_As he was praying in a certain place_ Our Lord's whole time was
occupied, either in instructing his numerous followers, or in
confirming his doctrine by miracles of mercy, wrought for the relief
of the afflicted, or in the exercises of devotion. This evangelist has
mentioned Christ's praying much m... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he said_, &c. “Having, by a short form, taught his disciples
that they were not in prayer to use a multiplicity of words, with vain
repetitions; he proceeded to caution them, on the other hand, against
coldness, indifference, and slackness in their supplications. The evil
of this, and the neces... [ Continue Reading ]
_I say unto you, Ask_, &c. Pray frequently, and be most earnest and
importunate in your prayers, because thus you shall obtain whatsoever
you ask agreeably to the will of God. For if importunity would prevail
thus with a man that was displeased at it, much more will it prevail
with God, who is infin... [ Continue Reading ]
_If a son shall ask bread of any of you_ Further to assist your faith
on these occasions, reflect upon the workings of your own hearts
toward your offspring. Let any of you, that is a father, and knows the
heart of a father, a father's affection to, and care for, a child,
say, _if_ his _son ask brea... [ Continue Reading ]
_If ye then, being evil If ye_, who are, at least, comparatively
_evil_, and perhaps inclined to a penurious and morose temper, yet
_know how to give good gifts to your children_ And find your hearts
disposed to relieve their returning necessities, by a variety of daily
provisions; if earthly parent... [ Continue Reading ]
_And he was casting out a devil_ See on Matthew 9:32; and Matthew
12:22. _Some said, He casteth out devils through Beelzebub_ These he
answers, Luke 11:17. Others, to try whether it were so or not, _sought
a sign from heaven_ These he reproves, in the 29th and following
verses. Beelzebub signifies _... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the unclean spirit_ See notes on Matthew 12:43.... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he spake these things, a certain woman_, &c. While Jesus thus
reasoned, in confutation of the Pharisees, a woman of the company,
ravished with his wisdom, and perhaps believing him to be their
long-expected Messiah, expressed her admiration of his character in an
exclamation upon the happiness o... [ Continue Reading ]
_When the people were gathered thick together._ It seems, on this
occasion, the multitude gathered round him in a great crowd, and
pressed upon him, in expectation that he was going to show them the
sign from heaven which some of them had required from him. But he
repulsed them, by telling them that... [ Continue Reading ]
_No man, when he hath lighted a candle_ The meaning is, God gives you
this gospel-light, that ye may repent. Let your eye be singly fixed on
him, aim only at pleasing God; and while ye do this, your whole soul
will be full of wisdom, holiness, and happiness. But _when thine eye
is evil_ When thou ai... [ Continue Reading ]
_And as he spake, a Pharisee besought him to dine with him_ Our Lord
having proved the truth of his mission, against the malicious cavils
of his enemies, in the manner above stated, when he had made an end of
speaking, one of the Pharisees present invited him to dine with him.
It is not said whether... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wo unto you, for ye love the uppermost seats in the synagogues_, &c.
Here he denounces the judgment of God against them for their pride,
which was so excessive, that it appeared in their carriage in the
streets, and at all public meetings. See on Matthew 23:6. _Wo unto
you, scribes and Pharisees_ I... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then answered one of the lawyers_, &c. A doctor, or interpreter of
the law. The Jewish _lawyers_ (as our translation not very properly
terms them) were the most considerable species of scribes, who applied
themselves peculiarly to study and explain the law. Probably many of
them were Pharisees, but... [ Continue Reading ]
_Wo unto you, lawyers! for ye have taken away the key of knowledge_ Ye
have obscured and destroyed the true knowledge of the Messiah, which
is the key both of the present and the future kingdom of heaven. Or,
by your wrong interpretations of Scripture, you have filled the people
with strong prejudic... [ Continue Reading ]
_As he said these things, the scribes and Pharisees began to urge him_
The freedom which Jesus now took with the Pharisee and his guests,
provoked them exceedingly, for they were guilty of the crimes which he
laid to their charge; and to be revenged, they urged him to speak upon
a variety of topics... [ Continue Reading ]