AND IT CAME TO PASS ON THE SECOND SABBATH DAY AFTER THE FIRST,.... Or "second first sabbath", concerning which interpreters are greatly divided. Some think, that it was either the seventh day of the feast of unleavened bread, or the eighth day of the feast of tabernacles. Others, that it was the sab... [ Continue Reading ]
AND CERTAIN OF THE PHARISEES SAID UNTO THEM,.... Unto the disciples. The Evangelists Matthew and Mark say, that they said this to Jesus: no doubt but they said it to both, first to one, and then to the other; probably last of all to Christ, who returned an answer to it: WHY DO YE THAT WHICH IS NOT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS ANSWERING THEM, SAID,.... For they brought the charge against the disciples to him, being desirous to know what he would say, and that they might have something to accuse him of; and who, at once, took up the cause of his disciples, and vindicated them, by observing what David did, when he... [ Continue Reading ]
Luke 6:3... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... He adds this at the close of the instances he gave, at the end of his vindication of his disciples, and discourse with the Pharisees, as a full answer to their cavils; THAT THE SON OF MAN IS LORD ALSO OF THE SABBATH; and may do what he will, and suffer his disciples to do... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS ALSO ON ANOTHER SABBATH,.... Whether the following sabbath, or some time after, is not certain, THAT HE ENTERED INTO THE SYNAGOGUE. The Arabic version reads, "into their synagogue", as in Matthew 12:9 the synagogue of the Jews; in what place, whether at Capernaum, or some other... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SCRIBES AND PHARISEES WATCHED HIM,.... Mark 3:2 WHETHER HE WOULD HEAL ON THE SABBATH DAY: there being such an object before him: THAT THEY MIGHT FIND AN ACCUSATION AGAINST HIM; as they had before against his disciples.... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE KNEW THEIR THOUGHTS,.... Being the omniscient God; though they had said nothing of their intentions, he knew what they designed, should he heal the man with his withered hand, as they expected he would: AND SAID TO THE MAN WHICH HAD THE WITHERED HAND, RISE UP, AND STAND FORTH IN THE MIDST. T... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN SAID JESUS UNTO THEM,.... The Scribes and Pharisees, who were watching him, and whose thoughts, and the reasonings of their minds, purposes, and intentions, he full well knew: I WILL ASK YOU ONE THING; or question, as they had asked him one before; Matthew 12:10 IS IT LAWFUL ON THE SABBATH DA... [ Continue Reading ]
AND LOOKING ROUND ABOUT UPON THEM ALL,.... The Scribes and Pharisees, and the rest of the people in the synagogue; Mark 3:5. HE SAID TO THE MAN; who had the withered hand, STRETCH FORTH THY HAND, AND HE DID SO; he stretched it out, as the Syriac and Persic versions render it, which he was not abl... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY WERE FILED WITH MADNESS,.... Both at the cure, and because they could not answer him; nor properly fix a charge upon him, or accuse him before the people, without bringing their resentments on them: AND COMMUNED ONE WITH ANOTHER WHAT THEY MIGHT DO WITH JESUS: this they did after they came... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS IN THOSE DAYS,.... When Christ was teaching by the lake of Gennesaret, or in one or other of the cities of Galilee near that place: THAT HE WENT OUT; of the synagogue and city where he had been: INTO A MOUNTAIN TO PRAY; for the sake of solitude, and which lay near the sea of Ti... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN IT WAS DAY,.... Or morning; having spent the whole night in prayer to God, no doubt for his disciples, whom he was about to send forth as his apostles, to preach his Gospel, and work miracles, and for their success therein: HE CALLED UNTO HIM HIS DISCIPLES; the whole company of them, as in... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON, WHOM HE ALSO NAMED PETER,.... Which signifies a rock, or stone, as Cephas also does, see John 1:42 from his constancy, steadfastness, and solidity: AND ANDREW HIS BROTHER; who was called at the same time with him, and were brethren, both in nature and grace: JAMES AND JOHN: the two sons of... [ Continue Reading ]
MATTHEW AND THOMAS,.... The first of these was a publican, and who also was called Levi; and the latter had besides the name of Didymus, and was he that was so unbelieving of Christ's resurrection: JAMES THE SON OF ALPHAEUS; sometimes called James the less, and the brother of our Lord: and SIMON C... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JUDAS THE BROTHER OF JAMES,.... Of that James, that was the son of Alphaeus; though the Syriac and Arabic versions call him "the son of James", very wrongly: this Judas was also called Thaddaeus and Lebbaeus, and is the writer of the epistle that bears his name: AND JUDAS ISCARIOT, WHICH ALSO W... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME DOWN WITH THEM,.... With the twelve apostles, from the top of the mountain, where he had been praying all night, and where he had been that morning, ordaining, and giving instructions to the twelve he had chosen: AND STOOD IN THE PLAIN; in a lower part of the mountain, in a plain place... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT WERE VEXED WITH UNCLEAN SPIRITS,.... Were possessed with devils, and sadly tormented and afflicted by them: AND THEY WERE HEALED: both such that had bodily diseases, and were under diabolical possessions.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE WHOLE MULTITUDE SOUGHT TO TOUCH HIM,.... That is, the multitude of those that were sick and possessed; for they were persuaded, and they found it true by experience, that if they could but touch any part of his body, or his garments, they should be cured of their diseases: FOR THERE WENT VI... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LIFTED UP HIS EYES ON HIS DISCIPLES,.... Either the whole company of them, or rather the twelve apostles, whom he saw coming to him, and fixing his eyes on them, he sat, AND SAID; what follows, with many other things recorded by Matthew: BLESSED BE YE POOR; not only in the things of this wo... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE YE THAT HUNGER NOW,.... Not only suffer hunger and thirst in a literal sense, in this present life, but who have hunger and thirst in a spiritual sense, after righteousness and eternal life, as in Matthew 5:6 where it is also said as here: FOR YE SHALL BE FILLED: with righteousness and... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESSED ARE YE WHEN MEN SHALL HATE YOU,.... For the sake of Christ, and his Gospel: AND WHEN THEY SHALL SEPARATE YOU FROM THEIR COMPANY; either from civil conversation with them, as if they were Gentiles and uncircumcised persons; or from their religious assemblies, and so may have respect to that... [ Continue Reading ]
REJOICE YE IN THAT DAY,.... When they should be hated, discarded, reproached, and anathematized: and leap for joy; as if the greatest honour and happiness imaginable had been conferred on them; and as persons do, when in the greatest rapture: FOR BEHOLD, YOUR REWARD IS GREAT IN HEAVEN, FOR IN THE L... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WOE UNTO YOU THAT ARE RICH,.... Not in worldly riches and substance, for some of these have been, and are happy persons in a spiritual sense; and at most, it can only mean such, who trust in their riches, and place their, happiness in them; but it chiefly regards such, as are rich in their own o... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO YOU THAT ARE FULL,.... Not so much with the plenty and affluence of the things of this life, as of themselves, and their own righteousness, and so with conceit, vanity, and pride, and have no appetite for spiritual things, nor do they hunger and thirst after Christ, and the grace that is in... [ Continue Reading ]
WOE UNTO YOU WHEN ALL MEN SHALL SPEAK WELL OF YOU!.... The word "all", is left out in the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic; Persic: and Ethiopic versions, and is wanting in many copies, though it is in the Alexandrian copy; and the meaning is, it looks ill in persons, when the men of the world, wicked... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT I SAY UNTO YOU WHICH HEAR,.... The Ethiopic version adds "me", and the generality of interpreters understand the passage of the hearers of Christ, as distinct from the disciples, or together with them, and of the better sort of them; and of such as had ears to hear, and who heard with a desire o... [ Continue Reading ]
BLESS THEM THAT CURSE YOU;.... In common discourse, or anathematize you in their synagogues: AND PRAY FOR THEM WHICH DESPITEFULLY USE YOU: so Christ himself did; Matthew 5:44.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND UNTO HIM THAT SMITETH THEE ON THE ONE CHEEK,.... The right cheek, OFFER ALSO THE OTHER; the left cheek, by turning it to him, that he may smite that likewise, if he thinks fit: by which proverbial expression, Christ teaches patience in bearing injuries and affronts, and not to seek private reve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND GIVE TO EVERY MAN THAT ASKETH,.... Matthew 5:42 AND OF HIM THAT TAKETH AWAY THY GOODS; not by force, but by consent, having either lent them, or sold them to him: for if they were taken away by force, the person so taking them was to be deemed a thief and a robber, and to be treated as such; b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS YE WOULD THAT MEN SHOULD DO TO YOU,.... In matters of justice and beneficence were they in your case, and you in theirs; DO YE ALSO TO THEM LIKEWISE: a golden rule this, agreeably to the light of nature, and divine revelation, and is the sum and substance of the law and prophets; Matthew 7:1... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IF YE LOVE THEM WHICH LOVE YOU, WHAT THANK HAVE YE?.... Or, "what grace have ye?" this is no fruit, nor evidence of grace, nor any exercise of the true grace of love; nor is it any favour conferred upon the object loved, which deserves the respect shown, nor can any reward be expected for such t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE DO GOOD TO THEM WHICH DO GOOD TO YOU,.... As one good turn deserves another: WHAT THANK HAVE YE? what grace or goodness is there in such an action? what glory or merit is there in it? FOR SINNERS ALSO DO EVEN THE SAME: wherefore no man should conclude himself a righteous man, or better t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IF YE LEND TO THEM OF WHOM YE HOPE TO RECEIVE,.... The same again, as from their brethren the Jews; or usury, as from the Gentiles: WHAT THANK HAVE YE? and yet they looked upon this, in the first instance of it, as a very great kindness, and act of goodness, as appears from the above citation:... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT LOVE YE YOUR ENEMIES,.... As before urged in Luke 6:27 AND DO GOOD AND LEND; not to your friends only, but to your enemies; HOPING FOR NOTHING AGAIN; either principal or interest, despairing of seeing either; lending to such persons, from whom, in all appearance, it is never to be expected aga... [ Continue Reading ]
