AFTER TWO DAYS WAS [THE FEAST OF] THE PASSOVER,.... That is, two days
after Christ had delivered the foregoing discourse concerning the
destruction of the temple at Jerusalem, was the feast of the passover;
which was kept in commemoration of God's passing over the houses of
the Israelites, when he d... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT THEY SAID NOT ON THE FEAST DAY,.... The feast of the passover, and
of unleavened bread, which was nigh at hand, and would be two days
hence, when there would be a great concourse of people from all parts
to keep it: and therefore they did not choose to seize him, and put
him to death at that tim... [ Continue Reading ]
AND BEING IN BETHANY,.... A place about two miles from Jerusalem,
whither he retired after he had took his leave of the temple, and had
predicted its destruction; a place he often went to, and from, the
last week of his life; having some dear friends, and familiar
acquaintance there, as Lazarus, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE WERE SOME THAT HAD INDIGNATION WITHIN THEMSELVES,.... The
Syriac version reads, "some of the disciples": agreeably to
Matthew 26:8, particularly Judas, and others might be incensed by his
means:
AND SAID, WHY WAS THIS WASTE OF THE OINTMENT MADE?
Matthew 26:8.... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR IT MIGHT HAVE BEEN SOLD FOR MORE THAN THREE HUNDRED PENCE,....
Which, was to the value of our money nine pounds, seven shillings, and
sixpence:
AND GIVEN TO THE POOR; which was thought to be a better way of
expending it, than by pouring it on the head of Christ:
AND THEY MURMURED AGAINST HER:... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS SAID, LET HER ALONE,.... Jesus knowing the secret
indignation of some of his disciples, and their private murmurings at
the woman, and their continual teasings of her, because of the expense
of the ointment, said to them, as the Arabic and Ethiopic versions
read; or "to the disciples", as... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR YE HAVE THE POOR WITH YOU ALWAYS,....
Matthew 26:11;
AND WHENSOEVER YE WILL YE MAY DO THEM GOOD; by feeding them when
hungry, clothing them when naked, and supplying them with the
necessaries of life:
BUT ME YE HAVE NOT ALWAYS; meaning, with respect to his bodily
presence, which, in a short t... [ Continue Reading ]
SHE HATH DONE WHAT SHE COULD,.... What she had in her heart, and in
the power of her hands to do; she hath done according to her ability,
and her good will; and if she had not done it now, she could not have
done it at all.
SHE IS COME AFOREHAND TO ANOINT MY BODY TO THE BURYING; or, "as if it
was t... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU,.... And you may assure yourselves of the truth
of it:
WHERESOEVER THIS GOSPEL, of the death and resurrection of Christ,
SHALL BE PREACHED THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE WORLD, as it shall be,
[THIS] ALSO THAT SHE HATH DONE SHALL BE SPOKEN OF FOR A MEMORIAL OF
HER; in remembrance of h... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JUDAS ISCARIOT, ONE OF THE TWELVE,.... Apostles of Christ; who was
the principal person that had indignation at the woman, and murmured
against her, for the profusion of the ointment:
WENT UNTO THE CHIEF PRIESTS; as soon as this affair was over, and
Christ had defended the woman's conduct to hi... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HEARD IT, THEY WERE GLAD,.... That such an opportunity
offered, and from such a quarter, by one of his own disciples; so that
it might be done more secretly and effectually, and with less blame to
themselves:
AND PROMISED TO GIVE HIM MONEY; any sum he should ask; and what was
agreed u... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE FIRST DAY OF UNLEAVENED BREAD,.... Being come, which was the
fourteenth of Nisan:
WHEN THEY KILLED THE PASSOVER; that is, "the Jews", as the Syriac and
Persic versions supply; for any Israelite, that not a priest, might
slay it: their canon runs thus x,
"an Israelite kills (the passover),... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SENDETH FORTH TWO OF HIS DISCIPLES,.... Peter and John, as
appears from Luke 22:8;
