_When Jesus had finished these sayings_ Had delivered the instructions contained in the preceding chapter, to his disciples at Capernaum; _he departed from Galilee_ Where he had long dwelt, and through which he had made repeated journeys, but in which, from henceforward, he _walked no more; and came... [ Continue Reading ]
_The Pharisees also_ Who always had a watchful eye on his motions, and attended him with the most malignant designs, being now more especially irritated by the fame of his late miracles, which they had in vain endeavoured to suppress; _came unto him, tempting him_ With what they thought a very artfu... [ Continue Reading ]
_He answered, Have ye not read_, &c. It is thought by some that the chief design of the Pharisees in putting the fore-mentioned question to our Lord, was to make him contradict Moses. If so, they were much disappointed, for, instead of contradicting him, he confutes them by the very words of Moses.... [ Continue Reading ]
_They say, Why did Moses then command to give a writing of divorcement_, &c. “If divorce be contrary to the original institution of marriage, as you affirm, how came it that Moses has _commanded_ us to give a bill of divorce? &c. The Pharisees, by calling the law concerning divorce a _command_, insi... [ Continue Reading ]
_His disciples say, If the case of a man be so with his wife_ If the marriage-bond be thus indissoluble, and a man cannot dismiss his wife unless she break that bond by going astray, but must bear with her, whether she be quarrelsome, petulant, prodigal, foolish, barren, given to drinking, or, in a... [ Continue Reading ]
_For there are some eunuchs_, &c. Our Lord here shows that the fore-mentioned gift of continence is given to three sorts of persons: 1st, To some by natural constitution, without their choice. 2d, To some by the violence of men, against their choice: and, 3d, To others by grace, with their choice; w... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then were brought unto him little children_ Luke says, βρεφη, _infants._ It is not said by whom they were brought, but probably it was by their parents or guardians: and herein, 1st, they testified their respect for Christ, and the value they set upon his favour and blessing: and, 2d, manifested th... [ Continue Reading ]
_And behold, one came_, &c. Many of the poor had followed him from the beginning. _One_ rich man _came_ at last, and _came running,_ with great earnestness, and _kneeled to him_ with great humility and reverence, Mark 10:17, _and said, Good Master_ Manifesting by the appellation both a submissive an... [ Continue Reading ]
_He said, Why callest thou me good?_ Whom thou regardest merely as a prophet sent from God, and therefore supposest to be only a man; _there is none good_ Supremely, originally, essentially, _but God. If thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments_ From a principle of loving faith. Believe, and... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then said Jesus unto his disciples_ While they had this example before their eyes, and were witnesses of the melancholy fact of a well-educated and well-disposed man voluntarily foregoing all hope of eternal life rather than part with his temporal possessions; that is, relinquishing all prospect of... [ Continue Reading ]
_When his disciples heard it, they were exceedingly amazed_ The disciples, who had followed their Master in expectation of becoming rich and great, were exceedingly astonished when they heard him declare that it was next to impossible for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God. They thought if... [ Continue Reading ]
_Then answered Peter_ With some warmth and confidence; _Behold, we have forsaken all_ We have done what this youth, hopeful as he seemed, had not the resolution to do; for though indeed we had not much, we have left all the little that we had, and have at all adventures _followed thee_ with the sinc... [ Continue Reading ]
_And every one_ In every age and country, and not you my apostles only; _that hath forsaken houses, or brethren, or wife, or children _ Either by giving any of them up, when they could not be retained with a clear conscience; or by willingly refraining from acquiring them: _shall receive a hundred-f... [ Continue Reading ]