IN THE MEAN TIME - While he was discoursing with the scribes and Pharisees, as recorded in the last chapter. AN INNUMERABLE MULTITUDE - The original word is “myriad’s,” or ten thousands. It is used here to signify that there was a great crowd or collection of people, who were anxious to hear him. M... [ Continue Reading ]
NOTHING COVERED - See the notes at Matthew 10:26. Luke 12:3 SHALL BE PROCLAIMED UPON THE HOUSETOPS - See the notes at Matthew 10:27. The custom of making proclamation from the tops or roofs of houses still prevails in the East. Dr. Thomson (“The Land and the Book,” vol. i. p. 51, 52) says: “At the... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 12:32.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 10:17.... [ Continue Reading ]
ONE OF THE COMPANY - One of the multitude. This man had probably had a dispute with his brother, supposing that his brother had refused to do him justice. Conceiving that Jesus had power over the people - that what he said must be performed - he endeavored to secure him on his side of the dispute an... [ Continue Reading ]
WHO MADE ME A JUDGE? - It is not my business to settle controversies of this kind. They are to be settled by the magistrate. Jesus came for another purpose - to preach the gospel, and so to bring people to “a willingness to do” right. Civil affairs are to be left to the magistrate. There is no doubt... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE OF COVETOUSNESS - One of these brothers, no doubt, was guilty of this sin; and our Saviour, as was his custom, took occasion to warn his disciples of its danger. COVETOUSNESS - An unlawful desire of the property of another; also a desire of gain or riches beyond what is necessary for our wan... [ Continue Reading ]
A PARABLE - See the notes at Matthew 13:3. PLENTIFULLY - His land was fertile, and produced even beyond his expectations, and beyond what he had provided for.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THOUGHT WITHIN HIMSELF - He reasoned or inquired. He was anxious and perplexed. Riches increase thought and perplexity. Indeed, this is almost their only effect - to engross the thoughts and steal the heart away from better things, in order to take care of the useless wealth. NO ROOM - Everythin... [ Continue Reading ]
I WILL PULL DOWN MY BARNS - The word “barns” here, properly means, “granaries,” or places exclusively designed to put wheat, barley, etc. They were commonly made, by the ancients, “underground,” where grain could be kept a long time more safe from thieves and from vermin. If it be asked why he did n... [ Continue Reading ]
MUCH GOODS - Much property. Enough to last a long while, so that there is no need of anxiety or labor. TAKE THINE EASE - Be free from care about the future. Have no anxiety about coming to want. EAT, DRINK, AND BE MERRY - This was just the doctrine of the ancient Epicureans and atheists, and it is,... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU FOOL - If there is any supreme folly, it is this. As though riches could prolong life, or avert for a moment the approach of pain and death. THIS NIGHT ... - What an awful sentence to a man who, as he thought, had got just ready to live and enjoy himself! In a single moment all his hopes were... [ Continue Reading ]
SO IS HE - This is the portion or the doom. LAYETH UP TREASURE FOR HIMSELF - Acquires riches for his own use - for “himself.” This is the characteristic of the covetous man. It is all for “himself.” His plans terminate there. He lives only for himself, and acts only with regard to his own interest.... [ Continue Reading ]
See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 6:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
LITTLE FLOCK - Our Saviour often represents himself as a shepherd, and his followers as a flock or as sheep. The figure was beautiful. In Judea it was a common employment to attend flocks. The shepherd was with them, defended them, provided for them, led them to green pastures and beside still water... [ Continue Reading ]
SELL THAT YE HAVE - Sell your property. Exchange it for that which you can use in distributing charity. This was the condition of their being disciples. Their property they gave up; they forsook it, or they put it into common stock, for the sake of giving alms to the poor, Acts 2:44; Acts 4:32; John... [ Continue Reading ]
LET YOUR LOINS ... - This alludes to the ancient manner of dress. They wore a long flowing robe as their outer garment. See the notes at Matthew 5:38. When they labored, or walked, or ran, it was necessary to “gird” or tie this up by a “sash” or girdle about the body, that it might not impede their... [ Continue Reading ]
SHALL GIRD HIMSELF - Shall take the place of the servant himself. Servants who waited on the table were girded in the manner described above. SHALL MAKE THEM SIT ... - Shall place them at his table and feast them. This evidently means that if we are faithful to Christ, and are ready to meet him when... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 24:42. SECOND WATCH - See the notes at Matthew 14:25.... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH KNEW HIS LORD’S WILL - Who knew what his master wished him to do. He that knows what God commands and requires. MANY STRIPES - Shall be severely and justly punished. They who have many privileges, who are often warned, who have the gospel, and do not repent and believe, shall be far more seve... [ Continue Reading ]
FEW STRIPES - The Jews never inflicted more than forty stripes for one offence, Deuteronomy 25:3. For smaller offences they inflicted only four, five, six, etc., according to the nature of the crime. In allusion to this, our Lord says that he “that knew not” - that is, he who had comparatively littl... [ Continue Reading ]
I AM, COME ... - The result of my coming will be that there will be divisions and contentions. He does not mean that he came “for” that purpose, or that he “sought” and “desired” it; but that such was the state of the human heart, and such the opposition of people to the truth, that that would be th... [ Continue Reading ]
A BAPTISM - See the notes at Matthew 20:22. AM I STRAITENED - How do I earnestly desire that it were passed! Since these sufferings “must” be endured, how anxious am I that the time should come! Such were the feelings of the Redeemer in view of his approaching dying hour. We may learn from this:... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 10:34.... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 16:2. SOUTH WIND - To the south and southwest of Judea were situated Arabia, Egypt, and Ethiopia, all warm or hot regions, and consequently the air that came from those quarters was greatly heated. HOW IS IT THAT YE DO NOT DISCERN THIS TIME! - You see a cloud rise, and pre... [ Continue Reading ]
See the notes at Matthew 5:25.... [ Continue Reading ]