BE YE THEREFORE MERCIFUL,.... Tenderhearted, kind, beneficent to all men, friends and foes: AS YOUR FATHER ALSO IS MERCIFUL; that is your Father which is in heaven; who is good to all, and his tender mercies are over all his works: nothing is more common in Zohar y, and the Talmud z than to express... [ Continue Reading ]
JUDGE NOT, AND YE SHALL NOT BE JUDGED,.... Matthew 7:1. CONDEMN NOT, AND YE SHALL NOT BE CONDEMNED; censure not men's persons, and judge not their state, or adjudge them to condemnation, for every offence in practice, or because they differ in principle, lest you should be treated in like manner b... [ Continue Reading ]
GIVE, AND IT SHALL BE GIVEN UNTO YOU,.... Give liberally of your worldly substance to indigent persons, as you have an opportunity, according to your ability, and as cases require: and it shall be returned again to great advantage; with great recompense, either in temporals or spirituals, or both:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SPAKE A PARABLE UNTO THEM,.... The Vulgate Latin reads, "he spake also a parable unto them"; besides what he said; and the Arabic version renders it, "another similitude", parable, or proverb, distinct from the comparisons, allusions, and proverbial expressions in the preceding verses. Though... [ Continue Reading ]
THE DISCIPLE IS NOT ABOVE HIS MASTER,.... Or "more excellent", as the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions render it; that is, in learning and knowledge; if the master is ignorant, the scholar will be so too; and thus it is with teachers, and their people under their care; if the leaders are blind an... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHY BEHOLDEST THOU THE MOTE THAT IS IN THY BROTHER'S EYE,.... A lesser sin in comparison of others; for all sins are not alike, as the Stoics asserted: and though none are to be countenanced and indulged, yet some are not so severely to be animadverted upon as others, the nature, occasions, circ... [ Continue Reading ]
EITHER HOW CANST THOU SAY TO THY BROTHER,.... Guilty of the lesser sin; BROTHER, LET ME PULL OUT THE MOTE THAT IS IN THINE EYE; that is, suffer me to reprove thee for thy sin: the word "brother" is omitted in the Cambridge copy of Beza's, and in the Persic version; nor is it in Matthew; but in the... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR A GOOD TREE BRINGETH NOT FORTH CORRUPT FRUIT,.... The particle, "for" is left out in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions; and so it is in Beza's ancient copy: nor do these words stand in close connection with the preceding in Matthew's Gospel, though they may be very well considere... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR EVERY TREE IS KNOWN BY ITS OWN FRUIT,.... Good and bad preachers are known by their doctrines, the one being agreeable, the other disagreeable to the word of God; and good and bad men are known by their lives and conversations: the grace of God revealed to good men, and wrought in them, teaches... [ Continue Reading ]
A GOOD MAN OUT OF THE GOOD TREASURE OF HIS HEART,.... This, because of its suitableness and agreement with what goes before, is placed by Luke here; though, according to Matthew, it was spoken at another time and place, unless it should be a repetition there; Matthew 12:35 FOR OF THE ABUNDANCE OF... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHY CALL YE ME LORD, LORD,.... Or, "my Lord, my Lord", as the Syriac version renders it; acknowledging, in words, his government over them; claiming an interest in him, and making use of his name and authority: AND DO NOT THE THINGS WHICH I SAY; or "command"; and therefore such words in their m... [ Continue Reading ]
WHOSOEVER COMETH TO ME,.... To be a disciple and follower: AND HEARETH MY SAYINGS, AND DOTH THEM; Matthew 7:24. I WILL SHOW YOU TO WHOM HE IS LIKE; or "to what thing he is like"; so the Syriac and Arabic versions; though what follows seems better to agree with person than thing.... [ Continue Reading ]
HE IS LIKE A MAN WHICH BUILT AN HOUSE,.... That is, intended to build one, having drawn the scheme of it in his mind, and provided materials, and fixed upon the spot of ground: AND DIGGED DEEP, AND LAID THE FOUNDATION ON A ROCK; that is, he dug deep in the earth, till he came at a rock, and there,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE THAT HEARETH, AND DOTH NOT,.... Hears Christ's sayings externally, but does not obey his commands: IS LIKE A MAN THAT WITHOUT A FOUNDATION BUILT UPON THE EARTH: that is, without digging for a foundation, built his house upon the surface of the earth; "upon the dust of it", as the Syriac vers... [ Continue Reading ]