Luke 9:1-6
Luke 9:1-6. THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 9:1-6. THE MISSION OF THE TWELVE... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΟῪΣ ΔΏΔΕΚΑ. ABD, &c. The Rec[185] adds μαθητὰς αὐτοῦ, but St Luke, St Mark, and St John used οἱ δώδεκα absolutely. [185] Rec. The Textus Receptus. 1. ΣΥΝΚΑΛΕΣΆΜΕΝΟΣ ΔῈ ΤΟῪΣ ΔΏΔΕΚΑ. The word συνκαλ. ‘calling them _together_,’ not merely προσκαλ. ‘calling them _up to Him_,’ indicates the special sol... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΈΣΤΕΙΛΕΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ. Two and two for their mutual comfort. Mark 6:7. ἸΑ͂ΣΘΑΙ ΤΟῪΣ�. ‘_To heal the sick_.’ There seems to be no essential difference intended between ἰᾶσθαι and θεραπεύειν ‘_to tend_,’ which is the reading of some MSS., unless it points to the curious fact mentioned by St Mark that th... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΕΝ ΠΡῸΣ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ. For a much fuller account of the instructions given to the Twelve, see Matthew 10:5-15. Some of these are recorded by St Luke as given also to the Seventy, Luke 10:1-16. ΜΉΤΕ ῬΆΒΔΟΝ. So אAB &c. The plural may have been frivolously introduced by some copyist who wished to avoid an... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ἫΝ ἊΝ ΟἸΚΊΑΝ ΕἸΣΈΛΘΗΤΕ. After inquiring who were the worthiest people to receive them, Matthew 10:11, comp. infra Luke 10:5-8. This injunction was meant to exclude fastidious and restless changes. St Luke omits the injunction (Matthew 10:5)—which was only temporary (Matthew 28:19)—not to enter i... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΤῸΝ ΚΟΝΙΟΡΤΌΝ. See Acts 13:51; Acts 18:6. The use of κονιορτὸς for κόνις is Hellenistic (LXX[200] Exodus 9:9, &c.). It properly means ‘a dustcloud,’ and occurs only in this phrase, except in Acts 22:23. [200] LXX. Septuagint. ἘΠ' ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ. ‘Against them’; stronger than the αὐτοῖς of Mark, for i... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΉΡΧΟΝΤΟ ΚΑΤΆ. ‘They went in all directions, from village to village.’ The κατὰ is (like ἀνά) distributive. ΕΥ̓ΑΓΓΕΛΙΖΌΜΕΝΟΙ. In Luke 9:2 we have κηρύσσειν, ‘to herald.’ ΘΕΡΑΠΕΎΟΝΤΕΣ. In the other Evangelists _exorcisms_ are prominent. Mark 6:13. The special object of the mission of the Twelve is... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΡΏΔΗΣ. Antipas. See Luke 3:1. ΤᾺ ΓΙΝΌΜΕΝΑ ΠΆΝΤΑ. ‘_All that was occurring_.’ The words “by Him” of the Rec[201] are omitted by אBCDL. There seems to be a special reference to the work of the Twelve which made our Lord’s name more widely known. [201] Rec. The Textus Receptus. ὙΠΌ ΤΙΝΩΝ. To this o... [ Continue Reading ]
HEROD’S ALARM... [ Continue Reading ]
ἩΛΊΑΣ. In accordance with the prophecy of Malachi 4:5. The verb ἐφάνη is used instead of ἠγέρθη, because of Elijah’s translation to heaven. The Talmud is full of the expected appearance of Elijah, and of instances in which he shewed himself to eminent Rabbis. ΠΡΟΦΉΤΗΣ ΤΙΣ ΤΩ͂Ν�. ‘_Some prophet of th... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΓΏ. The addition of the ἐγὼ shews that it is emphatic, ‘_I_ beheaded John.’ ἘΖΉΤΕΙ. Herod did not merely _desire_ (A. V[202]) to see Him, but made attempts to do so. This agrees with Luke 23:8, “he was desirous to see him of a long season.” St Luke may have heard particulars about Herod from Chuzas... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΣ ΠΌΛΙΝ ΚΑΛΟΥΜΈΝΗΝ ΒΗΘΣΑΪΔΆ. BLX, Copt. Sah[186] Ti[187] W.H[188] &c. [D has κώμην] The variants rose from two difficulties, (1) The copyists did not know of the Northern Bethsaida. (2) They were puzzled by the ‘desert place.’ See note. [186] Sah. Sahidic Version. [187] Ti. Tischendorf. [188] W.H... [ Continue Reading ]
