SOLEMN ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM (Mark 11:1; Luke 19:29; John 12:12). More than a third of the entire Gospel narrative is occupied with the last week of Christ's life, commonly called Holy Week. The cause of this is to be sought, partly in the special importance which the Apostolic Church attached to the... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THEY DREW NIGH] The synoptistsmake no break in the journey from Jericho to Jerusalem (20 m. of bad uphill travelling), but St. John says that Jesus came to Bethany six days before the Passover (i.e. on Friday or Saturday), and stayed there until the triumphal entry, which was probably on Sunday... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY. CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE Chronology of the Last Week of Christ's Life, commonly called Holy Week (chiefly after Hastings' 'Dictionary of Christ and the Gospels'). Sabbath, Nisan 8. Arrival at Bethany (John 12:1). Supper in the evening (John 12:2; Matthew 26:6, where see notes).... [ Continue Reading ]
AN ASS TIED, AND A COLT] The two animals are mentioned only by St. Matthew. An unused animal was preferred for an occasion like the present (see Mark 11:2; 1 Samuel 6:7).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LORD] i.e. Jesus. The ready way in which the owner parted with the animals proves that he was a disciple, and this is an argument for an earlier ministry of Jesus in Jerusalem.... [ Continue Reading ]
A combination of Isaiah 62:11 with Zechariah 9:9. The rendering is free, partly following the Heb. and partly the Septuagint. According to St. John, the disciples did not at the time perceive that Jesus was fulfilling this prophecy. AND A COLT] i.e. 'even a colt.' Zechariah makes no reference to tw... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PUT ON THEM THEIR CLOTHES] either because they were uncertain which one He intended to mount, or in order gaily to caparison both animals for the procession. Eastern garments are brightly coloured. AND THEY SET _him_ (RV 'he sat') THEREON] i.e. on the clothes placed upon the colt, not, as some t... [ Continue Reading ]
SPREAD THEIR GARMENTS] An extraordinary token of respect, such as was paid to kings and great conquerors (2 Kings 9:13). Plutarch says of Cato the younger that 'he was escorted, not with prayers which are common, nor with praises, but with tears and embraces which could not be satisfied, the people... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT WENT BEFORE] These were the multitudes mentioned by St. John, who went out from Jerusalem to meet Jesus. Those who followed behind were the Galileans. HOSANNA TO THE SON OF DAVID] This can only mean, Glory and honour to the Son of David,' just as St. Mark's phrase, 'Hosanna in the highest,' is... [ Continue Reading ]
THE TABLES OF THE MONEYCHANGERS] According to Edersheim the Temple-market was what is called in the Talmud 'the booths of the sons of Annas.' The bulk of the enormous profits went to increase the wealth of Annas, his family, and adherents. The Talmud frequently speaks in strong language of the iniqu... [ Continue Reading ]
CLEANSING OF THE TEMPLE. HOSANNAS OF THE CHILDREN (Mark 11:15; Luke 19:45). In St. Matthew this event seems to take place on Palm Sunday, but Mark 11:11 makes it clear that it did not occur till next day. On reaching Jerusalem, Jesus went into the Temple, and 'looked round about on all things,' but,... [ Continue Reading ]
Isaiah 56:7; Jeremiah 7:11. 14-16. Peculiar to St. Matthew.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BLIND AND THE LAME] who were begging at the Temple gates (Acts 3:2).... [ Continue Reading ]
SORE DISPLEASED] because even children were calling Jesus 'son of David,' i.e. 'Messiah.' Boys under fourteen are meant.... [ Continue Reading ]
BETHANY] He probably lodged with Lazarus and his sisters. Bethany was on the further side of the Mt. of Olives, about 15 furlongs distant (John 11:18), on the road to Jericho.... [ Continue Reading ]
CURSING OF THE FIG TREE (Mark 11:12 and Mark 11:20). St. Mark makes it clear that the fig tree was cursed on Monday morning as they left Bethany, but that the effect of the curse was not noticed till Tuesday morning. This, the only miracle of wrath worked by Jesus, is also a revelation of God's merc... [ Continue Reading ]
HOW SOON] RV 'How did the fig tree immediately wither away?' The disciples, instead of asking the meaning of the miracle, ask how it was done? Jesus did not explain its symbolical meaning, but made it an object-lesson in the power of believing prayer.... [ Continue Reading ]
