The learned Mr. Mead upon this place apprehends, that it was the custom of the Jewish doctors to deliver some certain form of prayer to their disciples to use, at least that John the Baptist had done so to his disciples; thereupon our Saviour's disciples besought them, that he also would give them i... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, the favor which Christ does us in prescribing. form of prayer to us;. great favor no doubt, though the world grows weary of it: we know not alas what to ask, but he himself teaches us, and frames our application for us, that it may be accepted. Should. king's son draw. petition for. po... [ Continue Reading ]
The design of our blessed Saviour in these, and the following verses, is to excite and stir up his disciples to fervency, importunity, and constancy, in the duty of prayer, and to this purpose he makes use of. double argument, the one of. friend, and the other of. father. He lays before them the par... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour here goes on to urge us to importunity and constancy in prayer; he bids us ASK, SEEK, and KNOCK, and assures us we shall be accepted, heard, and answered. Here note, 1. That man is. poor indigent creature, full of wants, but unable to supply them. 2. As man is an indigent and insuffic... [ Continue Reading ]
The second parable which our Saviour makes use of, is that of. father to his children; Christ represents the care and kindness of God towards us by the affections which earthly parents bear to their natural children, who though they be many times evil themselves, yet are not wont to deny their child... [ Continue Reading ]
A relation is here given of. famous miracle wrought by our Saviour in casting. devil out of. possessed man. It is called. dumb devil, because of the effect upon the poor possessed person in restraining the use of his tongue. Learn here, 1. That among the many calamities which sin has rendered human... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour having sufficiently shown that he did not work his miracles by the power of the devil, he next informs the Pharisees from whence he had that power, even from God himself; accordingly he compares Satan to. strong man armed with weapons to defend his house; and himself clothed with divine... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. How ready we are to admire persons for their external privileges, and the favors of divine Providence, and pronounce such blessed: BLESSED IS THE WOMB THAT BARE THEE. Observe, 2. That Christ makes another judgment of persons, and pronounces them more blessed that bear him in their... [ Continue Reading ]
The sign which the Pharisees here desired of our Saviour, was. miracle wrought by him. Now our Saviour, though he was very ready to work miracles to encourage and confirm his hearers' faith, yet not to satisfy the unbelieving Pharisees' curiosity: and accordingly he tells them, they should have no o... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour in these words does these two things: 1. He declares, that although his ministry had no effect upon the proud and obstinate Pharisees, yet he would not hide the light which he came into the world to bring, nor conceal that heavenly doctrine which his Father had committed to him to commu... [ Continue Reading ]
Observe here, 1. The free conversation of our blessed Saviour, how readily he complies with the Pharisees' invitation to dine with him.. do not find that, when Christ was invited to any table, that ever he refused to go; if. Pharisee, if. publican invited him, he constantly went, not so much for the... [ Continue Reading ]
As if Christ had said, the way to purify your meats, and drinks, and estates, from all pollution cleaving to them, and to have them sanctified blessings to you, is (in conjunction with other graces) by doing works of mercy, and by liberal alms-giving according to your ability. Learn, that charity a... [ Continue Reading ]
Our Saviour here denounces. woe against the Pharisees for their strict and scrupulous observing the lesser things of the law, as tithing mint and rue, while they were regardless of the principal and substantial duties which they owed both to God and man. Learn hence, that although some duties are o... [ Continue Reading ]
The next woe denounced against the Pharisees is for their ambition, pride, and popularity, affecting the uppermost seats in the synagogues, and salutations in the markets; where their fault was, not in taking, but in affecting these uppermost places. God is the God of order; there may and ought to b... [ Continue Reading ]
Another woe is here denounced against the Pharisees, for cheating and deceiving the people with an outward show and appearance of piety and religion. They were like graves and sepulchres grown over with grass, which though they held dead men's bones, yet the putrefaction not outwardly appearing, men... [ Continue Reading ]
The former woes were denounced by our Saviour against the Pharisees, who had their names from an Hebrew word, which signifies TO SEPARATE, because they were persons separated and set apart for studying the law of God, and teaching it to others. The next woe is here denounced against the lawyers, th... [ Continue Reading ]
The second crime which Christ reproves in these men, is their grand hypocrisy, in pretending great honor to the saints departed, building their tombs, and garnishing their sepulchres, declaiming against their fathers' impiety, that had they lived in their days, they would not have been partakers wit... [ Continue Reading ]