THE FEEDING OF THE FIVE THOUSAND... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟἹ ΔῈ ὌΧΛΟΙ. The ensuing incident is one of the few narrated by all four Evangelists, Matthew 14:13-33; Mark 6:30-52; John 6:1-21, and is most important from the power displayed, the doctrines symbolized (Christ the bread of life), and the results to which it led (John 6). Combining the narratives,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΛΊΝΕΙΝ. ‘To decline.’ ΟἹ ΔΏΔΕΚΑ. They were afraid that when once the brief twilight was over, the famished multitude might lose their way or come to harm, and some calamity happen which would give a fresh handle against Jesus. John alone tells us that He had compassionately suggested the difficult... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΛΕΙ͂ΟΝ Ἢ ΠΈΝΤΕ ἌΡΤΟΙ ΚΑῚ ἸΧΘΎΕΣ ΔΎΟ. The contraction is an anakoluthon, for εἰσίν refers to ἄρτοι, not to πλεῖον ἢ, which must be regarded as a sort of parenthetic addition. Compare Numbers 11:22. It was Andrew who first mentioned this fact in a tentative sort of way. The little boy (παιδάριον) who... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΕΝΤΑΚΙΣΧΊΛΙΟΙ. “Besides women and children,” Matthew 14:21. These would probably not be numerous, and would not (in accordance with Eastern usage) sit down with the men, but would stand apart. ΚΛΙΣΊΑΣ�. ‘_In companies about fifty each_.’ The accusative is attributive, in apposition with the meaning... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤΈΚΛΑΣΕΝ ΚΑῚ ἘΔΊΔΟΥ. The ‘brake’ is in the aorist and the ‘gave’ in the imperfect, and although it is a useless presumption to inquire into the _mode_ of this most remarkable miracle, these two words give us this detail only,—that it took place between the act of breaking and the continuous distri... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΛΑΣΜΆΤΩΝ. Compare 2 Kings 4:43-44. These were collected by the order of Jesus, who thus strikingly taught that wastefulness even of miraculous plenty is entirely alien to the divine administration. ΚΌΦΙΝΟΙ ΔΏΔΕΚΑ. Probably wicker-baskets (_salsilloth_, Jeremiah 6:9). Every Jew carried such a baske... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑΤᾺ ΜΌΝΑΣ. ‘In private,’ as the context shews. ΟἹ ὌΧΛΟΙ. ‘The multitudes’; those whom Jesus had taught and healed and fed, or those who seem to have been always at no great distance. The two other Evangelists place this memorable scene in the neighbourhood of Caesarea Philippi. His life at this epo... [ Continue Reading ]
ST PETER’S CONFESSION. CHRIST PROPHESIES HIS DEATH AND RESURRECTION... [ Continue Reading ]
ἸΩΆΝΝΗΝ ΤῸΝ ΒΑΠΤΙΣΤΉΝ. See on Luke 9:7-9. The answer of the Apostles shewed the sad truth that Jesus had come to His own possessions and His own people received Him not; that the Light had shined in the darkness, and the darkness had not comprehended it. He had not come to _force belief_, but to _wi... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῸΝ ΧΡΙΣΤῸΝ ΤΟΥ͂ ΘΕΟΥ͂. ‘_The Anointed, the Messiah, of God_.’ “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the Living God,” Matthew 16:16. St Mark merely says “the Christ.” “The Lord’s Christ,” Luke 2:26. After the estranging speech at Capernaum our Lord had asked, “Will ye also go away?” and then St Peter’s a... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΗΔΕΝῚ ΛΈΓΕΙΝ. For these perhaps among other reasons:—1. Because His work was not yet finished. 2. Because as yet their faith was very weak and their knowledge very partial. 