AND IT CAME TO PASS THAT AS HE WAS PRAYING,.... The following directions concerning prayer, though they agree with those in Matthew 6:9 c. yet were delivered at another time, and in another place, and upon another occasion: Christ was then in Galilee, now in Judea: he gave the former directions unas... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... That is Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions express, who directed his speech to all the disciples; for though but one of them addressed him, it was in the name of the rest: and besides, the instructions Christ was about to give concerned them all, even those that hear... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE US DAY BY DAY OUR DAILY BREAD. Or "for the day"; or "every day", as the Syriac version renders it; Matthew 6:11... [ Continue Reading ]
AND FORGIVE US OUR SINS,.... Beza's most ancient copy reads "debts", as in Matthew 6:12; and which best agrees with the phrase "indebted", after mentioned: FOR WE ALSO FORGIVE EVERY ONE THAT IS INDEBTED TO US; AND LEAD US NOT INTO TEMPTATION, BUT DELIVER US FROM EVIL; Matthew 6:12, Matthew 6:13.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, WHICH OF YOU SHALL HAVE A FRIEND,.... A neighbour, or acquaintance: AND SHALL GO UNTO HIM AT MIDNIGHT; which may seem a very unseasonable time, and which nothing but real distress, not knowing what otherwise to do, would put a man upon: AND SAY UNTO HIM, FRIEND, LEND ME THRE... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A FRIEND OF MINE IN HIS JOURNEY,.... Or "out of the way"; having lost his way, being benighted; and has rambled about for some time, and at length, IS COME TO ME; for lodging and entertainment: AND I HAVE NOTHING TO SET BEFORE HIM; to refresh him with, after such a fatigue, before he goes to b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE FROM WITHIN SHALL ANSWER AND SAY,.... The friend within doors, shall reply to him that is without at his door, in the street: TROUBLE ME NOT; by knocking at the door, and importuning to rise and lend loaves; whereby his rest would be disturbed, and trouble given him; THE DOOR IS NOW SHUT; b... [ Continue Reading ]
I SAY UNTO YOU,.... This is the accommodation of the parable; to these words are premised, in the Vulgate Latin version, the following, "if he continue knocking": THOUGH HE WILL NOT RISE AND GIVE HIM, BECAUSE HE IS A FRIEND; though mere friendship will not influence and engage him to rise from his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND I SAY UNTO YOU, ASK, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN YOU,.... This is said by Christ, to encourage to prayer, and importunity in it; that if any one asks of God, in the name of Christ, and in faith, whether it be bread for the body, or food for the soul; or any blessing whatever, whether temporal or spiri... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY ONE THAT ASKETH RECEIVETH,.... Some indeed ask and receive not, because they ask amiss, James 4:3 who either apply to a wrong person, or ask in a wrong manner, or from wrong principles, or with wrong ends in view: but when a man is right in the object of prayer, and in the matter and manne... [ Continue Reading ]
IF A SON SHALL ASK BREAD OF ANY OF YOU THAT IS A FATHER,.... Our Lord illustrates and confirms what he had said before by an instance common among men: the relation between a father and a son is natural, and it is very near; and it is usual for a son, when hungry, and at the proper times of meals, t... [ Continue Reading ]
OR IF HE SHALL ASK AN EGG, WILL HE OFFER HIM A SCORPION.... Of which there are three sorts; some are terrestrial, or land scorpions, scorpions of the earth, a kind of serpents, very venomous and mischievous, to whom the wicked Jews are compared, Ezekiel 2:6 and the locusts in Revelation 9:3 others a... [ Continue Reading ]
