_CHRIST CLEANSETH THE LEPER, HEALETH THE CENTURION'S SERVANT, PETER'S MOTHER-IN-LAW, AND MANY OTHERS DISEASED; SHEWETH HOW HE IS TO BE FOLLOWED: STILLETH THE TEMPEST ON THE SEA, DRIVETH THE DEVILS OUT OF TWO MEN POSSESSED AND SUFFERETH THEM TO GO INTO THE SWINE._ _Anno Domini 31._... [ Continue Reading ]
AND, BEHOLD, THERE CAME A LEPER— It has been generally thought, that this is the leper whose cure is recorded, Mark 1:40. Luke 5:12 and consequently that the sermon in Luke is not the same with that in the preceding chapter. But the cures, says Macknight, are different: that was performed in a _city... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS PUT FORTH HIS HAND, &C.— Dr. Doddridge supposes that our Saviour took this leper aside from the multitude, without which he thinks there could have been no room for the charge of secresy which Jesus gave. This circumstance certainly happened in another cure. See Mark 8:23. Christ had _taug... [ Continue Reading ]
SEE THOU TELL NO MAN— Jesus commanded the leper without all delay to haste to Jerusalem, lest, if the report of his cure should arrive before him, the priests, through envy, might refuse to pronounce him cleansed; for it was the province of the priest to judge of and to determine concerning the lepr... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN JESUS WAS ENTERED INTO CAPERNAUM— St. Luke has related this part of the evangelical history more at large than St. Matthew.The whole may be thus connected: Jesus, having finished his sermon on the mount, as soon as he came down thence, to shew that his words and doctrines pertained both to... [ Continue Reading ]
MY SERVANT— 'Ο παις μου. In Luke he is called δουλος: whence the writers hinted-at at the end of the last note would draw an argument in proof of the difference of these histories; for as παις sometimes signifies _son,_ they would infer, that this centurion came for the cure of his _son;_ that in Lu... [ Continue Reading ]
LORD, I AM NOT WORTHY, &C.— The centurion with great humility answers our Lord, that he means he should not take the trouble of _going to his house,_ as he was a Gentile; but only that he would be so good as to command his servant's cure, though at a distance; for he knew his power equal to that eff... [ Continue Reading ]
HE MARVELLED— Our Lord's conduct on this occasion by no means implies that he was ignorant before either of the centurion's faith, or of the grounds on which it was built; he knew all fully, before the man spake one word; but he was struck with admiration at the noble notion which this heathen Roman... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAY UNTO YOU— From this exalted pitch of faith found in a heathen, Jesus took occasion to declare the merciful purpose which God entertained towards the Gentiles, namely, that he would accept their faith as readily as the faith of the Jews, and seat them with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in heav... [ Continue Reading ]
JESUS SAID UNTO THE CENTURION, GO THY WAY— This most evidently proves that the centurion was come out of his house, as we have observed on Matthew 8:5. There is in these words of our Saviour a strong insinuation, thatthe centurion had conceived no higher an idea of his divine power than was just; _A... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN JESUS WAS COME— _After this, Jesus going into Peter's house, saw there his wife's mother lying sick of a fever._ This was the house into which Jesus was used to retire at Capernaum. See Mark 1:21 and Luke 4:31. Peter was of Bethsaida, which was at a little distance from Capernaum; John 1:44... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOUCHED HER HAND— Her cure was effected in an instant, and not slowly, like the cures produced in the course of nature, or by medicine; for though the length and violence of her distemper had brought her into a weak and languid state, her full strength returned all at once, insomuch that, ris... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE EVEN WAS COME— St. Mark adds, _At even, when the sun was set;_ because it was the sabbath, the people did not come with their sick to Jesus; but as soon as the holy rest was ended, that is to say, at sun-setting, they brought them in great numbers to him, fully persuaded that he would heal... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT IT MIGHT BE FULFILLED, &C.— This prophecy of Isaiah relates properly to the sins of men, whereof _diseases_ are the emblem and the consequence; for which reason the original Hebrew words rendered here _our infirmities_ have been by the LXX, and by St. Peter, 1 Peter 2:24 translated _our sins._... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN JESUS SAW, &C.— _Now Jesus, perceiving the crowd about him, gave orders to depart,_ &c. Though our Saviour had retired into the wilderness after the cure of the leper, mentioned Luke 5:12 the people, excited by the fame of that miracle, came to him from every quarter; wherefore, that he mig... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ANOTHER—SAID, &C.— The answer of this disciple supposes that our Saviour had ordered him to follow him. See Luke 9:59. It is uncertain whether this disciple's father was just dead, or whether, as being very old, his son desired leave to stay with him till his death. Christ's answer seems to take... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE WAS ENTERED— _And when he went aboard the vessel._... [ Continue Reading ]
A GREAT TEMPEST— The original phrase Σεισμος μεγας, properly signifies _a mighty agitation;_ probably it was something of a hurricane. Jesus, possibly fatigued with the labours of the day (which had been a very busy one), was asleep in the stern of the vessel for the refreshment of his weary body, a... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN MARVELLED, SAYING, &C.— This reflection, as well as the extreme fear of the disciples in the time of their danger, may seem unaccountable, considering how many and what miracles they had been witnesses to; but both may be explained in some measure by the following remark; that hitherto his m... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE WAS COME TO THE OTHER SIDE— The storm being hushed, they came to land. St. Matthew says, in the country of _Girgasa,_ or _of the Gergasenes;_ St. Mark and Luke, in the country of _Gadara;_ but the Evangelists do not differ here; if, as it is probable, the one gives us the general name of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WAS A GOOD WAY OFF—MANY SWINE, &C.— Instead of _a good way off,_ Dr. Doddridge reads _at a considerable distance,—at some distance_;—and by comparing Mark 5:11 and Luke 8:32 it will be found, that this is the true meaning of the word μακραν. St. Mark says, that there were about two thousan... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT KEPT THEM FLED— The miracle, issuing thus in the destruction of the swine, was immediately reported in the town and country by the affrighted keepers, who, as they fled, had fallen in, it seems, with Jesus and his company, and learned from them the cause of what had happened. The intel... [ Continue Reading ]