3. Because they had not yet received the Holy Spirit to give power to their testimony. 4. Because the public proclamation of t... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΛΛᾺ ΠΑΘΕΙ͂Ν. It was necessary at once to dissipate the crude Messianic conceptions of earthly splendour and victory in which they had been brought up, and to substitute the truth of a suffering for that of a triumphant Messiah. ἈΠΌ. ‘At _the hand_ of,’ Luke 17:25; Winer, p. 464. The word ἀποδοκιμ... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡῸΣ ΠΆΝΤΑΣ. The word “all” implies the fact mentioned by St Mark (Mark 8:34), that before continuing His discourse He called up to Him the multitudes who were at a little distance. St Luke here omits the presumption and rebuke of St Peter, which is alone sufficient to dispose of the unworthy theory... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CROSS AND THE KINGDOM... [ Continue Reading ]
ὋΣ ΓᾺΡ ἊΝ ΘΈΛΗΙ Κ.Τ.Λ. The words imply _whosoever shall make it his main will to save his life_. See by way of comment the fine fragment (probably) of a very early Christian hymn in 2 Timothy 2:11-12, and observe that ψυχὴ means the natural, animal life of which the main interests are in the earth.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΕΡΔΉΣΑΣ ΤῸΝ ΚΌΣΜΟΝ ὍΛΟΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. It was by the constant repetition of this verse that Ignatius Loyola won the life-long devotion of St Francis Xavier. ἙΑΥΤῸΝ ΔῈ�. ‘Destroy himself, and suffer loss.’... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΑΙΣΧΥΝΘΉΣΕΤΑΙ. Compare Luke 12:9; 2 Timothy 1:8; 2 Timothy 1:12; 2 Timothy 2:12. τοὺς ἐμούς (omitting λόγους), ‘my followers,’ is the reading of D, but the parallel passage, Mark 8:35, seems to shew that it is not correct.... [ Continue Reading ]
ὯΔΕ. (Rec[189]) A more commonplace reading than αὐτοῦ, אBL, &c. [189] Rec. The Textus Receptus. 27. ἈΛΗΘΩ͂Σ. St Luke more generally has ἐπ' ἀληθείας, but see Luke 12:41; Luke 21:3. ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂. _Here_. See critical note. It is an _adverb_ formed by a _gen. of place_ like οὗ, ποῦ, &c. See note on Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣΕῚ ἩΜΈΡΑΙ ὈΚΤΏ. This is not a case of the _schema Pindaricum_ where a singular verb (ἐγένετο) is attached to a plural substantive. The ὡσεὶ ἡμέραι ὀκτώ is a sort of parenthetic clause without regular connexion. See Matthew 17:1-13; Mark 9:2-13. This is merely the inclusive reckoning which St Luke... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRANSFIGURATION... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΠΡΟΣΕΎΧΕΣΘΑΙ. The inquiry whether this heavenly brightness came from within, or—as when the face of Moses shone—by reflection from communion with God, seems irreverent and idle; but we may say that the two things are practically one. ΤῸ ΕἾΔΟΣ ΤΟΥ͂ ΠΡΟΣΏΠΟΥ. “His face did shine as the sun,”... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΩΫΣΗ͂Σ ΚΑῚ ἩΛΊΑΣ. The great Lawgiver and the great Prophet, of whom we are told that God buried the one (Deuteronomy 34:6) and the other had passed to heaven in a chariot of fire (2 Kings 2:1; 2 Kings 2:11). The two were the chief representatives of the Old Dispensation. The former had prophesied o... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤῊΝ ἜΞΟΔΟΝ. ‘Departure’—a very unusual word for death, which also occurs in this connexion in 2 Peter 1:15 (comp. _exitus_). The reading δόξαν, ‘glory,’ though known to St Chrysostom, is only supported by a few cursives. ἔξοδος is, as Bengel says, a very weighty word, involving His passion, cross, d... [ Continue Reading ]