IF YE THEN BEING EVIL KNOW HOW TO GIVE GOOD GIFTS UNTO YOUR CHILDREN,.... Matthew 7:11. HOW MUCH MORE SHALL YOUR HEAVENLY FATHER GIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT TO THEM THAT ASK HIM? instead of the Holy Spirit here, the Vulgate Latin version reads, "good Spirit", and so two copies of Beza's; and the Ethiopic... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WAS CASTING OUT A DEVIL,.... At a certain time, either the same that is recorded in Matthew 9:32 or in Matthew 12:22 for both of them were attended with the same effect upon the people, and with the same calumny of the Pharisees, mentioned here: AND IT WAS DUMB. The Ethiopic version reads, ... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT SOME OF THEM SAID,.... The Pharisees, Matthew 9:34 Matthew 12:24 who could not bear that he should be thought to be the Messiah, and therefore put an ill construction on the miracle: HE CASTETH OUT DEVILS THROUGH BEELZEBUB, THE CHIEF OF DEVILS; in several copies he is called Beelzebul, and in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND OTHERS TEMPTING HIM,.... Others of the Scribes and Pharisees, or Sadducees: SOUGHT OF HIM A SIGN FROM HEAVEN; Matthew 12:38, Matthew 16:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE KNOWING THEIR THOUGHTS,.... Being God omniscient, SAID UNTO THEM; the following parables, as they are called in Mark 3:23 or proverbial expressions, very pertinent to the purpose, and sufficient to set aside the base calumnies of the Pharisees: EVERY KINGDOM DIVIDED AGAINST ITSELF, IS BROUG... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF SATAN ALSO BE DIVIDED AGAINST HIMSELF, HOW SHALL HIS KINGDOM STAND?.... This is the accommodation of the above parables, or proverbial sentences; suggesting, that Satan must be against himself, if what the Pharisees said was true; and consequently, his kingdom and government, could not long s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF I BY BEELZEBUB CAST OUT DEVILS,.... Which is what the Pharisees charged him with; in the Greek copies, and so in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions it is read, "by Beelzebul", and so in the preceding verses; Matthew 10:25 BY WHOM DO YOUR SONS CAST THEM OUT? by whose help? or in whose name? for... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT IF I WITH THE, FINGER OF GOD,.... The power of God, referring to Exodus 8:19 and so the Cabalistic Jews r explain it, "the finger is one of the five in the hand, and is that finger which works by the power of Elohim;'' it is the same with the Spirit of God; Matthew 12:28 which is often called... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN A STRONG MAN ARMED,.... By the strong man, is meant the devil; Matthew 12:29 and who may be said to be "armed", both with his own temptations, which are as fiery darts, and which are thrown by him thick and fast, suddenly and swiftly, privily, and with great art and cunning, and with great stre... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN A STRONGER THAN HE,.... By whom is meant Christ, who is the mighty God, the Almighty; and appears to be so, in the creation of all things, in upholding them by the word of his power, in the government of the world, and the works of providence, in the redemption of his people from sin, Satan... [ Continue Reading ]
HE THAT IS NOT WITH ME, IS AGAINST ME,.... Our Lord does not mean one, that was not personally with him; for there might be some, and doubtless were many, who were not in person with him, and yet were not against him, but friends to him, and to his interest; nor one that was not a professed disciple... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE UNCLEAN SPIRIT IS GONE OUT OF A MAN,.... That is, the devil, who is in, and works in the children of disobedience, whether under a profession of religion or not; whose hearts are unclean like himself, wherefore there he delights to dwell; and so the Ethiopic version renders it, "the evil de... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE COMETH, HE FINDETH IT SWEPT AND GARNISHED. In Matthew it is also said to be "empty"; and so it is read here in the Arabic version; and in the Ethiopic version, "empty of men": but rather the sense is, that he found it empty of all goodness, notwithstanding all the sweeping and garnish of... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN GOETH HE AND TAKETH TO HIM SEVEN OTHER SPIRITS,.... Or "demons", as the Ethiopic version, whom he took to him as his consorts and companions, as the same version calls them. MORE WICKED THAN HIMSELF; for it seems there are degrees of wickedness among the devils, as well as among men: AND THEY... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AS HE SPOKE THESE THINGS,.... That is, as Christ spoke, or "had finished these sayings", as the Persic version expresses it, before related, in vindication of himself and his miracles, from the blasphemy of the Scribes and Pharisees to their entire confusion, and had delivered th... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SAID,.... Christ said "to the woman", Persic version reads, as correcting her, though not denying it, nor reproving her for it, but improving upon it: YEA RATHER, BLESSED ARE THEY THAT HEAR THE WORD OF GOD AND KEEP IT; intimating, that though his mother was happy in bearing and suckling such... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE PEOPLE WERE GATHERED THICK TOGETHER,.... Upon this woman's lifting up her voice, and saying the things she did; or rather to see what sign he would give, which some had desired Luke 11:16 HE BEGAN TO SAY, THIS IS AN EVIL GENERATION. The Alexandrian copy, two copies of Beza's, and the V... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS JONAS WAS A SIGN TO THE NINEVITES,.... As he was by lying three days and three nights in the whale's belly, and then cast on shore alive; which sign, or miracle was wrought to confirm his mission and message, and to engage the Ninevites to give credit to him, and repent, or they might assure... [ Continue Reading ]
THE QUEEN OF THE SOUTH,.... That is, the queen of Sheba, which was a country of Arabia, which lay south of Judea; of whom it is said, that SHE SHALL RISE UP IN THE JUDGMENT WITH THE MEN OF THIS GENERATION, AND CONDEMN THEM: the sense is, that at the last day, when all shall rise from the dead, both... [ Continue Reading ]
THE MEN OF NINEVEH SHALL RISE UP IN THE JUDGMENT WITH THIS GENERATION, AND SHALL CONDEMN IT,.... Luke changes the order of these instances; Matthew mentions this before the instance of the queen of Sheba; but Luke puts it last: this circumstance is not material, and the design of it is the same with... [ Continue Reading ]
NO MAN WHEN HE HATH LIGHTED A CANDLE,.... These words are often repeated by Christ on different occasions, Matthew 5:15 and Luke 8:16 and here seem to design the free, open, and clear ministry of Christ, who excelled Solomon in wisdom, and Jonas in powerful preaching. It being as a candle, which,... [ Continue Reading ]
THE LIGHT OF THE BODY IS THE EYE,.... The Vulgate Latin and all the eastern versions read "the light of thy body is thine eye". The sense is, that as the eye gives light, to the body, and the several members of it, by which they are guided and directed; so the understanding is the light of the soul,... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED THEREFORE,.... By attending to the light of the Gospel, shining in the ministration of it, and do not neglect and despise it: THAT THE LIGHT WHICH IS IN THEE BE NOT DARKNESS; lest being given up to a judicial blindness and hardness of heart, not only the light of nature, which the Jews ha... [ Continue Reading ]
IF THY WHOLE BODY THEREFORE BE FULL OF LIGHT,.... That is, if the whole soul, as the Ethiopic version reads, be full of Gospel light, through the illuminating influences of the blessed Spirit accompanying the word: HAVING NO PART DARK; every power and faculty of the soul being affected with it, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE SPAKE,.... Either the above words, or others at another time: A CERTAIN PHARISEE BESOUGHT HIM TO DINE WITH HIM: as one of the same sect had before, in Luke 7:36 and who either was better affected to Christ than the generality of them were; or had a design upon him to get him into company... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE PHARISEE SAW IT,.... That Christ laid himself down on one of the couches and began to eat: HE MARVELLED; that so great a prophet as he was, and a man of so much religion and holiness, should show no regard to a common custom with them, and which was one of the traditions of their elder... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID UNTO HIM,.... Jesus, as the Syriac and Persic versions read; the Lord Jesus, as the Ethiopic. NOW DO YE PHARISEES MAKE CLEAN THE OUTSIDE OF THE CUP, AND THE PLATTER; being very tenacious of the traditions of the elders, concerning the washing of cups and pots, which had been of la... [ Continue Reading ]