AND SAITH UNTO THEM, GO YE INTO THE CITY; the city of Jerusalem; for
there only the passover might be eaten, Deuteronomy 26:2;
AND THERE SHALL MEET YOU A MAN BEARING A PITCHER OF WATER; a servant
of the maste... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHERESOEVER HE SHALL GO IN,.... Into whatsoever house he shall
enter, go in after him:
AND SAY YE TO THE GOOD MAN OF THE HOUSE; the owner, and master of it,
who might be Nicodemus, or Joseph of Arimathea, or some man of note
and wealth in Jerusalem, that might have some knowledge of Christ, and... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WILL SHOW YOU A LARGE UPPER ROOM,.... A room in the highest
part of the house, large enough for such a company, for thirteen
persons, which was the number of Christ and his disciples:
FURNISHED AND PREPARED; with a table, and a sufficient number of
couches to sit, or lie upon, and with all p... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HIS DISCIPLES WENT FORTH,.... The two disciples, as the Arabic
version has it, Peter and John, set out from Bethany to Jerusalem
directly:
AND CAME INTO THE CITY; the city of Jerusalem:
AND FOUND AS HE HAD SAID UNTO THEM; a man bearing a pitcher of water,
whom they followed to the house he wen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IN THE EVENING HE COMETH WITH THE TWELVE. In the afternoon, as it
is very reasonable to suppose, Christ set out from Bethany with the
rest of the twelve, with the other nine, and came to Jerusalem; where
they were joined by Judas, who had covenanted with the chief priests
to betray him, and by P... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THEY SAT AND DID EAT,.... Or "as they lay along"; for such was
their posture at the eating of the passover;
Matthew 26:20:
JESUS SAID, VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU, ONE OF YOU WHICH EATETH WITH ME
SHALL BETRAY ME; Matthew 26:21.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY BEGAN TO BE SORROWFUL,.... And were so, all but Judas, at
this saying of Christ's:
AND TO SAY UNTO HIM, ONE BY ONE; even till it came to Judas himself,
IS IT I? that shall betray thee;
AND ANOTHER SAID, IS IT I? This clause is wanting in the Vulgate
Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Eth... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM,.... In order to relieve their
minds, and point out the particular person:
IT IS ONE OF THE TWELVE, THAT DIPPETH WITH ME IN THE DISH; just at
that very instant; Matthew 26:23.... [ Continue Reading ]
THE SON OF MAN INDEED GOETH,.... Out of this world by death,
AS IT IS WRITTEN; both in the book of God's decrees, and in the
Scriptures of the Old Testament;
BUT WOE TO THAT MAN BY WHOM THE SON OF MAN IS BETRAYED! whose sin will
not be excused, nor lessened by fulfilling the decrees of God, and by... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS THEY DID EAT,.... The paschal lamb, and the unleavened bread,
just at the conclusion of that feast:
JESUS TOOK BREAD, AND BLESSED, AND BRAKE IT; beginning and instituting
a new feast, to be kept in aftertimes, in commemoration of his
sufferings and death, now near at hand;
AND GAVE TO THEM,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TOOK THE CUP, AND WHEN HE HAD GIVEN THANKS,.... Over it, and
for it, by blessing it, and appropriating it to the present use and
service:
HE GAVE IT TO THEM; his disciples,
AND THEY ALL DRANK OF IT; Judas, as well as the rest, as he bid them
do; Matthew 26:27.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID UNTO THEM,.... Not after they had drank of it, but before,
and as he gave it to them:
THIS IS MY BLOOD OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, WHICH IS SHED FOR MANY; in
Matthew it is added, "for the remission of sins";
Matthew 26:28.... [ Continue Reading ]
VERILY I SAY UNTO YOU,.... This seems, to have been said after the
eating of the passover, according to Luke 22:18, but was, in reality,
not till after the Lord's supper was ended, and the last cup was
drank, which was wont to be drank at the passover:
I WILL DRINK NO MORE OF THE FRUIT OF THE VINE;... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN THEY HAD SUNG AN HYMN,.... The Hallell, used at the passover:
