_The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came_ Notwithstanding the
difference of their principles, and the alienation of their affections
from each other, they now agreed to join in an attempt upon Christ;
his doctrine being equally opposed to the errors and vices of both
these sects; see the note on... [ Continue Reading ]
_He answered, When it is evening_, &c. As if he had said, It is
evident you ask this out of a desire to cavil rather than to discern
the divine will, for in other cases you take up with degrees of
evidence far short of those which you here reject: as for instance,
you know that a red sky in the even... [ Continue Reading ]
_A wicked and adulterous generation_ As if he had said, Ye would seek
no further sign, did not your wickedness, and your love of the world,
which is spiritual adultery, blind your understanding. _There shall no
sign be given, but of the Prophet Jonas_ Or the miracle of Christ's
own resurrection, a s... [ Continue Reading ]
_When his disciples were come to the other side_ Namely, of the sea of
Tiberias, see Mark 8:13; _they had forgotten to take bread_ They had
tarried so long in Dalmanutha, or Magdala, that they had consumed the
seven baskets of fragments which they had taken up at the late
miracle, recorded Matthew 1... [ Continue Reading ]
_When Jesus came_, &c. There was a large interval of time between what
has been related already, and what follows. The passages that follow
were but a short time before our Lord suffered: _came into the coasts
of Cesarea Philippi_ “This city, while in the possession of the
Canaanites, was called Les... [ Continue Reading ]
_Jesus answered, Blessed_ [or _happy_, as μακαριος signifies]
_art thou, Simon Bar-jona_, (or the son of Jonas,) namely, in being
brought thus firmly to believe and confess this most important truth,
on believing and confessing which the present and everlasting
salvation of mankind depends. _For fle... [ Continue Reading ]
_I will give thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven_ This expression
is metaphorical. As stewards of great families, especially of the
royal household, bore a _key_ or _keys_ in token of their office, the
phrase of giving a person the keys naturally grew into use, as an
expression significative of _... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then charged he his disciples_ Greek, διεστειλατο, _he
strictly charged_ them: (Luke says, επιτιμησας αυτοις,
παρηγγειλε, _having severely charged_, or _charged with
threats, he commanded to tell this to no one:_) _that he was Jesus the
Christ_ The word _Jesus_ is omitted here in many MSS., some of... [ Continue Reading ]
_From that time forth_ When they had made that full confession of
Christ that he was the Messiah, the Son of God; _began Jesus to show
unto his disciples_ Another most important point, namely, that he must
suffer and be put to death, as a malefactor. If they had not been well
grounded in their belie... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then Peter took him_ Προσλαβομενος αυτον. What the
evangelist meant precisely by this expression, commentators are not
agreed. Dr. Doddridge renders it, _taking him by the hand;_ Mr.
Wesley, _taking hold of him:_ others again render it, _embracing him;_
and others, _interrupting him._ Dr. Campbell... [ Continue Reading ]
_But he turned and said unto Peter_ Mark reads, _When he had turned
about and looked on his disciples_, (who by the air of their
countenances, probably, seemed to approve what they had heard Peter
say to him,) _he rebuked Peter, saying, Get thee behind me, Satan_
That is, out of my sight. “He looked... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus unto his disciples_ In Mark we read, _When he had
called the people unto him, and his disciples also, he said unto
them;_ and in Luke, _He said to them all, If any man will come after
me_ Ει τις θελει, _If any man be willing_, no one is forced:
but if any will be a Christian, it mus... [ Continue Reading ]
_Whosoever will save his life_ At the expense of his conscience:
whosoever, in the very highest instance, that of life itself, will not
_renounce himself_, shall be lost eternally. But can any man hope he
should be able _thus_ to renounce himself, if he cannot do it in the
smallest instances? _And w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Verily, there be some standing here_, &c. And that you may not doubt
that there shall be a day of judgment, when I shall come clothed with
divine majesty, to render unto men according to their actions in this
life, let me assure you there are some here present that shall not die
till they shall see... [ Continue Reading ]