Matthew 20:1-16. The Parable of the Labourers in the Vineyard. Peculiar to St Matthew 1. _For the kingdom of heaven_, &c. There are many possible applications of the parable, but the only true explanation of its meaning to the disciples at the time must be reached by considering the question to whi... [ Continue Reading ]
_a penny_ a denarius. See ch. Matthew 18:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_whatsoever is right I will give you_ The justice of the award is disputed Matthew 20:12, on the ground that those who were first called had borne the burden and heat of the day. Man does not here acquiesce in the Judge's decision, as in the parable of the debtors, ch. 18. What is just does not at f... [ Continue Reading ]
_the eleventh hour_ The various hours may be referred in the first instance to the call of a Paul, a Barnabas, or a Timothy, who adopted the Cause later than the Twelve. In a secondary and less immediate sense they seem to indicate the successive periods at which the various nations were admitted to... [ Continue Reading ]
_which have borne the burden and heat of the day_ This may be regarded as man's estimate of his own merits, which is not the divine estimate. The words echo the tone of "what shall we have?" ch. Matthew 19:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Friend_ The Greek word is used of any temporary connection, without the idea of affectionate friendship. It is used by a master to his slave; by a guest to a fellow-guest; as a general address on meeting. Cp. ch. Matthew 22:12 and Matthew 26:50, where it is a term of reproachful rebuke.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Is thine eye evil_ The belief in the evil eye still prevails in the East. The envious or malevolent glance is thought to have an injurious effect. Here the sense is: Art thou envious because I am just?... [ Continue Reading ]
_for many be called, but few chosen_ This verse which occurs in a natural connection ch. Matthew 19:30, but is difficult to explain here, is omitted in the best MSS. The words are probably interpolated.... [ Continue Reading ]
Jesus going up to Jerusalem foretells His Passion for the third time See chs. Matthew 16:21; Matthew 17:22-23; and Mark 10:32-34; Luke 18:31-34. St Mark and St Luke add "shall spit upon him" (Mark); "shall be spitted on" (Luke); St Matthew alone names "crucifixion;" St Luke, who mentions only the s... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe the exactness of the prediction; the Sanhedrin shall condemn but not kill, the Gentiles shall scourge and crucify.... [ Continue Reading ]
Salome's Prayer for her sons, and the Answer of Jesus Mark 10:35-41. St Mark begins "And James and John the sons of Zebedee came unto him, saying, &c." For once St Matthew is more graphic and true to detail than St Mark.... [ Continue Reading ]
_the mother of Zebedee's children_ Her name was Salome, as we learn by comparing Matthew 27:56 with Mark 15:40. "Among which was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of James and Joses, and the mother of Zebedee's children." Matthew 27:56. "Among whom was Mary Magdalene, and Mary the mother of Jame... [ Continue Reading ]
_may sit, the one on thy right hand_ Cp. for the thought ch. Matthew 19:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye know not_ Observe, Jesus addresses the sons, not the mother. _what ye ask_ There is some force in the middle voice of the original, "ask for yourselves," or "cause to be asked." _the cup that I shall drink of_ "The destiny in store for me." Cp. among other passages, Isaiah 51:17, "Thou hast dr... [ Continue Reading ]
_Ye shall drink indeed of my cup_ James was slain by the sword of Herod Agrippa I. (Acts 12:2). John suffered many persecutions, but died a natural death. The rebuke of Jesus is very gentle; His soul knew what suffering was in store for the two brothers. _it shall be given_ These words are not in t... [ Continue Reading ]
_they were moved with indignation_ The indignation of the "Ten" displayed the same spirit and motive as the request of the sons of Zebedee. It seemed as if the jealousies and intrigues of an earthly court were breaking out among the disciples of Jesus.... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus called them unto him, and said_ Jesus points out the inversion of earthly ideas in the Kingdom of heaven. The gradation and contrast of the original are hardly brought out in E. V. In the Kingdom of heaven the ambition must be to serve not to reign; that Kingdom is in every way the reverse of... [ Continue Reading ]
_a ransom_=the price paid for the redemption of a captive from slavery. For the thought cp. Romans 3:24; 1Co 6:20; 1 Peter 1:19. The English word is derived through the French _rançon_from Lat. _redemptionem_. _for many_ Cp. 1 Timothy 2:6, "Who gave himself a ransom for _all_." _for_ Not ὑπέρ, -on... [ Continue Reading ]
_a great multitude_ The caravan of Galilæans and others going up to Jerusalem for the Passover. Their numbers would protect them from attack in the dangerous mountain defiles leading to the capital. _Jericho_was at this time a flourishing city. It was opulent even in the days of Joshua from the fert... [ Continue Reading ]
Two Men cured of Blindness Mark 10:46-52; Luke 18:35-43. There are remarkable divergences in the Synoptic accounts of this miracle. Some indeed have supposed that different miracles are related by the Evangelists. St Mark speaks of one man, "blind Bartimæus, the son of Timæus." St Luke also mentio... [ Continue Reading ]
_thou Son of David_ An appeal which reflects the thought that especially signalizes this period of our Lord's ministry, the Son of David entering upon His kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
_they followed him_ It is probable that very many of those who had received sight and soundness of limb by the word or touch of Jesus followed Him to Jerusalem. _followed_ Jesus Himself leads the procession. See Luke 19:28.... [ Continue Reading ]