And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city. Ver. 1. _And he entered into a ship_] He called not for fire from heaven upon those brutish Gadarenes that were so glad to be rid of him. Some wicked ones Christ punisheth here, lest his providence, but not all, lest his patie... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee. Ver. 2. _They brought unto him a man sick, &c._] Show we like mercy to our sin sick friends, bring them to the or... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This _man_ blasphemeth. Ver. 3. _This man blasphemeth_] True, had he been but a man, and had taken upon him to forgive sins by his own authority, as Popish priests do, to the subverting of some men's souls. I have known one, saith a revere... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts? Ver. 4. _Wherefore think ye evil, &c._] Christ confutes their calumny, and proves himself to be God, and to have power to pardon sin, by discerning and condemning their evil thoughts. "I the Lord search the heart," Jerem... [ Continue Reading ]
For whether is easier, to say, _Thy_ sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk? Ver. 5. _For whether is it easier, &c._] _q.d._ It is a work of one and the same Almighty power to pardon sin, and with a bare word only to heal the sick, such as are counted past cure especially. Think the same... [ Continue Reading ]
But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house. Ver. 6. _That the Son of man hath power, &c._] And therefore is more than a man. The Rhemists tell us of one man that could remove... [ Continue Reading ]
And he arose, and departed to his house. Ver. 7. _And he arose and departed_] He did as he was bidden; for he was healed on both sides. _Mallem obedire quam miracula facere, _ said Luther.... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the multitudes saw _it_, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men. Ver. 8. _They marvelled and glorified God_] When the proud Pharisees blasphemed and were hardened; and so voided the counsel of God against themselves, Luke 7:30, or to their own singular disad... [ Continue Reading ]
And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him. Ver. 9. _A man named Matthew_] The other evangelist call him Levi; so shrouding his shame under a name less known. He plainly and i... [ Continue Reading ]
And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples. Ver. 10. _As Jesus sat at meat in the house_] Matthew feasted Christ, for joy of his conversion. Yea, he made a feast, a feast like a king, a very sumptuous feast... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the Pharisees saw _it_, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners? Ver. 11. _And when the Pharisees saw it_] As envy is quick sighted. See Ovid's description of it. Βασκαινειν παρα του φαεσι καινειν. The wicked look around the saints, seeking to pick a... [ Continue Reading ]
But when Jesus heard _that_, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick. Ver. 12. _But when Jesus heard that, he said_] Hence we learn, that although it be a servile business, as Plato calleth it, and an endless piece of work, to make answer and apology to al... [ Continue Reading ]
But go ye and learn what _that_ meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Ver. 13. _But go ye, and learn what, &c._] In the history of Jonah, Christ found the mystery of his death, burial, and resurrection. Rest not in the she... [ Continue Reading ]
Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not? Ver. 14. _Then came to him the disciples of John_] These sided with the Pharisees against our Saviour out of emulation and self-love, the bane and break neck of all true love; yea, they... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast. Ver. 15. _And Jesus said unto them_] He makes apology for his accused disciples; so doth he s... [ Continue Reading ]
No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse. Ver. 16. _No man putteth a piece, &c._] Austerities of religion are not to be pressed upon new beginners. God would not carry the people to Canaan thr... [ Continue Reading ]
Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved. Ver. 17. _Neither do men put new wine_] In the year of grace 340 arose certain heretics called _Ascitae_ or _Utricu... [ Continue Reading ]
While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live. Ver. 18. _Behold, there came a certain ruler_] Jairus, the ruler of the synagogue. Few such came to Christ; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus arose, and followed him, and _so did_ his disciples. Ver. 19. _And Jesus arose and followed him_] As tendering the ruler's infirmity, and not taking advantages, or turning him off, for presuming to prescribe. Be we also ready to every good office, not picking quarrels or pleading excuses.... [ Continue Reading ]
And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind _him_, and touched the hem of his garment: Ver. 20. _And, behold, a woman, &c._] This history and occurrence comes in here by a parenthesis, and by a sweet providence, for the exercise and increase of Jairus's... [ Continue Reading ]
