THEN SAID HE UNTO HIS DISCIPLES,.... In the Alexandrian copy, and in "three" of Beza's exemplars it is read, "his disciples"; and so read the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions; that is, Jesus said to his disciples what follows, as the Syriac and Persic versions express, and the latter rea... [ Continue Reading ]
IT WERE BETTER FOR HIM THAT A MILLSTONE,.... Matthew 18:6 and Mark 9:42.... [ Continue Reading ]
TAKE HEED TO YOURSELVES..... Or to one another, that ye neither give, nor take offence. Take heed to your spirits, to your doctrines, walk, and conversation, that you give no offence to any, that you are not stumbled by what you shall see in, and meet with from others: IF THY BROTHER TRESPASS AGAIN... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF HE TRESPASS AGAINST THEE SEVEN TIMES IN A DAY,.... For good men are frequently apt to fall into sin, and offend both God and man; see Proverbs 24:16 "and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent"; as often as he sins, and appears to be truly sensible of it, and humble for it,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE APOSTLES SAID UNTO THE LORD,.... Either on account of what was now said by Christ concerning offences, and forgiving injuries; being conscious to themselves of their own weakness to withstand temptations; and fearful lest they should be stumbled and offended with what they should meet with;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID,.... In answer to the disciples. The Syriac version leaves out the word "Lord": and the Persic version, in the room of it reads, "Jesus": IF YE HAD FAITH AS A GRAIN OF MUSTARD SEED; Matthew 17:20 YE MIGHT SAY UNTO THIS SYCAMINE TREE; which was near at hand; for in Galilee, where... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHICH OF YOU HAVING A SERVANT PLOUGHING,.... In order to keep the disciples humble in the performance of such miraculous works; and that they might not imagine they could have any thing at the hands of God by merit; and to excite them to go on from one duty to another; and never think they have... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WILL NOT RATHER SAY TO HIM,.... Or, "will he not say to him?" it is very likely, it is more agreeable to the language of a master, and the condition of a servant, that he should say to him, MAKE READY WHEREWITH I MAY SUP: by dressing the food, spreading the table, and putting the food on it; fo... [ Continue Reading ]
DOTH HE THANK THAT SERVANT,.... As if he had done him a favour, and what he was not obliged to; BECAUSE HE DID THE THINGS THAT WERE COMMANDED HIM? for, as a servant, he ought to do them, and in so doing does but his duty: he may indeed be commended for it, but not thanked: I TROW NOT; or "I think... [ Continue Reading ]
SO LIKEWISE YE,.... This is the accommodation and application of the parable to the disciples of Christ, who whether ministers or private believers, are as servants, and should be as laborious as the ploughman, and the shepherd; and as their condition is, so their conduct should be like theirs: the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS AS HE WENT TO JERUSALEM,.... That is, Jesus, as the Persic version expresses it; though the Ethiopic version reads in the plural, "they going to Jerusalem passed", c. that is, the disciples, or Christ with his disciples who was now going thither to eat his last passover, and suff... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS HE ENTERED INTO A CERTAIN VILLAGE,.... Whether in Samaria or Galilee, is not certain; perhaps it bordered on both, since there were both Jews and Samaritans in it, as appears by what follows; and since Christ was passing between both places: THERE MET TEN MEN THAT WERE LEPERS; who either wer... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY LIFTED UP THEIR VOICES,.... Together, and cried aloud, being at a distance, that they might be heard; as well as to express their vehement desire, and great importunity to be cleansed; see Judges 9:7. AND SAID, JESUS, MASTER; or "Rabbi, Jesus", thou great Master in Israel; who art a teache... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE SAW [THEM], HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... When upon their loud cry he looked up, and towards them, and saw what a condition they were in, his compassion moved towards them, and he ordered them to do as follows; GO SHOW YOURSELVES UNTO THE PRIESTS. The Ethiopic version reads in the singular num... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THEM, WHEN HE SAW THAT HE WAS HEALED.... When he felt perfect soundness in his body, and perceived that he was restored to his health, and saw with his eyes that the leprosy was gone from him, which must be visible enough: TURNED BACK; either immediately, before he went to the priests; o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE FELL DOWN ON HIS FACE AT HIS FEET,.... For being cleansed, he might draw nigh unto Jesus; and which he did, with the most profound respect unto him, and reverence of him; and having a deep sense of the favour he had received from him, prostrated himself in this manner before him: GIVING HIM... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS ANSWERING, SAID,.... After the Samaritan had paid his respects to him, and made his acknowledgments in this grateful way: WERE THERE NOT TEN CLEANSED? so many applied for a cure, and so many had it: BUT WHERE ARE THE NINE? or nine of them; here was one, but where were the rest? they went... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE ARE NOT FOUND THAT RETURNED,.... Or it do not appear, that any have returned: TO GIVE GLORY TO GOD; for inasmuch as they did not return to give thanks to Christ, and acknowledge him the author of their cure and cleansing they did not give glory to God: SAVE THIS STRANGER; for so the Samarita... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIM, ARISE,.... For, as yet, he lay at his feet upon his face, adoring and praising him; nor did he attempt to rise till Jesus bid him: adding, GO THY WAY; to thine own country, town, or city, and to thy friends and relations, and about thy business: THY FAITH HATH MADE THEE WHOLE... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE WAS DEMANDED OF THE PHARISEES,.... Or "asked" by them; who expected the Messiah, and that when he was come he would set up a temporal kingdom, and deliver them from the Roman yoke; when they should enjoy great liberty, peace, and prosperity; so that they might put the following question... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER SHALL THEY SAY,.... Or shall it be said by any, making their observations, and pointing to this, or that place: LO HERE, OR LO THERE; in this, or that place, country or city, the kingdom of God is set up; the throne of the Messiah is there; and there are the "regalia", or ensigns of his reg... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO HIS DISCIPLES,.... Who also were expecting a worldly kingdom, and external honours, and temporal emoluments, and riches; and therefore to take off their minds from these things, and that they might not have their expectations raised this way, but, on the other hand, look for afflict... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY SHALL SAY UNTO YOU, SEE HERE, OR SEE THERE,.... That is, there is Christ; and in two of Beza's exemplars, the word Christ is added as in Matthew 24:23 from whence it seems to be transcribed: and the sense is, it shall be said by one or another; Christ is in such a place, or he is in such a... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR AS THE LIGHTNING THAT LIGHTENETH OUT OF THE ONE [PART] UNDER HEAVEN,.... The Syriac version reads, "out of heaven", and the Arabic version, "in heaven"; which is the seat of lightning, and from whence it arises: AND SHINETH UNTO THE OTHER PART UNDER HEAVEN; enlightens the earth, which is under... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT FIRST MUST HE SUFFER MANY THINGS,.... By cruel mockings, spitting, buffeting, scourging, and, at last, death itself; all which must be, and were before his day came, or he entered into his glory, or came in it: AND BE REJECTED OF THIS GENERATION; as the Messiah, and be treated with the utmost s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF NOE,.... Whilst he was building the ark, and before he went into it; for this respects the days of Noah before the flood, and not after it; for he lived after the flood three hundred and fifty years, Genesis 9:28 SO SHALL IT BE ALSO IN THE DAYS OF THE SON OF MAN; some t... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY DID EAT, THEY DRANK,.... That is, the inhabitants of the old world ate and drank, not merely in a common way, with moderation, and for the support and comfort of life, which is not blameworthy, nor inconsistent with religious exercises; but they lived in an extravagant and luxurious manner; the... [ Continue Reading ]
LIKEWISE ALSO AS IT WAS IN THE DAYS OF LOT,.... When he lived in Sodom, and before, and at the time of the destruction of that city with other neighbouring ones: THEY DID EAT, THEY DRANK; Luke 17:27, and Ezekiel 16:49. This is to be understood of the inhabitants of Sodom, and the other cities that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE SAME DAY LOT WENT OUT OF SODOM,.... Being plucked and brought from thence by the angels early in the morning; and a fine morning it was; the sun was risen, and shone out upon the earth, as Lot got into Zoar, Genesis 19:15. "The Jews" i say it was the sixteenth day of Nisan: IT RAINED FIRE A... [ Continue Reading ]
EVEN THUS SHALL IT BE IN THE DAY WHEN THE SON OF MAN IS REVEALED. In his power, when he comes to avenge himself on the Jews; and when he is revealed from heaven in flaming fire, at the last day. As in the days of Noah and Lot, men lived in great carnality and security, thoughtless and fearless of da... [ Continue Reading ]
IN THAT DAY, HE WHICH SHALL BE UPON THE HOUSETOP,.... Either for diversion or devotion, when he shall hear that the Roman armies are approaching to Jerusalem, to besiege it: AND HIS STUFF IN THE HOUSE; or "his vessels", his goods and furniture; or his utensils, and instruments of trade and business... [ Continue Reading ]
REMEMBER LOT'S WIFE. Whose name by the Jews, is said to be Adith, as some s; or Irith, as others t: and who, they also say, was a native of Sodom; and that the reason of her looking, was either to see what would be the end of her father's house and family u; or as others w, because her heart yearned... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER SHALL SEEK TO SAVE HIS LIFE,.... By fleeing to some strong hold, or by continuing in the metropolis, and strongest city in the nation, Jerusalem: SHALL LOSE IT: there he will be in the greatest danger: AND WHOSOEVER SHALL LOSE HIS LIFE; or expose it to danger, by fleeing to the mountains... [ Continue Reading ]
I TELL YOU, IN THAT NIGHT,.... Of affliction and calamity, that shall be upon the Jewish nation, and which is before called that day, Luke 17:31 and therefore is not to be understood literally of the night: THERE SHALL BE TWO [MEN] IN ONE BED; this is said agreeably to the time, the night before me... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO [WOMEN] SHALL BE GRINDING TOGETHER,.... In Matthew 24:41 it is added, "in the mill"; in the house where the mill was, and at one and the same mill; and so the Ethiopic version here, "two shall grind in one mill": and it was common for two women to grind at one hand mill; and though the word "wo... [ Continue Reading ]
TWO MEN SHALL BE IN THE FIELD,.... At work there, tilling the ground, or sowing the seed in it, or reaping the corn; which of them soever was the work of the field, at the time of Jerusalem's destruction: THE ONE SHALL BE TAKEN, AND THE OTHER LEFT: the circumstances attending these several, instanc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO HIM, WHERE, LORD?.... That is, either the Pharisees put this question to Christ, who demanded of him when the kingdom of God would come, Luke 17:20 or rather the disciples, to whom Christ more especially directed his discourse, Luke 17:22 who hearing of the distincti... [ Continue Reading ]