [ Continue Reading ]
And he saith unto them, Ye shall drink indeed of my cup, and be baptized with the baptism that I am baptized with: but to sit on my right hand, and on my left, is not mine to give, but _it shall be given to them_ for whom it is prepared of my Father. Ver. 23. _Ye shall drink indeed of my cup_] _Ill... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the ten heard _it_, they were moved with indignation against the two brethren. Ver. 24. _They were moved_] They were angry at that ambition in their fellows, that themselves were deeply guilty of. So Diogenes trampled Plato's pride, but with greater pride. So Crassus earnestly inveighed ag... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus called them _unto him_, and said, Ye know that the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. Ver. 25. _Jesus called them to him, and said_] We must (by Christ's example) advance, cherish concord all we can, among ministers e... [ Continue Reading ]
But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; Ver. 26. _But it shall not be so among you_] How express is that against Papal primacy and lordly prelacy. When the duke shall be damned, what will become of the bishop? said the clown to the Bishop o... [ Continue Reading ]
And whosoever will be chief among you, let him be your servant: Ver. 27. _Let him be your servant_] This is the ready way to rise. Neither may any think himself too good to serve the saints, to wash their feet, to minister to their necessities. Christ came out of the bosom of his Father to fetch th... [ Continue Reading ]
Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many. Ver. 28. _And to give his life a ransom_] A redemptory, a valuable rate, λυτρον, for it was the blood of God wherewith the Church was purchased, Acts 20:28; silver and gold could not do i... [ Continue Reading ]
And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. Ver. 29. _And as they departed from Jericho_] Christ cured one blind man as he went into Jericho, Luke 18:35,43, and two as he went out; for all the haste he had to go to Jerusalem. _a_ Hence such multitudes followed him, to make up... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, _thou_ Son of David. Ver. 30. _When they heard that Jesus passed by_] Happy it was for them that, though blind, yet they were not deaf. For as death came in by the... [ Continue Reading ]
And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, _thou_ Son of David. Ver. 31. _And the multitude rebuked them_] In prayer, we must look to meet with many rubs and discouragements; but God's Spirit is heroic, and gets o... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? Ver. 32. _And Jesus stood still_] See the admirable power of fervent prayer. _Preces Christum licet festinantem remorantur, _ Christ stands and stays (for all the haste of his journey to Jerusalem, which till h... [ Continue Reading ]
They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. Ver. 33. _Lord, that our eyes might be opened_] "Truly the light is sweet, and a pleasant thing it is for the eyes to behold the sun," Ecclesiastes 11:7, and yet how little is this mercy prized, because common. Our corrupt natures heed nothing t... [ Continue Reading ]
So Jesus had compassion _on them_, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. Ver. 34. _And Jesus had compassion on them_] He made their case his own. _Misericordia_ Mercy sounds as much as misery laid to heart. Christ's heart sounded upon the sight an... [ Continue Reading ]