And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him: Ver. 1. _And seeing the multitudes_] As sheep without a shepherd, or as grain ripe and ready, falling, as it were, into the hands of the harvest man. The "children cried for bread, and there was... [ Continue Reading ]
And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying, Ver. 2. _And he opened his mouth_] This phrase is not superfluous (as some may conceit), but betokeneth free and full discourse, Ephesians 6:19, of some weighty and important matter, Psalms 78:2, uttered with great alacrity of spirit and vehemency o... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ the poor in spirit: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 3. _Blessed_] The word signifieth such as are set out of the reach of evil, in a most joyous condition, having just cause to be everlastingly merry, as being _beati re et spe, _ blessed in hand and in hope, and such as shal... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ they that mourn: for they shall be comforted. Ver. 4. _Blessed are they that mourn_] For sin, with a funeral sorrow (as the word signifieth), such as is expressed by crying and weeping, Luke 6:25, such as was that at Megiddo, for the loss of good Josiah; or as when a man mourns for hi... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ the meek: for they shall inherit the earth. Ver. 5. _Blessed are the meek_] Meekness is the fruit of mourning for sin, and is therefore fitly set next after it. He that can kindly melt in God's presence, will be made thereby as meek as a lamb: and if God will forgive him his ten thous... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled. Ver. 6. _Blessed are those that hunger and thirst after righteousness_] The righteousness of Christ both imputed and imparted (_iustitia imputata, impertita_). This is in Christ for us, being wrought by his... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy. Ver. 7. _Blessed are the merciful, _ ελεημονες] They that from a compassionate heart (melting with sense of God's everlasting mercy to itself, and yearning over the miseries of others) extend and exercise spiritual and corporal mercy. The for... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ the pure in heart: for they shall see God. Ver. 8. _Blessed are the pure in heart_] That wash their hearts from wickedness, that they may be saved, Jeremiah 4:14. Not their hands only, with Pilate, but their inwards, as there; "How long shall thy vain thoughts lodge within thee?" בקרב... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. Ver. 9. _Blessed are the peacemakers_] There are those who, like salamanders, live always in the fire, and, like trouts, love to swim against the stream; that, with Phocion, think it a goodly thing to dissent from others;... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed _are_ they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 10. _Blessed are they that are persecuted_] To be persecuted (as simply considered) is no blessed thing; for then it were to be desired and prayed for. But let a man love a quiet life, and lab... [ Continue Reading ]
Blessed are ye, when _men_ shall revile you, and persecute _you_, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Ver. 11. _Blessed are ye when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake_] There are tongue-smiters, a... [ Continue Reading ]
Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great _is_ your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you. Ver. 12. _Rejoice and be exceeding glad_] Leap and skip for joy, as frolicing young cattle use to do in the spring, when everything is in its prime and pride. (σκιρταω, H... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ver. 13. _Ye are the salt of the earth_] As salt keepeth flesh from putrefying, so do the saints the world:... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Ver. 14. _Ye are the light of the world_] And must therefore lead convincing lives, though ye incur never so much hatred of those Lucifugae, those Tenebriones of the world, that are ill afraid so much light should be diffus... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Ver. 15. _Neither do men light a candle to put it under a bushel, &c._] Nor doth God set up a minister, and so light a link or torch, as the word λυχνος here signifiet... [ Continue Reading ]
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven. Ver. 16. _Let your light so shine before men_] We use to hang the picture of a dear friend in a conspicuous place, that it may appear we rejoice in it, as an ornament to us: so should... [ Continue Reading ]
Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. Ver. 17. _Think not that I am come to destroy the law_] As the Pharisees slandered him only to bring him into hatred with the people; and as to this day they maliciously traduce him in their writi... [ Continue Reading ]
For verily I say unto you, Till heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Ver. 18. _For verily I say unto you_] This is his ordinary asseveration, which he useth in matters of weight only. For a vain protestation comes to as much, for au... [ Continue Reading ]
Whosoever therefore shall break one of these least commandments, and shall teach men so, he shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven: but whosoever shall do and teach _them_, the same shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 19. _Whosoever therefore shall break one of these le... [ Continue Reading ]
For I say unto you, That except your righteousness shall exceed _the righteousness_ of the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case enter into the kingdom of heaven. Ver. 20. _Except your righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of the scribes and Pharisees_] And yet they went far: 1. In work... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not kill; and whosoever shall kill shall be in danger of the judgment: Ver. 21. _Ye have heard that it was said by them of old_] Antiquity is venerable: and of witnesses, Aristotle witnesseth, that the more ancient they are, the more to... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire. Ver. 22. _But I say unto you_] This... [ Continue Reading ]
Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; Ver. 23. _Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar_] To anger our Saviour here opposeth charity, which suffereth long and is kind. Charity envieth not, nor is rash, &c.; but beareth a... [ Continue Reading ]
Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift. Ver. 24. _Leave there thy gift_] The fountain of love will not be laded at with uncharitable hands. God appeared not to Abraham till Lot and he were agreed. Jacob reconciled... [ Continue Reading ]
Agree with thine adversary quickly, whiles thou art in the way with him; lest at any time the adversary deliver thee to the judge, and the judge deliver thee to the officer, and thou be cast into prison. Ver. 25. _Agree with thine adversary quickly_] _Habent aulae suum Cito, cito._ God's work also... [ Continue Reading ]
