_THE TEMPTATION AND FASTING OF CHRIST: HE OVERCOMETH THE DEVIL: BEGINNETH TO PREACH. THE PEOPLE OF NAZARETH ADMIRE HIS GRACIOUS WORDS: HE CURETH ONE POSSESSED OF A DEVIL, PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND DIVERS OTHER SICK PERSONS. THE DEVILS ACKNOWLEDGE CHRIST, AND ARE REPROVED FOR IT: HE PREACHETH THROUG... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING FORTY DAYS TEMPTED, &C.— _Where he was forty days, and he was tempted by the devil._ Bengelius and Heylin. See Matthew 4:2. For notes on this remarkable transaction we refer to that chapter and the _Inferences_ drawn from it, and also the Inferences from the present chapter.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DEVIL, TAKING HIM UP INTO AN HIGH MOUNTAIN, &C.— This temptation is placed the last of the three in St. Matthew.To reconcile the evangelists, it is observed, that St. Matthew recites the temptations according to the order in which they occurred; for he plainly affirms this order by the particle... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR THAT IS DELIVERED UNTO ME, &C.— Grotius has well observed, that this contains a vile insinuation, that God had done what no one who truly understands the nature of God and the creature can suppose possible; namely, that he had parted with the government of the world out of his own hands: and we... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU SHALT NOT TEMPT, &C.— See on Matthew 4:7. To _tempt God,_ in the sense in which the phrase is here used, is, to make an improper trial of his power. The expression of our Saviour may likewise be interpreted, as signifying that the scripture forbids us to prescribe to God in what instances he sh... [ Continue Reading ]
HE DEPARTED—FOR A SEASON.— This implies that he assaulted him afterwards; see John 14:30. We may therefore believe, that he was not much wiser for the trial which he now made. It is true, we find the devils more than once confessing our Lord in the course of his ministry; but it does not thence foll... [ Continue Reading ]
BEING GLORIFIED OF ALL.— _With universal applause._ Heylin.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE WENT INTO THE SYNAGOGUE ON THE SABBATH-DAY, &C.— They who are acquainted with Jewish literature know, that the five books of Moses have long ago been divided in such a manner, that by reading a section of them every sabbath, the whole is gone through in the space of a year. For though the section... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN HE HAD OPENED THE BOOK, &C.— Αναπτυξας το βιβλιου, _unrolling the volume._ The sacred books were written anciently on skins of parchment, and sewed together; and the books thus written were rolled up into volumes, like the Pentateuchs used by the modern Jews in their synagogues. The reader will... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAT DOWN.— In agreement with the custom which we have spoken of at the end of the note on Luke 4:16 our Lord _sat down_ to preach, after he had read the passage in the prophet which he made the subject of his discourse. The custom of preaching from texts of scripture, which now prevails througho... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, &C.— When our Lord came to Galilee, with a view to exercise his ministry, he did not go to Nazareth: on the contrary, he passed by it, and went straight to Cana, which lay not far from Sidon. See John 2:1. This exasperated the Nazarenes. Besides, he had not performed any mirac... [ Continue Reading ]
PASSING THROUGH THE MIDST, &C.— In the midst of the confusion our Lord escaped, probably by making himself invisible: but though we cannot certainly determine, whether the miracle lay in this, or in our Lord's assuming some other form, or in affecting their eyes and minds in such a manner that they... [ Continue Reading ]
TO CAPERNAUM,— Capernaum is no where mentioned in the Old Testament, either by its own name, or by any other. Probably it was one of those towns which the Jews built after their return from Babylon. Its exact situation has not yet been determined with certainty by geographers; only, from its being o... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WERE ASTONISHED— _They were powerfully struck,_ or _much affected._ See ch. Luke 2:47.... [ Continue Reading ]
HAD THROWN HIM IN THE MIDST,— See on Mark 1:26. The meaning of the last words seems to be, _and did him no further harm;_ Μηδεν βλαψαν αυτον; for while the convulsion continued, it must have given him some pain, and might have been attended with lasting disorder, had not the restraining power of Chr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SIMON'S WIFE'S MOTHER— _For,_ &c.... [ Continue Reading ]
REBUKED THE FEVER,— This is an expression of the same kind and signification with _rebuking the winds and the sea,_ Matthew 8:26. Not that either the one or the other was considered by Christ as persons; but it intimates his authority over all diseases, and over the elements, being analogous to the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DEVILS ALSO CAME OUT OF MANY,— See ch. Luke 11:14. It is to be considered, that the view under which Christ is frequently represented, is as the great antagonist of the prince of darkness; and the gospel has its foundation in the victory which Satan has gained over mankind. Compare Genesis 3:15.... [ Continue Reading ]