AND IT CAME TO PASS, THAT ON ONE OF THOSE DAYS,.... According to the account of the Evangelist Mark, it must be the second day, or two days after his public entrance into Jerusalem; for on the evening of the day he made his entry, he went out to Bethany with his disciples; the next morning, as he re... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SPOKE UNTO HIM, SAYING, TELL US BY WHAT AUTHORITY DOEST THOU THESE THINGS?.... The Arabic and Ethiopic versions read, "this thing"; as if the sanhedrim only referred to his preaching the Gospel, which is mentioned in the preceding verse, and was what he was about when they came to him: but the P... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM,.... That is, Jesus replied to them, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Persic versions express it: I WILL ALSO ASK YOU ONE THING, AND ANSWER ME; when he also promised, that if they would give him an answer to his question, he would satisfy them in the point they i... [ Continue Reading ]
THE BAPTISM OF JOHN, WAS IT FROM HEAVEN, OR OF MEN?] This was a new ordinance, and John must have his authority for administering it either from God, or from men; and Christ is desirous to know from which he derived it in their opinion; suggesting, that by the same authority John, his forerunner, ca... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY REASONED WITH THEMSELVES,.... Or "they thought with themselves", as the Syriac version; or "within themselves", as the Vulgate Latin, though they did not express it; or "one with another", as the Arabic version; they took counsel together, and debated the matter among themselves, and reason... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AND IF WE SAY OF MEN,..... Which they had a good will to, against the dictates of their own consciences: ALL THE PEOPLE WILL STONE US; meaning the common people, that were then in the temple about Christ, hearing him preach; who would be so enraged at such an answer, that without any regard to... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 7 AND THEY ANSWERED, THAT THEY COULD NOT TELL WHENCE IT WAS. Whether from heaven, or of men; in this, no doubt, they told an untruth: but they chose rather to sacrifice their consciences than their interest, and pretend ignorance rather than profess the truth, when they saw they should be put t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS SAID UNTO THEM,.... Since they would not give him a direct answer to his question: NEITHER TELL I YOU BY WHAT AUTHORITY I DO THESE THINGS; nor was there any need of it; they might easily perceive by what he had said, from whence he professed to have received his authority, from God, and n... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN BEGAN HE TO SPEAK TO THE PEOPLE THIS PARABLE,.... According to the other evangelists it seems to be spoken to the chief priests, Scribes, and elders; and certain it is, that they looked upon themselves as struck at in it; it might be spoken to both. Christ having silenced the sanhedrim, turned... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AT THE SEASON,.... Or "when it the time of fruit", as the Ethiopic version renders it, agreeably to Matthew 21:34: HE SENT A SERVANT TO THE HUSBANDMEN; or servants, as in Matthew 21:34; the prophets of the Lord, his messengers, whom he sent to them, to exhort them to bring forth the fruits of... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AGAIN HE SENT ANOTHER SERVANT,.... Or set of prophets in after times, and yet before the Babylonish captivity: AND THEY BEAT HIM ALSO; as they had done the other; they continued in their malpractices, yea increased in them: AND ENTREATED HIM SHAMEFULLY; putting him to open shame, using him in... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AGAIN HE SENT THE THIRD,.... Perhaps after the return of the Jews from captivity, and between that time and the coming of Christ, in which interval many good men were used in a very inhuman manner, Hebrews 11:37 AND THEY WOUNDED HIM ALSO; by casting stones at him; see Mark 12:4 AND CAST HIM O... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID THE LORD OF THE VINEYARD,.... Who planted it, and let it out to husbandmen, and expected fruit from it, and sent his servants from time to time for it: WHAT SHALL I DO? or what can be done more than has been done? Isaiah 5:4 who else can be sent that is likely to do any good with such an... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHEN THE HUSBANDMEN SAW HIM,.... In human nature, heard him preach, and observed the miracles done by him: THEY REASONED AMONG THEMSELVES; as the Scribes and Pharisees, and elders of the people often did: SAYING, THIS IS THE HEIR; the heir of God, being his Son; and so the Ethiopic version; "t... [ Continue Reading ]
SO THEY CAST HIM OUT OF THE VINEYARD,.... Rejected him as the Messiah, even denied that he was of the Jewish nation; said he was a Samaritan, and delivered him to the Gentiles that were without, and were aliens from the commonwealth of Israel; and at last had him without their city, and put him to d... [ Continue Reading ]