THEY WENT OUT INTO THE MOUNT OF OLIVES; Christ, and eleven of his
disciples; for Judas now separated from them, and went to the chief
priests to acquaint them how things were, where Jesus was going, and
where they might apprehen... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS SAITH UNTO THEM,.... As they were going to the Mount of
Olives. The Persic version reads, in this place; meaning the Mount of
Olives, having got thither:
ALL YE SHALL BE OFFENDED BECAUSE OF ME THIS NIGHT;
Matthew 26:31;
FOR IT IS WRITTEN in Zechariah 13:7,
I WILL SMITE THE SHEPHERD, AN... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT AFTER THAT I AM RISEN,.... From the dead, which, for their
comfort, he assures them of; though they would be offended and
discouraged at the seizing, and condemning, and crucifixion of him:
I WILL GO BEFORE YOU INTO GALILEE; the place of their nativity, and
where he had often conversed with the... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT PETER SAID UNTO HIM,.... Being greatly moved at what Christ had
said, that all of them would be offended with him that night, and run
away from him, and be scattered from him, and one another:
ALTHOUGH ALL SHALL BE OFFENDED, YET WILL NOT I; though all the rest of
the disciples, the other ten, s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS SAITH UNTO HIM, VERILY I SAY UNTO THEE,.... As confident as
thou art of standing by me, and abiding with me;
THAT THIS DAY, which was then begun; for the Jews reckoned their days
from evening, as in Genesis 1:5;
EVEN IN THIS NIGHT; this night to be observed, this night of the
passover, b... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE SPAKE THE MORE VEHEMENTLY,.... With a louder voice; with more
spirit and eagerness; in a more peremptory and self-confident way.
IF I SHOULD DIE WITH THEE, I WILL NOT DENY THEE IN ANY WISE. The
Syriac version adds, "O my Lord", my dear Lord, I will never deny thee
upon any consideration what... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY CAME TO A PLACE WHICH IS NAMED GETHSEMANE,.... At the foot of
the Mount of Olives, where the olives, which grew in great plenty on
the mount, were pressed: and where our Lord began to be bruised, for
our sins:
AND BE SAITH TO HIS DISCIPLES: to eight of them:
SIT YE HERE WHILE I SHALL PRAY... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE TAKETH WITH HIM PETER, AND JAMES, AND JOHN,.... Who were
witnesses of his transfiguration on the mount, and now of his sorrows
in the garden:
AND BEGAN TO BE SORE AMAZED; to be in great consternation and
astonishment, at the sight of all the sins of his people coming upon
him; at the black s... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SAITH UNTO THEM,.... The above three disciples;
MY SOUL IS EXCEEDING SORROWFUL UNTO DEATH: he was surrounded with
sorrow, and it pressed him so hard, and close, on every side, that he
was just ready to die with it:
TARRY YE HERE, AND WATCH: in Matthew it is added, "with me":
Matthew 26:38.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE WENT FORWARD A LITTLE,.... About a stone's cast,
Luke 22:41,
AND FELL ON THE GROUND, AND PRAYED; he fell on his face to the ground,
which was a praying posture. One of the Jewish canons concerning it,
is this a:
"worshipping, how is it done? after a man has lifted up his head; he
bows it f... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE SAID, ABBA, FATHER,.... In the original text, the former of
these is a Syriac word, and the latter a Greek one, explanative of the
former, as in Romans 8:15 and Galatians 4:6 or the repetition is made,
to express the vehemency of his affection, and his strong confidence
in God, as his Father,... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMETH AND FINDETH THEM SLEEPING,.... His three disciples,
Peter, James, and John:
AND SAITH UNTO PETER; particularly, he having so lately asserted, with
so much confidence, his love to Christ, and close attachment to him:
SIMON, SLEEPEST THOU? Christ calls him by the name he first went by,... [ Continue Reading ]
WATCH YE AND PRAY, LEST YE ENTER INTO TEMPTATION,.... Of denying
Christ, and falling off from him, which would quickly offer to them,
when they should see him apprehended, bound, and led away.
