NOW WHEN HE HAD ENDED ALL HIS SAYINGS,.... That is, when Jesus, as the Persic version expresses it, had finished all the above sayings, doctrines, and instructions; not all that he had to say, for he said many things after this: IN THE AUDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE; of the common people, the multitude bes... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A CERTAIN CENTURION'S SERVANT,.... The same that Matthew makes mention of, Matthew 8:5, Matthew 8:5. Matthew 8:6. WHO WAS DEAR UNTO HIM; to the centurion, being an honest, upright, faithful, and obliging servant; as Tabi was to Rabban Gamaliel, of whom his master said l, "Tabi my servant, is... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE HEARD OF JESUS,.... That he was come, as the Ethiopic version adds, into the city of Capernaum; or of his miracles, which he had done there, and elsewhere: HE SENT UNTO HIM THE ELDERS OF THE JEWS: in whom he had an interest, judging himself, being a Gentile, very unworthy and unfit to g... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY CAME TO JESUS,.... To that part of the city where he was; either at Peter's house, where he used to be when in this place; or rather it might be as he was passing along the streets, that they came up to him THEY BESOUGHT HIM INSTANTLY; or with great vehemence and importunity; very stu... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR HE LOVETH OUR NATION,.... The Jewish nation, which was Christ's nation, as well as theirs, he being a Jew; see John 18:35. This they mention as an argument to induce him to have a regard to the centurion, though he was a Gentile; since he was a friend of the Jews, and well affected and disposed... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JESUS WENT WITH THEM,.... The elders of the Jews, towards the centurion's house, after hearing their request, and their reasons for it; and that without any reluctancy, he at once complied, made no hesitation, or difficulty about it, but went with them very freely: AND WHEN HE WAS NOW NOT FAR... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE NEITHER THOUGHT I MYSELF WORTHY TO COME UNTO THEE,.... In person; therefore he sent the elders of the Jews to him first, and now some of his friends, who delivered these words in his name: BUT SAY IN A WORD, AND MY SERVANT SHALL BE HEALED; speak but the word only, rebuke the distemper, co... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I ALSO AM A MAN SET UNDER AUTHORITY,.... Of the Roman senate; "or belonging to the emperor", as the Arabic version renders it; and under the command of a tribune, as a centurion was: so that this is not an amplification, but a diminution of his office; and his sense is, that even he who was but... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN JESUS HEARD THESE THINGS,.... Which the friends of the centurion related from him, and in his name; or which he himself delivered, coming up to Christ after them: HE MARVELLED AT HIM; at his great humility and modesty, and the strength of his faith, and his manner of reasoning: AND TURNED HIM... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT WERE SENT,.... Both the elders of the Jews, and the friends of the centurion: RETURNING TO THE HOUSE; of the centurion, where his servant lay, and from whence they came: FOUND THE SERVANT WHOLE THAT HAD BEEN SICK; for he was healed directly, as soon as the centurion had expressed his... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IT CAME TO PASS THE DAY AFTER,.... The Vulgate Latin reads "afterward", not expressing any day, as in Luke 8:1, but the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, read to the same sense as we, the day after, the next day, on the morrow, after he had cured the centurion's servant in Capernaum... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN HE CAME NIGH TO THE GATE OF THE CITY,.... Of Naim: BEHOLD: THERE WAS A DEAD MAN CARRIED OUT; of the city; for they, used not to bury in cities, but in places without, and at some distance: the burying places of the Jews were not near, their cities r; and they had different ways of carrying... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE LORD SAW HER, HE HAD COMPASSION ON HER,.... Knowing her case, that she was a widow, and had lost her only son: AND SAID UNTO HER, WEEP NOT; signifying, that he would help her, which he did without being asked to do it, as usual in other cases.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE CAME AND TOUCHED THE BIER,.... Or "bed", as the Syriac version renders it; and such was מטה, "the bier", or bed, on which one of three years old, and upward, was carried as above mentioned: so that on which Herod was carried to his grave is called κλινη "a bed", by Josephus y. As for the bed... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT WAS DEAD,.... That had been dead, (for he was now alive,) as it was a clear case to all his relations and friends, or they would never have brought him out to bury him: SAT UP; upon the bed, or bier: and began to speak; both which, his sitting up and speaking, were plain proofs of his b... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE CAME A FEAR ON ALL,.... That were there present, and heard, and saw what was done. Not a fear of dread, and terror, and of punishment, as in devils and wicked men; but a fear and reverence of the divine majesty, whose power and presence they were sensible must be there at that time: AND T... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THIS RUMOUR OF HIM,.... Or the report of this surprising miracle in raising a dead man to life, that was carrying to his grave, WENT FORTH THROUGHOUT ALL JUDEA, AND THROUGHOUT ALL THE REGION ROUND ABOUT; not only Judea, and the several cities, towns, and villages in it, but all the country roun... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE DISCIPLES OF JOHN SHOWED HIM OF ALL THESE THINGS. The miracles that were wrought by Christ; particularly the healing of the centurion's servant, and the raising from the dead the widow of Naim's son, and what fame and reputation Christ got every where by his doctrine, and mighty works. John... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JOHN CALLING UNTO HIM TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES,.... Which were a sufficient number to be sent on an errand, to ask a question, and report the answer, or bear witness to any fact they should see, or hear done. SENT THEM UNTO JESUS, SAYING, ART THOU HE THAT SHOULD COME, OR LOOK WE FOR ANOTHER? not th... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEN THE MEN WERE COME TO HIM,.... To Jesus; "those two men", as the Arabic version reads; "the disciples", as the Persic version; the same that John sent from the castle of Machaerus, where he was now a prisoner, to Christ, who was teaching in some city or town of Galilee: THEY SAID, JOHN THE BAPT... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THAT SAME HOUR,.... Or at that same time, for a precise hour is not intended: one exemplar reads, "in that day", in which these men came to Christ, HE, Jesus, as the Persic version expresses it, CURED MANY OF THEIR INFIRMITIES; bodily weaknesses and disorders: and plagues; which were inflic... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO THEM,.... "To the disciples", as the Persic; to both, as the Arabic: when he had wrought these cures, he turned himself to the disciples of John, and made answer to their question. The Vulgate Latin leaves out the word "Jesus", rendering it, "and he answering"; in the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BLESSED IS HE, WHOSOEVER SHALL NOT BE OFFENDED IN ME. The Arabic version renders it, "blessed is he that doubts not of me". The Persic and Ethiopic versions both add to the text, the former rendering the words thus, "blessed is he that is not brought into offence and doubt concerning me"; and th... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THE MESSENGERS OF JOHN WERE DEPARTED,.... The Syriac and Persic versions read, "the disciples of John"; and the Arabic version, "the two disciples of John"; the two that he sent, when they were gone back with the answer of Christ; HE, "Jesus", as the Persic version expresses it, BEGAN TO... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHAT WENT YOU OUT FOR TO SEE?.... If not his air and action, what was it? was it his apparel and dress? was it to see A MAN CLOTHED IN SOFT RAIMENT? If this was the case, their labour was in vain, and they had their walk for nothing; for John was clothed with camels' hair, rough and undressed,... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WHAT WENT YE OUT FOR TO SEE?.... What led your curiosity to go into the wilderness after him, since it could not be any of the above things? was it to see A PROPHET? which was the case; for John was a prophet, and was known to be one; and the fame of him, as such, drew vast numbers to see and h... [ Continue Reading ]
THIS IS HE OF WHOM IT IS WRITTEN,.... In Malachi 3:1. Matthew 11:10. Mark 1:2.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR I SAY UNTO YOU----HERE IS NOT A GREATER PROPHET,.... The word "prophet" is left out in the Arabic and Ethiopic versions, as in Matthew 11:11. Matthew 11:11.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ALL THE PEOPLE THAT HEARD HIM,.... Either Christ saying these things in commendation of John, and gave their assent to them, and showed their approbation of them, having been baptized by him; or rather, the people that had heard John preach the doctrines of repentance and faith, and of baptism;... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THE PHARISEES AND LAWYERS,.... Or Scribes, as the Syriac and Persic versions read; for the Scribes and lawyers were the same sort of persons. The Ethiopic version calls them, "the Scribes of the city": these "rejected the counsel of God against themselves"; against their own advantage, to their... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE LORD SAID,.... This clause is not in the Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, nor in some copies, nor in Beza's most ancient copy; and being omitted, more clearly shows, that the two former verses are the words of Christ, and not an observation the evangelist makes, on the differen... [ Continue Reading ]