HE SHALL COME AND DESTROY THESE HUSBANDMEN,.... Which had its accomplishment at the destruction of Jerusalem: according to the other evangelists, these words are the answer of the chief priests, Scribes, and elders, to the above questions put to them by Christ, after he had delivered the parable; bu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE BEHELD THEM,.... Looked very earnestly and wistly at them, speaking as it were by his looks, signifying, that verily so it would be, as he had said; that they would reject the Messiah, and put him to death, and bring utter ruin upon themselves, and deprive their posterity of many advantages a... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER SHALL FALL ON THAT STONE, SHALL BE BROKEN,.... Not who shall fall upon Christ by faith, and build upon him as the foundation stone, for such shall be saved; but that stumble at him, and are offended with him, and fall by unbelief and hardness of heart; such do themselves much hurt and misc... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND THE SCRIBES, THAT SAME HOUR,.... As soon as he had delivered the above parable, together with that of the two sons: SOUGHT TO LAY HANDS ON HIM; they had a good will to it, being exceedingly gravelled with the question he put to them concerning John's baptism, which confou... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WATCHED HIM,.... What he said, and what he did, and where he went, that they might take an advantage against him, or know where he was, to send to him, as they should think fit, and take the best opportunity of so doing. The Syriac and Persic versions leave out this clause: AND SENT FORTH... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ASKED HIM, SAYING, MASTER,.... Rabbi, or doctor; hoping, by this flattering title, and the flattering words used by them, to work him up to an openness and freedom of conversation with them: WE KNOW THAT THOU SAYEST AND TEACHEST RIGHTLY; rightly dividest the word of God, and deliverest out... [ Continue Reading ]
IS IT LAWFUL FOR US TO GIVE TRIBUTE UNTO CAESAR, OR NO?] The Syriac and Persic versions here, as in the other evangelists, render it, "head money". The phrase, "for us", is here added, and on it lies the emphasis, and stress of the question; for the doubt pretended, was not whether it was lawful for... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE PERCEIVED THEIR CRAFTINESS,.... Knowing what was in them, and being a discerner of the thoughts and intents of their hearts, he clearly saw that their view was either, that they might have a charge against him to the Roman governor, should he declare against payment of tribute; or that they m... [ Continue Reading ]
SHOW ME A PENNY,.... A Roman denarius, value seven pence halfpenny of our money. The Persic version adds, "they showed it, he asked of them"; and the Ethiopic version, "and they brought it, and he said unto them", as follows; WHOSE IMAGE AND SUPERSCRIPTION HATH IT? for the penny had an head upon it... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM, RENDER THEREFORE UNTO CAESAR THE THINGS WHICH BE CAESAR'S,.... The Arabic version renders it, "give to the king what is the king's"; the tribute that was due to him; since they were under his government, and were protected by him, and traded with his money; the currency of whi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY COULD NOT TAKE HOLD OF HIS WORDS BEFORE THE PEOPLE,.... Which was what they wanted; that if he had dropped any seditious and treasonable expressions against the government, they might be witnesses against him; or if he had not vindicated the liberties of the people, and the rights of the Je... [ Continue Reading ]
Ver. 27 THEN CAME TO HIM CERTAIN OF THE SADDUCEES,.... That is, "to Jesus", as the Persic version expresses it; and it was the same day, as Matthew says, on which the disciples of the Pharisees, and the Herodians, had been with him, putting the question about tribute to him: Matthew 22:16 WHICH DEN... [ Continue Reading ]
SAYING, MASTER, MOSES WROTE UNTO US,.... In Deuteronomy 25:5 where the substance of what follows is contained, though not in express words: IF ANY MAN'S BROTHER DIE, HAVING A WIFE, AND HE DIE WITHOUT CHILDREN, THAT HIS BROTHER SHOULD TAKE HIS WIFE, AND RAISE UP SEED UNTO HIS BROTHER; the meaning o... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WERE THEREFORE SEVEN BRETHREN,.... In the place where these Sadducees dwelt; or, however, that were known by them; at least they supposed such a case, and it might be fact: AND THE FIRST TOOK A WIFE, AND DIED WITHOUT CHILDREN; son or daughter, and so had none to keep up his name, and to posse... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SECOND TOOK HER TO WIFE,.... As he was obliged by the above law, or pluck off the shoe: AND HE DIED CHILDLESS: as his eldest brother before him.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE THIRD TOOK HER,.... To wife, by virtue of the same law: AND IN LIKE MANNER THE SEVEN ALSO; the other four, one after another, when all seven married her: AND THEY LEFT NO CHILDREN, AND DIED; or they died, leaving no children behind them.... [ Continue Reading ]