YE FOOLS, DID NOT HE THAT MADE THAT WHICH IS WITHOUT,.... That is, made clean that which is without, or the outside of the cup and platter; MAKE THAT WHICH IS WITHIN ALSO? does not he make the inside clean likewise? whoever washes a cup or platter, but washes and makes clean the inside, as well as... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT RATHER GIVE ALMS OF SUCH THINGS AS YE HAVE,.... The phrase τα ενοντα, is variously rendered, and so furnishes out various senses: the Syriac version renders it, "give that which is", which is yours; or "which is given to you", as the Persic version, and agrees with ours, "such things as ye have... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WOE UNTO YOU PHARISEES,.... Though these words, with several other passages in this chapter, are much alike with those in Matthew 23 yet it is clear that they were spoken at different times, these in the house of a Pharisee, and they in the temple at Jerusalem: FOR YE TITHE MINT AND RUE; Matthe... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO YOU PHARISEES, FOR YE LOVE THE UPPERMOST SEATS IN THE SYNAGOGUES,.... And also the uppermost rooms at feasts, Matthew 23:6 AND GREETINGS IN THE MARKET; Matthew 23:6 and Matthew 23:7.... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO YOU SCRIBES AND PHARISEES, HYPOCRITES,.... As they are all along called by Matthew; though only here by Luke. The Vulgate Latin only reads, "woe unto you", leaving out all the rest: but the whole is retained in all the Oriental versions; FOR YE ARE AS GRAVES WHICH APPEAR NOT; being covered... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN ANSWERED ONE OF THE LAWYERS,.... Or Scribes, as the Syriac and Persic versions read: and so the Ethiopic version calls him, "a Scribe of the city": the Scribes and lawyers were the same sort of persons who were interpreters of the law, and equally tenacious of the traditions of the elders Chris... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, WOE UNTO YOU ALSO, YE LAWYERS,.... Christ was so far from calling back what he had said or suggested, that he repeats and confirms it, and more particularly names them, and enlarges on their evil practices: FOR YE LADE MEN WITH BURDENS GRIEVOUS TO BE BORNE, AND YE YOURSELVES TOUCH NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO YOU,.... Meaning particularly the lawyers or Scribes, together with the Pharisees, and even the whole body of the people, who in general were of the cast and complexion here described: FOR YE BUILD THE SEPULCHRES OF THE PROPHETS; Matthew 23:29 AND YOUR FATHERS KILLED THEM; the prophets;... [ Continue Reading ]
TRULY YE BEAR WITNESS, THAT YE ALLOW THE DEEDS OF YOUR FATHERS,.... Or "ye bear witness, and ye allow"; that is, they both witnessed that their fathers killed the prophets, and they consented to what they did, and approved of their actions: FOR THEY INDEED KILLED THEM; it must be owned, and not the... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE ALSO SAID THE WISDOM OF GOD,..... The Syriac version only reads "wisdom"; by which seems to be meant not the perfection of God's wisdom: though it is usual with the Jews to represent the divine perfections as speaking, as the justice and mercy of God. They say b, that "when the holy bless... [ Continue Reading ]
THAT THE BLOOD OF ALL THE PROPHETS,.... The same with "all the righteous blood", or the blood of all the righteous men, in Matthew 23:35, WHICH WAS SHED FROM THE FOUNDATION OF THE WORLD: for there were prophets from the beginning, which prophesied of Christ, Luke 1:70 and whose blood was shed very... [ Continue Reading ]
FROM THE BLOOD OF ABEL,.... "Righteous Abel", as in Matthew 23:35 and so read the Arabic version here, and two manuscripts in the Bodleian library, and three of Stephens's copies; the Persic version renders it, "innocent Abel": he is mentioned because he was the first man that was slain, and he was... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO YOU LAWYERS,.... Who are particularly addressed again in distinction from the Pharisees, though much the same things are said to them both in Matthew 23:13 FOR YE HAVE TAKEN AWAY THE KEY OF KNOWLEDGE; of the Scriptures, of the law, and the prophets, and the true interpretation of them, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE SAID THESE THINGS UNTO THEM,.... Denounced the above woes upon them, charging them with the above crimes, and threatening them with divine vengeance: THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES BEGAN TO URGE HIM VEHEMENTLY; to fall upon him with their tongues, and express great rage, wrath, and virulence a... [ Continue Reading ]
LAYING WAIT FOR HIM,.... To ensnare and entangle him, watching his words, observing what he said, and laying hold thereon: AND SEEKING TO CATCH SOMETHING OUT OF HIS MOUTH; like beasts of prey, or hunters, that were watching for their prey; or lay ambush, diligently looking out, and greedily catchin... [ Continue Reading ]