This shows how little attention Luke paid to observing the order of dates; for, after having detailed the miracle, he now relates what happened in the city of _Jericho _He tells us that, while Christ presented himself to the view of all, as he went along the streets, _Zaccheus _alone was very desiro... [ Continue Reading ]
5._Zaccheus, make haste, and come down. _It is a remarkable instance of favor, that the Lord anticipates _Zaccheus_, and does not wait for his invitation, but of his own accord asks lodging at his house. We know how hateful, nay, how detestable the name of _publican _at that time was; and we shall f... [ Continue Reading ]
7._And when they saw it, they all murmured. _The inhabitants of the town — and, perhaps, some of Christ’s followers — _murmur _that _he goes to lodge with a man _who is looked upon as wicked and infamous, even though nobody invited him. It is thus that the world disregards the offer of the grace of... [ Continue Reading ]
8._And Zaccheus stood, and said. _From this result they ought to have formed their opinion of what Christ did; but men are so hasty and precipitate, that they do not take time to wait for God. (680) The conversion of Zaceheus is described by fruits and outward signs. As it was probable that he had e... [ Continue Reading ]
9._Today is salvation come to this house. _Christ, bearing testimony to Zaccheus, declares that his professions were not hypocritical. And yet he does not ascribe to the good works of Zaccheus the cause of _salvation; _but, as that conversion was an undoubted pledge of the divine adoption, he justly... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 19:11._While they were hearing these things. _It was next to a prodigy that the disciples, after having been so frequently warned as to the approaching death of Christ, flew aside from it to think of his kingdom. There were two mistakes; first, that they pictured to themselves rest and happines... [ Continue Reading ]
12._A certain nobleman. Matthew _interweaves this parable with others, without attending to the order of time; but, as his intention was, in the twenty-second chapter, to make a collection of Christ’s latest discourses, readers ought not to trouble themselves greatly with the inquiry which of them w... [ Continue Reading ]
13._And having called his ten servants. _We must not inquire anxiously into the number of the servants, or into the sums of money. For Matthew, by expressing various sums, includes a more extensive doctrine, namely, that Christ does not lay on all an equal charge of trafficking, but commits to one a... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 19:27._But those my enemies _In this second part, he appears to glance principally at the Jews, but includes all who in the absence of their master, determine to revolt. Now Christ’s intention was, not only to terrify such persons by threatening an awful punishment, but also to keep his own peo... [ Continue Reading ]
41._And wept over it. _As there was nothing which Christ more ardently desired than to execute the office which the Father had committed to him, and as he knew that the end of his calling was to gather _the lost sheep of the house of Israel, _(Matthew 15:24,) he wished that his coming might bring sa... [ Continue Reading ]
42._O if even thou hadst known! _The discourse is pathetic, and therefore abrupt; for we know that by those who are under the influence of vehement passion their feelings are not more than half-expressed. Besides, two feelings are here mingled; for not only does Christ bewail the destruction of the... [ Continue Reading ]
43._For the days shall come upon thee. _He now assumes, as it were, the character of a judge, and addresses Jerusalem with greater severity. In like manner the prophets also, though they shed tears over the destruction of those about whom they ought to feel anxiety, yet they summon up courage to pro... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 19:47._And he taught daily in the temple. _Mark and Luke point out, _first, _what was the class of men of which the Church consisted, namely, of the despised multitude; and again, what enemies Christ had, namely, _the priests and scribes, _and all the _rulers. _Now this is a part of the folly o... [ Continue Reading ]