Cp. Matthew 17:20; Luke 17:6; 1 Corinthians 13:2. BE THOU REMOVED] a proverbial expression for something very difficult. The rabbis, who could solve questions of great difficulty, were called 'rooters up of mountains', and it was said of a skilful teacher that 'he plucked up mountains and ground the... [ Continue Reading ]
ALL THINGS] Not all things absolutely, but all things of which the petitioners are worthy. 23-27. Christ's authority to teach challenged (Mark 11:27; Luke 20:1).... [ Continue Reading ]
THE CHIEF PRIESTS] A deputation from the Sanhedrin, seeking some excuse to ex-communicate Him. BY WHAT AUTHORITY?] Jesus had not received rabbinical ordination, and had no authority therefore to teach as a rabbi. DOEST THOU THESE THINGS] referring not only to His teaching, but to His cleansing of th... [ Continue Reading ]
WE CANNOT TELL] To be forced to admit their ignorance, was more damaging to their reputation than a definite answer would have been, for one of the most important duties of the Sanhedrin, according to the Mishna, was to judge between true and false prophets, and to inflict exemplary punishment upon... [ Continue Reading ]
PARABLE OF THE TWO SONS (peculiar to St. Matthew). The 'certain man' is God, and He is represented as a father, to set forth His impartial love to all mankind, righteous and sinful alike. The son who said 'I go, sir,' and went not, is the chief priests, scribes, and Pharisees, who 'rejected for them... [ Continue Reading ]
BEFORE YOU] Graciously intimating that the door of repentance was still open to them.... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THE WAY OF RIGHTEOUSNESS] i.e. of legal righteousness. The Pharisees had no excuse for neglecting the preaching of John, for it was based on the Law which they idolised, and ran counter to none of their cherished convictions. The preaching of Christ was different, and could not easily be received... [ Continue Reading ]
'The householder is God, who on account of His tender love is called a man. The vineyard is the people of the Jews planted by God in the land of promise. The hedge is the Law, which hindered them from mingling with the nations, the winepress the altar of sacrifice, the tower the Temple, the husband-... [ Continue Reading ]
THE WICKED HUSBANDMEN (Mark 12:1; Luke 20:9). The doctrinal importance of this parable, which belongs to the oldest tradition, is great. In it Christ claims to be in a unique sense the Son of God. He calls Moses and the prophets slaves and bondservants, and places Himself at an immense elevation abo... [ Continue Reading ]
TIME OF THE FRUIT] 'In the history of souls and of nations, there are seasons which even more than all other are times of fruit; when God requires such with more than usual earnestness, when it will fare ill with a soul or a nation, if these be not found' (Trench). 'And the fruits of the vineyard ar... [ Continue Reading ]
KILLED] According to tradition Isaiah was sawn asunder, and Jeremiah stoned: see also 2 Chronicles 24:20 and cp. Hebrews 11.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY WILL REVERENCE MY SON] 'This He said, not as if they would do so, for He knew they would not, but pointing out what they ought to do' (Euthymius). 'When God is said to doubt about the future, it is that human free-will may be preserved' (Jerome).... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY SAY] Jesus extorts their condemnation from their own lips. Otherwise in St. Mark and St. Luke. HE WILL, etc.] RV 'He will miserably destroy those miserable men.' The allusion is to the destruction of Jerusalem 70 a.d., and the end of the Jewish dispensation. OTHER HUSBANDMEN] i.e. the minister... [ Continue Reading ]
THE STONE, etc.] Psalms 118:22; Acts 4:11. The 'stone,' of course, is Christ. The 'builders' are the Jews. The 'head of the corner' is the most important position in a building, so that Christ represents Himself as the foundation upon which the Kingdom of God was to be built up in spite of His rejec... [ Continue Reading ]
The favour of God will be withdrawn from a nation that obeys not His will, and bestowed on one that does. THE KINGDOM = the privileges of the kingdom.... [ Continue Reading ]
Wetstein well says, 'He who falls upon a great stone, is bruised indeed, but can be healed, but he upon whom'a great stone falls, is ground as it were to dust, like the chaff that is scattered to the winds.' Spiritually interpreted, those who fell upon the stone, are those who stumbled at the humili... [ Continue Reading ]