ἮΣΑΝ ΒΕΒΑΡΗΜΈΝΟΙ ὝΠΝΩΙ· ΔΙΑΓΡΗΓΟΡΉΣΑΝΤΕΣ ΔΈ. ‘Had been heavy with sleep; but on fully awaking.’ The word διαγρηγορήσαντες does not here mean ‘having kept awake,’ but (to give the full force of the compound and aorist) _suddenly starting into full wakefulness_. They started up, wide awake after heavy... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΔΙΑΧΩΡΊΖΕΣΘΑΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ. As they ‘were parting.’ ἘΠΙΣΤΆΤΑ. Matt. Κύριε. Mk. Ῥαββί. ΚΑΛΌΝ ἘΣΤΙΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. It is an excellent thing, or ‘it is _best_’ (cf. Matthew 17:4; Matthew 26:24). ΣΚΗΝΆΣ. Like the little wattled _booths (succôth)_, which the Israelites made for themselves at the Feast of T... [ Continue Reading ]
ΝΕΦΈΛΗ. “A bright cloud,” Matthew 17:5. Possibly the Shekinah, or cloud of glory (see on Luke 1:35), which was the symbol of the Divine Presence (Exodus 33:9; 1 Kings 8:10). If a mere mountain cloud had been intended, there would have been no reason for their fear. ΑΥ̓ΤΟΎΣ. This reading implies tha... [ Continue Reading ]
ΦΩΝΉ. 2 Peter 1:17-18. As in two other instances in our Lord’s ministry, Luke 3:22; John 12:28. The other Synoptists add that at this Voice they fell prostrate, and, on Jesus touching them, suddenly raised their eyes and looked all around them, to find no one there but Jesus. Ὁ ἘΚΛΕΛΕΓΜΈΝΟΣ. ‘My ch... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΣΊΓΗΣΑΝ. Until after the resurrection, in accordance with the express command of Jesus given them as they were descending the hill. Matthew 17:9. During the descent there also occurred the conversation about Elijah and John the Baptist. (Matthew 17:9-13; Mark 9:9-13.) It is remarkable that the only... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Ι ἙΞΗ͂Σ ἩΜΈΡΑΙ. Proving that the Transfiguration took place at night: see on Luke 9:28. ὌΧΛΟΣ ΠΟΛΎΣ. St Mark records their “amazement” at seeing Him—perhaps due to some lingering radiance and majesty which clung to Him after the Transfiguration. (Comp. Exodus 34:30.) They had been surrounding a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEMONIAC BOY. THE LESSON OF MEEKNESS... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΙΒΛΈΨΑΙ. The ἐπίβλεψον of Rec[190] rose from the infinitive being mistaken for an aor. imp. middle. [190] Rec. The Textus Receptus. 38. ἈΠῸ ΤΟΥ͂ ὌΧΛΟΥ. ‘From the crowd.’ ΔΙΔΆΣΚΑΛΕ. ‘Teacher’ or ‘Rabbi.’ ἘΠΙΒΛΈΨΑΙ. See critical note. It is 1st aor. infin., not imperat. middle. The middle of the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΝΕΥ͂ΜΑ ΛΑΜΒΆΝΕΙ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. This was the supernatural aspect of his deafness, epilepsy, and madness. St Matthew gives the natural aspect when he says, “he is a lunatic, and sore vexed, &c.” Luke 17:15.... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἨΔΥΝΉΘΗΣΑΝ. Jesus afterwards, at their request, told them the reason of this, which was their deficient faith. Matthew 17:19-21.... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὦ ΓΕΝΕᾺ ἌΠΙΣΤΟΣ Κ.Τ.Λ. Doubtless the Spirit of Jesus was wrung by the contrast—so immortally portrayed in the great picture of Raphael—between the peace and glory which He had left on the mountain, and this scene of weak faith, abject misery, and bitter opposition—faltering disciples, degraded suffe... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΕΤΊΜΗΣΕΝ Κ.Τ.Λ. See the fuller details and the memorable cry of the poor father in Mark 9:21-24. The child had been rendered deaf and dumb by his possession; in the last paroxysm he wallowed on the ground foaming, and then lay as dead till Jesus raised him by the hand. Interesting parallels to the... [ Continue Reading ]