For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole. Ver. 21. _If I may but touch his garment_] This was a glorious faith of hers, and not much inferior to that of the centurion. Let us in like sort, when we feel the bloody flux of natural filth issuing out at our eyes, mo... [ Continue Reading ]
But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour. Ver. 22. _But Jesus turned him about_] To take notice of it himself, and to notify it to others. For these reasons, saith Chrysostom:... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise, Ver. 23. _He saw the minstrels, &c._] A heathenish custom crept in among the Jews, as many the like are now among the Papists, who are therefore called heathens,Revelation 11:2 . " _Cantabat moestis ti... [ Continue Reading ]
He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn. Ver. 24. _And they laughed him to scorn_] This is daily done by the mad world, quite beside itself in point of salvation. They hear and jeer. God will laugh at their destruction.... [ Continue Reading ]
But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose. Ver. 25. _He took her by the hand_] As it were to awaken her out of a deep sleep. He could have raised her without either coming down or laying his hands upon her. But as Jairus desired him, so he did for... [ Continue Reading ]
And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land. Ver. 26. _And the fame hereof went abroad_] Though Christ had straitly charged the contrary, Mark 5:43, lest, being known too soon, he should stand in the way of his own design. Howbeit, when he drew nigh to his end, he raised the young man of Nai... [ Continue Reading ]
And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, _Thou_ Son of David, have mercy on us. Ver. 27. _Two blind men followed him_] Misery makes unity. These two could the better agree to go together, because their cases were alike. Hooper and Ridley left jarring when they... [ Continue Reading ]
And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord. Ver. 28. _And when he was come into the house_] For till then he seemed to slight them, that they might the more earnestly importune him. H... [ Continue Reading ]
Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you. Ver. 29. _According to your faith_] Questionless (saith a famous divine) justifying faith is not beneath miraculous, in the sphere of its own activity, and where it hath warrant of God's word,... [ Continue Reading ]
And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See _that_ no man know _it_. Ver. 30. _Straitly charged them, saying, See that no man, &c._] He threatened them terribly _a_ (as the word here used importeth) should they but open their mouths to make it known to any man. Some do... [ Continue Reading ]
But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country. Ver. 31. _Spread abroad his fame_] Wherein they sinned, no doubt, though of never so good an intention. God's commandments must be kept as the apple of our eye; for else we charge him with folly.... [ Continue Reading ]
As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil. Ver. 32. _A dumb man possessed with a devil_] Satan still gags many to this day, that they cannot pray to God, profess his name, utter themselves to the good of others. The spirit of faith is no indweller, but sits in... [ Continue Reading ]
And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel. Ver. 33. _The multitudes marvelled, &c._] Others censured, a third sort tempted, a fourth applauded. What can we do, to undergo one opinion to avoid variety of constructions?... [ Continue Reading ]
But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils. Ver. 34. _Through the prince of devils_] There is a principal devil, then, prince of this world: and there are princes and principal spirits in countries and nations under him, Daniel 10:13. We read of the Prince of Per... [ Continue Reading ]
And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people. Ver. 35. _And Jesus went about, &c._] He was not by any affronts or hard usages of the enemy disheartened from well... [ Continue Reading ]
But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd. Ver. 36. _He was moved with compassion_] His eye so affected his heart, that it even yearned (εσπλαγχνισθη) towards these silly souls. _Ingemuit misera... [ Continue Reading ]
Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly _is_ plenteous, but the labourers _are_ few; Ver. 37. _But the labourers few_] Such as will labour to lassitude (εργαται) in preaching Christ crucified; few such.... [ Continue Reading ]
Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest. Ver. 38. _Labourers into his harvest_] Harvestmen, of all others, have the hardest labour, a sore sweating labour. So have faithful ministers. "The householder hath somewhat to do," said Luther, "the magi... [ Continue Reading ]