THE SPIRIT TRULY IS READY. The Persic version renders it, "my mind";
as if the Spirit or soul of Christ wa... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AGAIN HE WENT AWAY,.... To the same place, or at much such a
distance from them, as before:
AND PRAYED AND SPAKE THE SAME WORDS; or word, that is, the same
matter; for λογος, here, answers to דבר, which signifies a
thing, or matter, as well as word: Christ prayed to the same effect,
for matter... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN HE RETURNED, HE FOUND THEM ASLEEP AGAIN,.... Notwithstanding
the expostulation he had used with them, the exhortation he had given
them, and the danger he had suggested to them:
FOR THEIR EYES WERE HEAVY: with sleep and sorrow:
NEITHER WIST THEY WHAT TO ANSWER HIM; partly through confusio... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE COMETH THE THIRD TIME,.... After he had prayed a third time, to
the same purport as before:
AND SAITH UNTO THEM, SLEEP ON NOW, AND TAKE YOUR REST; which words are
spoken ironically:
IT IS ENOUGH; or "the end is come"; as the Syriac and Arabic versions
render it, of watching and praying:
TH... [ Continue Reading ]
RISE UP LET US GO,.... To meet the enemy and the danger; for there is
no escaping;
LO, HE THAT BETRAYETH ME IS AT HAND; Judas, that he had hinted at
supper should betray him, was now about doing it; and was just now
coming upon him, in order to deliver him into the hands of the Jews,
and the Roman... [ Continue Reading ]
AND IMMEDIATELY, WHILE HE YET SPAKE,.... The above words:
COMETH JUDAS ONE OF THE TWELVE: apostles of Christ, and which was an
aggravation of his wickedness; the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic,
Persic, and Ethiopic, versions add, "Iscariot"; and so it is read in
one of Beza's copies. The Ethiopic ve... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE THAT BETRAYED HIM HAD GIVEN THEM A TOKEN,.... A common sign, in
which they agreed; and so this same Greek word is used by the Jews c:
"said R. Phinehas in the name of R. Reuben, did you ever see one man
go out of the north, and another from the south, and meet each other,
except they made, ס... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS SOON AS HE WAS COME,.... To the place where Jesus was:
HE GOETH STRAIGHTWAY TO HIM; alone; as if he had nothing to do with
the company behind, and as if he was his friend, and concerned for his
safety:
AND SAITH, MASTER, MASTER; expressing great affection for him, and
respect to him, by rep... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY LAID HANDS ON HIM, AND TOOK HIM. After Christ had said to
Judas, "friend, wherefore art thou come?" as in Matthew; and also,
"Judas, betrayest thou the son of man with a kiss?" as in
Luke 22:48;
Matthew 26:50.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND ONE OF THEM THAT STOOD BY,.... One of the disciples that stood by
Jesus, as Judas was betraying him, and the soldiers were laying hold
on him, Peter by name:
DREW A SWORD, AND SMOTE A SERVANT OF THE HIGH PRIEST, AND CUT OFF HIS
EAR; his right ear; the servant's name was Malchus;
Matthew 26:51.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS ANSWERED AND SAID UNTO THEM,.... To the chief priests, and
captains of the temple, and the elders, that came with the band and
officers, as appears from Luke 22:52. The Persic version reads, "to
the multitude":
ARE YE COME OUT AS AGAINST A THIEF, WITH SWORDS AND WITH STAVES, TO
TAKE ME? M... [ Continue Reading ]
I WAS DAILY WITH YOU IN THE TEMPLE,.... That is, for several days
past; ever since he made his public entry into Jerusalem:
TEACHING; the people, in a public manner:
AND YE TOOK ME NOT; did not attempt to lay hands on him, seize him,
and carry him away; which he signifies might have been easily do... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY ALL FORSOOK HIM AND FLED. That is, his disciples, as the
Vulgate Latin, Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions read; and
who seem to have transcribed it from Matthew, and lest it should be
thought, that the multitude whom Christ addressed, were intended.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE FOLLOWED HIM A CERTAIN YOUNG MAN,.... Some think this was
John, the beloved disciple, and the youngest of the disciples; others,
that it was James, the brother of our Lord; but he does not seem to be
any of the disciples of Christ, since he is manifestly distinguished
from them, who all fo... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE LEFT THE LINEN CLOTH,.... "In their hands", so the Persic
version renders it; just as Joseph left his garment in the hands of
his mistress, Genesis 39:12;
AND FLED FROM THEM NAKED; to the house from whence he came. The
Syriac, Arabic, Persic, and Ethiopic versions, leave out the words
"from... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THEY LED JESUS AWAY TO THE HIGH PRIEST,.... Caiaphas, as is added
in the Syriac, Arabic, and Persic versions. This was done, after they
had took Jesus and bound, him, and after they had had him to Annas,
who sent him bound to Caiaphas; see
John 18:12;
AND WITH HIM, the high priest Caiaphas,
W... [ Continue Reading ]
AND PETER FOLLOWED HIM AFAR OFF,.... And did another disciple, perhaps
John; John 18:15, who having somewhat recovered themselves from their
fright, turned back, and followed Jesus, and the company that led him
away; keeping at some distance, that they might not be observed, and
exposed to danger; a... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE CHIEF PRIESTS, AND ALL THE COUNCIL,.... Especially the former,
who were of all most busy and active in this matter:
SOUGHT FOR WITNESS AGAINST JESUS TO PUT HIM TO DEATH; on which they
were determined, right or wrong; in this they went contrary to one of
their own canons, which runs thus k:... [ Continue Reading ]
FOR MANY BARE FALSE WITNESS AGAINST HIM,.... The word "false", is not
expressed in the Syriac, Persic, and Ethiopic versions: which only
signify, that they bore witness against him, accused him of, and laid
many things to his charge:
BUT THEIR WITNESS AGREED NOT TOGETHER; which showed it to be fals... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THERE AROSE CERTAIN,.... Two false witnesses, as in
Matthew 26:60, who stood up in court; for witnesses were obliged to
stand, whilst they gave in their testimony:
"says R. Bo, in the name of R. Hona, witnesses ought לעמוד, "to
stand", whilst they bear witness; as it is said,
Deuteronomy 19:1... [ Continue Reading ]
WE HEARD HIM SAY,.... In a discourse of his, recorded in John 2:19:
I WILL DESTROY THIS TEMPLE THAT IS MADE WITH HANDS, AND WITHIN THREE
DAYS I WILL BUILD ANOTHER MADE WITHOUT HANDS; which was a very false
testimony; for Christ did not say be would destroy any temple at all,
only put the Jews on do... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT, NEITHER SO DID THEIR WITNESS AGREE TOGETHER. Their witness did
agree together, for they both witnessed the same thing; but not so as
to found upon it the charge of a capital crime against him; their
witness was not so, ιση, "equal", was not answerable to their
desires, nor sufficient to convict... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE HIGH PRIEST STOOD UP IN THE MIDST,.... Of the sanhedrim, of
which he was now president: he sat at the head of them, and Ab Beth