ΤΗ͂Ι ΜΕΓΑΛΕΙΌΤΗΤΙ. ‘Majesty.’ 2 Peter 1:16. Vulg[204] ‘_magnitudine_.’ [204] Vulg. Vulgate. ΘΑΥΜΑΖΌΝΤΩΝ. The power of the last miracle had rekindled some of their Messianic enthusiasm. Jesus had now reached the northern limits of Palestine, and—apparently through bypaths, and with the utmost secre... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜΈΛΛΕΙ ΠΑΡΑΔΊΔΟΣΘΑΙ. ‘Is about to be delivered’ (i.e. very soon).... [ Continue Reading ]
ἨΓΝΌΟΥΝ. This permanent ignorance and incapacity, so humbly avowed, should be contrasted with the boldness and fulness of their subsequent knowledge. It furnishes one of the strongest proofs of the change wrought in them by the Resurrection and the Descent of the Holy Spirit. ΠΑΡΑΚΕΚΑΛΥΜΜΈΝΟΝ. ‘_Ve... [ Continue Reading ]
ΔΙΑΛΟΓΙΣΜΌΣ. ‘A dispute.’ ΤΌ. The article is inapposition to the whole question. Comp. Mark 9:43. ΤΊΣ ἊΝ ΕἼΗ ΜΕΊΖΩΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν. ‘_Who of them should be the greatest_’ (comp. Luke 9:48) not as Weiss takes it, ‘Who should be greater than they.’ Their jealous ambition had been kindled partly by false Mes... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἸΔΏΣ. He asked the subject of their dispute, and when shame kept them silent, He sat down, and calling a little child, made the Twelve stand around while He taught this solemn lesson. ΠΑΙΔΊΟΥ. This could not have been the future martyr St Ignatius, as legend says (Niceph. II. 3), probably by an er... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΓᾺΡ ΜΙΚΡΌΤΕΡΟΣ ἘΝ ΠΑ͂ΣΙΝ ὙΜΙ͂Ν ὙΠΆΡΧΩΝ. ‘_He whose position is least among you all_.’ Comp. Matthew 23:11-12. He perhaps added the memorable words about offending His little ones. Matthew 18:6-10; Luke 17:2. ΟὟΤΌΣ ἘΣΤΙΝ ΜΈΓΑΣ. ‘_He_ (emphatic) is _great_’ (אABCLX), not ‘_shall be_’ but _is_.... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΟΚΡΙΘΕῚΣ ΔῈ Ὁ ἸΩΆΝΝΗΣ ΕἾΠΕΝ. Mark 9:38-41. This sudden question seems to have been suggested by the words ‘_in my name_,’ which Jesus had just used. ἘΠῚ ΤΩ͂Ι ὈΝΌΜΑΤΊ ΣΟΥ ἘΚΒΆΛΛΟΝΤΑ ΔΑΙΜΌΝΙΑ. It was common among the Jews to attempt exorcism by many different methods; see on Luke 4:35; Luke 4:41; Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TOLERANCE OF JESUS... [ Continue Reading ]
ΜῊ ΚΩΛΎΕΤΕ. The present-imperfect tense, ‘Do not be for hindering him.’ ὋΣ ΓᾺΡ ΟΥ̓Κ ἜΣΤΙΝ ΚΑΘ' ὙΜΩ͂Ν, ὙΠῈΡ ὙΜΩ͂Ν ἘΣΤΊΝ. Cf. Philippians 1:18. The _complementary_ but not contradictory truth to this is, “He who is not with me is against me,” Matthew 12:30. Both are true in different circumstances. Ne... [ Continue Reading ]
(ἘΓΈΝΕΤΟ ΔῈ) ἘΝ ΤΩ͂Ι ΣΥΜΠΛΗΡΟΥ͂ΣΘΑΙ ΤᾺΣ ἩΜΈΡΑΣ ΤΗ͂Σ�. ‘When the days of His Assumption were drawing near’ (literally, _were being fulfilled_). It is not (as Meyer takes it) ‘were completed,’ which would be πλησθῆναι as in Luke 2:21. Comp. Acts 2:1. Wyclif, “Whilst the days _were accomplishing_.” St... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 9:51-56. REJECTED BY THE SAMARITANS. A LESSON OF TOLERANCE... [ Continue Reading ]
CHAPS. Luke 9:51 to Luke 18:31 This section forms a great episode in St Luke, which may be called the departure for the final conflict, and is identical with the journey (probably to the Feast of the Dedication, John 10:22) which is partially touched upon in Matthew 18:1 to Matthew 20:16 and Mark 10... [ Continue Reading ]