THEY ARE LIKE TO CHILDREN,.... The Pharisees and lawyers, who rejected the counsel of God, and the baptism of John, were like to "children"; not for innocence, simplicity, meekness, and humility; their characters were the reverse; but rather, for their ignorance, and want of understanding, their fol... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR JOHN THE BAPTIST,.... Who is designed by the children that mourned in the above simile, with whom his character and conduct agree; he preached very mournful doctrine, delivered it in a very solemn and awful manner, and lived a very austere life, and fasted much, as did also his disciples. The wo... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF MAN IS COME EATING AND DRINKING,.... That is, eating bread and drinking wine, as other people do; and shuns no man's company, goes to a wedding, dines with a Pharisee, and eats with publicans and sinners, and carries it freely and courteously to all men: AND YE SAY, BEHOLD A GLUTTONOUS M... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT WISDOM IS JUSTIFIED OF ALL HER CHILDREN. That is, Christ, who is the wisdom of God, and who acted the wise part, in behaving in such a free manner with all sorts of men, and even with publicans and sinners, whereby he became useful to their souls, called them to repentance, converted and saved t... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THE PHARISEES,.... Whose name was Simon, Luke 7:40 DESIRED THAT HE WOULD EAT WITH HIM; take a meal with him, either a dinner or a supper: this he did under a disguise of respect, and show of affection to him; though very likely with a design upon him to ensnare him, or take some advantag... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEHOLD, A WOMAN IN THE CITY,.... Not Mary Magdalene, spoken of in Luke 8:2 under another character; and is a different person, who had not been taken notice of by the evangelist before; nor Mary the sister of Lazarus, who is said to anoint the feet of Christ, and wipe them with her hair, John 12... [ Continue Reading ]
AND STOOD AT HIS FEET BEHIND HIM,.... Christ lay upon a bed, or couch, as was the custom of the ancients, both Jews and others, at meals, with his feet put out behind; and between the couches and the walls of the room, there was a space for servants to wait and serve, and such are therefore said to... [ Continue Reading ]
NOW WHEN THE PHARISEE, WHICH HAD BIDDEN HIM, SAW IT,.... Simon, who had invited Christ to eat with him, when he saw what was done by the woman, how she stood at his feet, and washed them with her tears, and wiped them with her hairs, and then kissed and anointed them: HE SPOKE WITHIN HIMSELF; not o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS ANSWERING SAID UNTO HIM,.... Christ being God omniscient, knew not only the character and conversation of this woman, which were publicly known by all, that knew any thing of her, but also the secret thoughts and reasonings of the Pharisee, and makes answer to them; which shows, that he wa... [ Continue Reading ]
THERE WAS A CERTAIN CREDITOR,.... All the Oriental versions premise something to this. The Syriac version reads, "Jesus said unto him". The Arabic version, "then he said". The Persic version, "Jesus said"; and the Ethiopic version, "and he said to him"; and something of this kind is understood, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD NOTHING TO PAY,.... Neither the lesser nor greater debtor; for though not alike in debt, yet both insolvent: man has run out his whole stock, which the God of nature gave him, in his original creation and primitive state; and is become a bankrupt and a beggar, is poor, wretched, an... [ Continue Reading ]
SIMON ANSWERED AND SAID,.... Very readily, without any hesitation, not being aware of the application of it, to the instance he had been pondering in his mind: I SUPPOSE, THAT HE TO WHOM HE FORGAVE MOST; it was his opinion, and to him a plain case, that he that owed the largest debt, and that being... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TURNED TO THE WOMAN,.... That stood behind him at his feet, AND SAID TO SIMON, SEEST THOU THIS WOMAN? and what she has done? pointing to her, and comparing him, and her, and their actions together, whereby he might judge of the preceding parable, and how fitly it might be applied to the pres... [ Continue Reading ]
THOU GAVEST ME NO KISS,.... A token of civility among friends, when they met together on any occasion. The Jews have a saying b, that "all kisses are foolish, excepting three; the kiss of grandeur or dignity, as in 1 Samuel 10:1 and the kiss at parting, as in Ruth 1:14 and the kiss at meeting, as i... [ Continue Reading ]
MINE HEAD WITH OIL THOU DIDST NOT ANOINT,.... No not with common oil, so usually done at feasts, see Psalms 23:5 BUT THIS WOMAN HATH ANOINTED MY FEET WITH OINTMENT; even "with ointment" דבסמא, "of spices", as the Syriac version renders it. There is, throughout the whole account, an opposition betwe... [ Continue Reading ]
WHEREFORE I SAY UNTO THEE,.... Not "for this that she hath done", as the Persic version very wrongly renders it; not because she had washed Christ's feet with tears, and wiped them with her hairs, and kissed and anointed them, therefore her sins were forgiven; nor upon this account, and for those re... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAITH UNTO HER,.... Directing his discourse to the woman that now stood before him: THY SINS ARE FORGIVEN; which was said, partly on account of the Pharisee, to let him see, that he knew this woman, what she was, and had been; that she had been a sinner, a great sinner, one that owed five hu... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY THAT SAT AT MEAT WITH HIM,.... Other Pharisees that sat at Simon's table with Christ, whom he had invited as guests, on this occasion of seeing and conversing with Jesus; or some of Simon's family, that sat down to eat with him; BEGAN TO SAY WITHIN THEMSELVES; that is, either thought and r... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID TO THE WOMAN,.... Notwithstanding the Pharisee's censure, both of him and her: THY FAITH HATH SAVED THEE; meaning either the object of her faith, himself, who was the author of eternal salvation to her; or that she, through faith in him, had received the blessings of salvation, pardon,... [ Continue Reading ]