The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ — The evangelist speaks with strict propriety: for the beginning of the Gospel is in the account of John the Baptist, contained in the first paragraph; the Gospel itself in the rest of the book. Matthew 3:1; Luke 3:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Malachi 3:1... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 40:3.... [ Continue Reading ]
Preaching the baptism of repentance — That is, preaching repentance, and baptizing as a sign and means of it.... [ Continue Reading ]
The latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to unloose — That is, to do him the very meanest service.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 3:13; Luke 3:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
And immediately the Spirit thrusteth him out into the wilderness — So in all the children of God, extraordinary manifestations of his favour are wont to be followed by extraordinary temptations. Matthew 4:1; Luke 4:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
And he was there forty days, tempted by Satan — Invisibly. After this followed the temptation by him in a visible shape, related by St. Matthew. And he was with the wild beasts — Though they had no power to hurt him. St. Mark not only gives us a compendium of St. Matthew's Gospel, but likewise sever... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 4:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
The time is fulfilled — The time of my kingdom, foretold by Daniel, expected by you, is fully come.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 4:18; Luke 5:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
Straightway leaving their nets, they followed him — From this time they forsook their employ, and constantly attended him. Happy they who follow Christ at the first call!... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 4:31.... [ Continue Reading ]
A loud noise — For he was forbidden to speak. Christ would neither suffer those evil spirits to speak in opposition, nor yet in favour of him. He needed not their testimony, nor would encourage it, lest any should infer that he acted in concert with them.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 8:14; Luke 4:38.... [ Continue Reading ]
When the sun was set — And, consequently, the Sabbath was ended, which they reckoned from sunset to sunset.... [ Continue Reading ]
And the whole city was gathered together at the door — O what a fair prospect was here! Who could then have imagined that all these blossoms would die away without fruit?... [ Continue Reading ]
He suffered not the devils to say that they knew him — That is, according to Dr. Mead's hypothesis, (that the Scriptural demoniacs were only diseased persons,) He suffered not the diseases to say that they knew him!... [ Continue Reading ]
Rising a great while before day — So did he labour for us, both day and night. Luke 4:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
Matthew 8:2; Luke 5:12.... [ Continue Reading ]
See thou say nothing to any man — But our blessed Lord gives no such charge to us. If he has made us clean from our leprosy of sin, we are not commanded to conceal it. On the contrary, it is our duty to publish it abroad, both for the honour of our Benefactor, and that others who are sick of sin may... [ Continue Reading ]
So that Jesus could no more openly enter into the city — It was also to prevent this inconvenience that our Lord had enjoined him silence.... [ Continue Reading ]