ἈΠΈΣΤΕΙΛΕΝ�. Some think that they were two of the Seventy disciples; others that they were James and John. ΕἸΣ ΚΏΜΗΝ ΣΑΜΑΡΙΤΩ͂Ν. On the way to Judaea from Galilee He would doubtless avoid Nazareth, and therefore His road probably lay over Mount Tabor, past little Hermon (see Luke 7:11), past Nain,... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓Κ ἘΔΈΞΑΝΤΟ ΑΥ̓ΤΌΝ. The aorist implies that they at once rejected Him. The Samaritans had shewn themselves heretofore not ill-disposed (John 4:39), and St Luke himself delights to record favourable notices of them (Luke 10:33; Luke 17:18). But (i) there was always a recrudescence of hatred between... [ Continue Reading ]
ὩΣ ΚΑῚ ἩΛΊΑΣ ἘΠΟΊΗΣΕΝ. ACD La[191] [W.[192]]. It is omitted in אBL Vulg[193], but very probably for dogmatic reasons. [191] La. Lachmann. [192] W.H Westcott and Hort. [193] Vulg. Vulgate. 54. ἸΆΚΩΒΟΣ ΚΑῚ ἸΩΆΝΝΗΣ. “What wonder that the Sons of Thunder wished to flash lightning?” St Ambrose. But one... [ Continue Reading ]
ΚΑῚ ΕἾΠΕΝ … ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ. D. Rec[194] omitted by אABCL La[195] Ti[196] Probably tampered with for dogmatic reasons. [194] Rec. The Textus Receptus. [195] La. Lachmann. [196] Ti. Tischendorf. 55. [ΟΥ̓Κ ΟἼΔΑΤΕ ΟἽΟΥ ΠΝΕΎΜΑΤΌΣ ἘΣΤΕ ὙΜΕΙ͂Σ.] ‘Ye know not of what spirit ye are, _Ye_.’ This does not mean, ‘Ye k... [ Continue Reading ]
Ὁ ΓᾺΡ ΥἹῸΣ … ΣΩ͂ΣΑΙ. These words omitted by אABCD La[197] Ti[198] W.H[199] are almost certainly spurious. [197] La. Lachmann. [198] Ti. Tischendorf. [199] W.H. Westcott and Hort. 56. [Ὁ ΓᾺΡ ΥἹῸΣ … ΣΩ͂ΣΑΙ.] This clause is omitted by the majority of uncials, and some editors therefore regard it as a... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΟΡΕΥΟΜΈΝΩΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ν ἘΝ ΤΗ͂Ι ὉΔΩ͂Ι. St Matthew (Matthew 8:19-22) places these incidents before the embarkation for Gergesa. Lange’s conjecture that the three aspirants were Judas Iscariot, Thomas, and Matthew is singularly baseless. ΤΙΣ. A Scribe (Matthew 8:19). The dignity of his rank was nothing t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE THREE ASPIRANTS... [ Continue Reading ]
ΕἾΠΕΝ ΑΥ̓ΤΩ͂Ι Ὁ ἸΗΣΟΥ͂Σ. “In the man’s flaring enthusiasm He saw the smoke of egotistical self-deceit” (Lange), and therefore He coldly checked a proffered devotion which would not have stood the test. ΦΩΛΕΟΎΣ. A late and not very common word. ΚΑΤΑΣΚΗΝΏΣΕΙΣ. ‘Habitations, shelters.’ Birds do not l... [ Continue Reading ]
ἘΠΊΤΡΕΨΌΝ ΜΟΙ ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ�. An ancient, but groundless tradition (Clem. Alex. _Strom._ III. 4, § 25), says that this was Philip. This man was already a disciple (Matthew 8:21). The request could hardly mean ‘let me live at home till my father’s death,’ which would be too indefinite an offer; nor can it... [ Continue Reading ]
ἌΦΕΣ ΤΟῪΣ ΝΕΚΡΟῪΣ ΘΆΨΑΙ ΤΟῪΣ ἙΑΥΤΩ͂Ν ΝΕΚΡΟΎΣ. ‘_Leave the dead to_,’ &c. Vulg[209] _dimitte mortuos sepelire mortuos suos_, i.e. let the _spiritually_ dead (Ephesians 2:1; John 5:24-25) bury their physically dead. “Amandus est generator, sed praeponendus est Creator,” Aug. The general lesson is that... [ Continue Reading ]
ΠΡΩ͂ΤΟΝ ΔῈ ἘΠΊΤΡΕΨΌΝ ΜΟΙ�, Κ.Τ.Λ. The incident and the allusion closely resemble the call of Elisha (1 Kings 19:20). But the call of Jesus is more pressing and momentous than that of Elijah. “The East is calling thee, thou art looking to the West,” Aug. Neither Elijah nor Elisha is an adequate examp... [ Continue Reading ]
ΟΥ̓ΔΕῚΣ ἘΠΙΒΑΛῺΝ ΤῊΝ ΧΕΙ͂ΡΑ ΑΥ̓ΤΟΥ͂ ἘΠ' ἌΡΟΤΡΟΝ. He who would make straight furrows must not look about him (Hesiod, _Works and Days_, II. 60). The light ploughs of the East, easily overturned, require constant attention. ΕΥ̓́ΘΕΤΟΣ. ‘Well-adapted.’ By way of comment see Luke 17:32; Psalms 78:9; Hebr... [ Continue Reading ]