LAST OF ALL THE WOMAN DIED ALSO. Having had no children by either of her seven husbands.... [ Continue Reading ]
THEREFORE IN THE RESURRECTION,.... At the time of the resurrection of the dead, in that state, supposing there will be such an one, which they denied; WHOSE WIFE OF THEM IS SHE? the first, or the last, or any of the intermediate ones? FOR SEVEN HAD HER TO WIFE; and she had no child by either of th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS ANSWERING, SAID UNTO THEM,.... After he had observed that their error arose from ignorance of the Scriptures, and the power of God: THE CHILDREN OF THIS WORLD MARRY, AND ARE GIVEN IN MARRIAGE that is, such who live in this world, in the present mortal and imperfect state, being mortal men... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY WHICH SHALL BE ACCOUNTED WORTHY TO OBTAIN THAT WORLD,.... The world to come, eternal life and happiness; not by their own works and merits, but through the blood, sacrifice, and righteousness of the Messiah; AND THE RESURRECTION FROM THE DEAD; that is, the first resurrection, the resurrect... [ Continue Reading ]
NEITHER CAN THEY DIE ANY MORE,.... Therefore there will be no need of marrying to procreate children, to keep up a succession of men, any more than there is among the angels: FOR THEY ARE EQUAL UNTO THE ANGELS; in spirituality, purity and immortality; Matthew 22:30 AND ARE THE CHILDREN OF GOD: as... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW THAT THE DEAD ARE RAISED,.... Or that there will be a resurrection of the dead, this is a proof of it: EVEN MOSES SHOWED AT THE BUSH: when the Lord appeared to him out of it, and he saw it burning with fire, and not consumed; when the Lord called to him out of it by the following name, as he ha... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE IS NOT A GOD OF THE DEAD, BUT OF THE LIVING,.... Matthew 22:32 FOR ALL LIVE UNTO HIM. The Persic version, reads, "all these live unto him"; namely, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob; for though they are dead to men, they are not to God; their souls live with him, and their bodies will be raised by... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN CERTAIN OF THE SCRIBES, ANSWERING SAID,.... Who believed the doctrine of the resurrection, which the Sadducees denied, and so were pleased with our Lord's reasoning on this subject: MASTER, THOU HAST WELL SAID; thou hast spoken in a beautiful manner, reasoned finely upon this head, and set thi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AFTER THAT, THEY DURST NOT ASK HIM ANY QUESTION AT ALL. Neither the Pharisees, Sadducees, Scribes, nor Herodians.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... The Ethiopic version reads, "to the Pharisees"; and so it appears, that it was to them he spoke, from Matthew 22:41 HOW SAY THEY? The Syriac version reads, "how say the Scribes?" as in Mark 12:35 and the Persic version, how say the wise men, the doctors in Israel, THAT C... [ Continue Reading ]
AND DAVID HIMSELF SAITH IN THE BOOK PSALMS,.... In Psalms 110:1 THE LORD SAID TO MY LORD, SIT THOU ON MY RIGHT HAND; which words were delivered by David, as inspired by the Spirit of God; and contain a speech of God the Father to his son Jesus Christ, upon his ascension to heaven, after his suffer... [ Continue Reading ]
UNTIL I MAKE THINE ENEMIES THY FOOTSTOOL. Which words are a continuation of the citation out of the above Psalm Psalms 110:1; and for the application of these words, with the preceding, to the Messiah, Matthew 22:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
DAVID THEREFORE CALLED HIM LORD,.... Or, "my Lord", as the Syriac and Ethiopic versions read; or, "his Lord", as the Arabic version. This is the inference from the words before cited Psalms 110:1, upon which the following question is asked, HOW IS HE THEN HIS SON? how can these things be reconcile... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN IN THE AUDIENCE OF ALL THE PEOPLE,.... Whilst they were about him, and hearing him, and for their sakes too; HE SAID UNTO HIS DISCIPLES; yea, he spake to the multitude, as well as to the disciples, as appears from Matthew 23:1.... [ Continue Reading ]
BEWARE OF THE SCRIBES,.... And also of the Pharisees; for they are joined together in Matthew: WHICH DESIRE TO WALK IN LONG ROBES: the rule for the length of a scholar's garment was this a; "his flesh must not appear under his garments, as the light linen garments, and the like, they make in Egypt... [ Continue Reading ]
WHICH DEVOUR WIDOWS' HOUSES,.... As the characters of them, in the preceding verse, expose their pride, this shows their avarice; they were very voracious and cruel; they did not spare widows, but devoured their substance: AND FOR A SHOW MAKE LONG PRAYERS; to cover their wickedness, pretending grea... [ Continue Reading ]