Verily I say unto thee, Thou shalt by no means come out thence, till thou hast paid the uttermost farthing. Ver. 26. _Thou shalt by no means come out thence till, &c._] _i.e._ Never come ont. Let our merit mongers first go to hell for their sins, and stay all eternity there; then afterward, if God... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have heard that it was said by them of old time, Thou shalt not commit adultery: Ver. 27. _Ye have heard that it was said by them of old, Thou shalt not commit adultery_] This they corruptly restrained to the gross act, and made nothing of contemplative filthiness, hearts full of harlotry, hot a... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. Ver. 28. _But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her_] Lusting is often the fruit of looking; as in Joseph's mistress, who set her eyes upon Jo... [ Continue Reading ]
And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out, and cast _it_ from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not _that_ thy whole body should be cast into hell. Ver. 29. _And if thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out_] That is, if it be either so natural or hab... [ Continue Reading ]
And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast _it_ from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not _that_ thy whole body should be cast into hell. Ver. 30. _And if thy right hand offend thee, &c._] By wanton touches, by unclean dalliance; a further... [ Continue Reading ]
It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, let him give her a writing of divorcement: Ver. 31. _It hath been said, Whosoever shall put away his wife, &c._] This Moses permitted, as a law maker, not as a prophet; as a civil magistrate, not as a man of God; merely for the hardness of the m... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That whosoever shall put away his wife, saving for the cause of fornication, causeth her to commit adultery: and whosoever shall marry her that is divorced committeth adultery. Ver. 32. _Saving for the cause of fornication_] Taken in the largest sense for adultery also. _Adulter... [ Continue Reading ]
Again, ye have heard that it hath been said by them of old time, Thou shalt not forswear thyself, but shalt perform unto the Lord thine oaths: Ver. 33. _Thou shalt not forswear thyself_] An oath is ορκος _quasi_ ερκος, a hedge which a man may not break. It must not be taken without necessity. Hence... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: Ver. 34. _Swear not at all_] Not at all by the creatures. _a_ (which the Pharisees held no fault), nor yet by the name of God in common talk, lightly, rashly, and irreverently; for such vain oaths the land mourneth. Oa... [ Continue Reading ]
Nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: neither by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great King. Ver. 35. _Nor by the earth, for it is his footstool_] A fault so common among this people, that St James saw cause to warn the believing Jews of it, to whom he wrote. They had taken up such a cust... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. Ver. 36. _Neither shalt thou swear by thy head_] That is, by thy health, which is the life of our lives, say some: by thy life, say others, which is a sweet blessing; _a_ for a living dog is better than a dea... [ Continue Reading ]
But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. Ver. 37. _But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay_] That is, as St Basil interpreteth it, yea in speech and yea in heart; nay in speech and nay in heart: or thus, let your common communica... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, and a tooth for a tooth: Ver. 38. _Ye have heard that it hath been said, An eye for an eye, &c._] This law of like for like (which also was in use among the ancient Romans) the scribes and Pharisees had abused and distorted from its proper se... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, That ye resist not evil: but whosoever shall smite thee on thy right cheek, turn to him the other also. Ver. 39. _But I say unto you, that ye resist not evil_] For here to resist is to be overcome, saith St Paul, Romans 12:21. And in a matter of strife or disagreement, he hath t... [ Continue Reading ]
And if any man will sue thee at the law, and take away thy coat, let him have _thy_ cloke also. Ver. 40. _And if any man sue thee at the law and lake away thy coat_] Rather remit of thy right, and sit down by the loss, than suffer the trouble of a vexatious lawsuit: quiet is to be sought above prof... [ Continue Reading ]
And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile, go with him twain. Ver. 41. _And whosoever shall compel thee to go a mile_] Under colour of the magistrate's authority, which he abuseth; rather than by resisting thou shouldest revenge thyself, go with him two miles, yea, as far as the shoes of the pre... [ Continue Reading ]
Give to him that asketh thee, and from him that would borrow of thee turn not thou away. Ver. 42. _Give to him that asketh thee_] Yet with discretion and choice of a fit object. _a_ Which having met with be not weary of well doing; for in due season ye shall reap, if ye faint not, Galatians 6:9. Gi... [ Continue Reading ]
Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. Ver. 43. _Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy_] This latter they drew as an inference from the former, by the rule of contraries. But logic, being the rule of reason, which now is corrupt, is... [ Continue Reading ]
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; Ver. 44. _But I say unto you, Love your enemies_] A hard task, I must needs say, but, hard or not hard, it must be done, be it never so c... [ Continue Reading ]
That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Ver. 45. _That ye may be the children of your Father_] That ye may appear to be, and will approve yourselves to be, the sons of G... [ Continue Reading ]
For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? Ver. 46. _For if ye love them that love you, what reward have you?_] The Greek and Latin word (say the Rhemists) signifieth very wages or hire due for work; and so presupposeth a meritorious deed. But what... [ Continue Reading ]
And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more _than others_ ? do not even the publicans so? Ver. 47. _What do ye more than others?_] Singular things are expected and required of such as have received singular grace and mercy. As to be eminent in good works, to get above others, to have our f... [ Continue Reading ]
Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect. Ver. 48. _Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father, &c._] The child (saith one) is the father multiplied, the father of a second edition. Of Constantine's sons Eusebius reporteth, that they "put on their father's fashio... [ Continue Reading ]