The Captain general of our salvation, Christ Jesus, having called, commissioned, and sent forth his twelve apostles, as great commanders to subdue his native kingom of Israel to himself, at the sixth chapter of this Gospel; Luke 6:12-16 in this chapter he sends after them. band of seventy auxiliary... [ Continue Reading ]
Note here, 1. That God's church is an harvest field. 2. That the ministers of God are laborers in his harvest, under God the Lord of the harvest. 3. That to God alone it does belong to send forth laborers into his harvest, and none must thrust themselves in, until God sends them forth: PRAY YE TH... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour, 1. Arms his disciples against the difficulties, dangers, and discouragements which they might meet with in the course of their ministry, by telling them, that he sent them forth as lambs among wolves; thereby intimating, that the enemies of the gospel have as great an inclination, from... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our blessed Saviour directs his disciples how to manage themselves in the executing of their office: INTO WHATSOEVER HOUSE YE ENTER, first say, PEACE BE TO THIS HOUSE; they must with peace to the sons of peace, yea, to the enemies of peace also; and as their peace shall rest upon the one, so sh... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour gives his disciples sundry directions, how to manage themselves in this expedition for preaching the gospel. He enjoins them, 1. To observe the rules of decency in going from place to place; having entered. house to continue there, not changing their lodging, and going from house t... [ Continue Reading ]
These cities in Galilee, Chorazin, Bethsaida, and Capernaum, having been the place where Christ preached and wrought his miracles, they have. woe denounced here against them for their contempt of Christ, and the offers of his grace: WOE UNTO THEE, CHORAZIN, ETC. The higher. people rise under the mea... [ Continue Reading ]
Here our Saviour encourages his ministers to faithfulness in their office, by assuring them that he should reckon and esteem all the kindness shown to hem, as done unto himself: HE THAT RECEIVETH YOU, RECEIVETH ME; HE THAT DESPISETH YOU, DESPISETH ME. Where note, that all the offices of love and re... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The seventy disciples return to give Christ an account of the success of their expedition. They return as victors with joy and triumph, showing Christ the trophies of their conquest: LORD, EVEN THE DEVILS ARE SUBJECT UNTO US THROUGH THY NAME; the weapons of their warfare were not ca... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Lord, finding that his seventy ambassadors had managed their former commission so well, he here enlarged it, adding there unto. promise of divine protection: BEHOLD. GIVE YOU POWER TO TREAD ON SERPENTS, AND NOTHING SHALL HURT YOU; as if Christ had said, "Go forth again in this armor of power, wi... [ Continue Reading ]
In these words of our Saviour there is something corrective, and something directive: the corrective part lies in the first words, wherein Christ checks the suspected excesses of their joy for victories gained over evil spirits: IN THIS REJOICE NOT: that is, let not your hearts too much overflow wit... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we find our Saviour glorifying his Father, and magnifying himself. 1. He glorifies his Father for the wise and free dispensation of his gospel grace to the meanest and most ignorant persons, while the great and learned men of the world undervalued and despises it: I THANK THEE, FATHER, THAT TH... [ Continue Reading ]
From the very first giving out of the promise of Christ to Adam after the fall, Genesis 3:15 There was in all good men. longing desire and expectation to see that person who should be so great. blessing to mankind. Prophets and kings desired to see the promised Messiah. Now, says our Saviour to his... [ Continue Reading ]
Here we have. lawyer, that is, an interpreter and expounder of the law of Moses, tempting our Saviour; that is, making. trial of him, whether he would deliver any doctrine contrary to the law of Moses; he propounds therefore. question, WHAT HE SHOULD DO TO INHERIT ETERNAL LIFE? Where note, he belie... [ Continue Reading ]
The design of our Saviour in this parable is to convince the lawyer, who put that question to him, WHO IS MY NEIGHBOR? (verse 29) that every one is, and ought to be, accounted our neighbor, to whom God affords us an opportunity of doing good; contrary to the strait notion of the Pharisees, that by t... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The great work and business of our Saviour's life: it was to go about preaching he gospel. 2. The nature of the place which Christ at this time preached in: it was. poor village; Bethany, as some think. Christ did not only take care of populous cities, and great towns, but private... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe, 1. Both these sisters were holy and devout women, both had an honor and reverence for Christ, and both are forward to entertain him; these were sisters by grace as well as by nature; yea they both for. time attended upon Christ's preaching. Mary (also) sat at Jesus' feet, implying that Mart... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. Martha's behavior: SHE WAS CUMBERED ABOUT MUCH SERVING; that is, much taken up with providing for the entertainment of Christ and his friends; all which considered in itself was no miscarriage, but. token of Martha's endeared respect to her best Friend. A person that sincerely love... [ Continue Reading ]
As if Christ had said, "Martha, Martha,. well know that thou doest all this in love to me, and it is no more that what is thy duty in its proper season; but thou has now an opportunity to hear my word, which thou can not have every day, and it would have pleased me better, to whom it is meat and dri... [ Continue Reading ]