Din, or the father of the council, at his right hand; and the rest of
the council sat before him, in a semicircular form, as the half of a
round corn floor, so that... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE HELD HIS PEACE, AND ANSWERED NOTHING,.... Knowing it would be
to no purpose, and signifying hereby, that the things alleged against
him were unworthy of an answer:
AGAIN THE HIGH PRIEST ASKED HIM, AND SAID UNTO HIM, ART THOU THE
CHRIST, THE SON OF THE BLESSED? The Vulgate Latin adds, "God":... [ Continue Reading ]
AND JESUS SAID, I AM,.... That is, the Son of God; in proof of which
he adds,
AND YE SHALL SEE THE SON OF MAN SITTING ON THE RIGHT HAND OF POWER;
that is, of God, who is all power, the Lord God Almighty:
AND COMING IN THE CLOUDS OF HEAVEN; either at the destruction of
Jerusalem, or at the last day... [ Continue Reading ]
THEN THE HIGH PRIEST RENT HIS CLOTHES,.... As was usual upon hearing
blasphemy; which he now supposed the case, or at least would have it
so thought:
AND SAITH, WHAT NEED WE ANY FURTHER WITNESSES? or trouble ourselves to
see for any more, or to hear and take the depositions of any others;
Matthew 2... [ Continue Reading ]
YE HAVE HEARD THE BLASPHEMY,.... The "manifest" blasphemy, as the
Arabic version renders it; and "out of his own mouth", as the Syriac
version adds, agreeably to Luke 22:71,
WHAT THINK YE? what sentence is to, be passed upon him?
AND THEY ALL CONDEMNED HIM TO BE GUILTY OF DEATH; excepting Joseph o... [ Continue Reading ]
AND SOME BEGAN TO SPIT ON HIM,.... The men that held him,
Luke 22:6, fulfilling the prophecy in Isaiah 50:6;
AND TO COVER HIS FACE; with a veil, or linen cloth, to blindfold: him,
as a person unworthy to behold the light: or rather, in order to make
sport with him:
AND TO BUFFET HIM; with their d... [ Continue Reading ]
AND AS PETER WAS BENEATH IN THE PALACE,.... Not at the lower and
further end of the room, but in the lower part of it; that part in
which Jesus and the sanhedrim were, being upon an advanced ground,
with steps ascending to it:
THERE COMETH ONE OF THE MAIDS OF THE HIGH PRIEST; the same that kept
the... [ Continue Reading ]
AND WHEN SHE SAW PETER WARMING HIMSELF,.... At the life which was in
the midst of the hall:
SHE LOOKED UPON HIM; very earnestly, knowing him to be the same, she
had let in at the motion of one, that was known in the high priest's
family; and suspecting him, by being a stranger, and by his looks:
A... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE DENIED,.... That he was with Jesus, or a disciple of his:
SAYING, I KNOW NOT; JESUS OF NAZARETH: NEITHER UNDERSTAND I WHAT THOU
SAYEST; about him, and of being with him: the last phrase, "neither
understand I", is omitted in the Syriac and Persic versions:
AND HE WENT OUT INTO THE PORCH; ad... [ Continue Reading ]
AND A MAID SAW HIM AGAIN,.... Either the same maid, so the Syriac and
Persic versions read, "that maid": that selfsame maid, as before, or
another, as in Matthew 26:71, and so the Arabic version reads it here;
but the Ethiopic as before "a daughter"; that is, of the high priest:
AND BEGAN TO SAY TO... [ Continue Reading ]
AND HE DENIED IT AGAIN,.... That he was one of the disciples of Jesus:
AND A LITTLE AFTER; about an hour after, Luke 22:59;
THEY THAT STOOD BY, SAID AGAIN TO PETER, SURELY THOU ART ONE OF THEM;
one confidently affirmed that he was with Jesus, and another
challenged him with seeing him in the garde... [ Continue Reading ]
BUT HE BEGAN TO CURSE AND TO SWEAR,.... To wish the most dreadful
things upon himself, and to swear by the living God;
[SAYING], I KNOW NOT THIS MAN OF WHOM YE SPEAK:
Matthew 26:74.... [ Continue Reading ]
AND THE SECOND TIME THE COCK CREW,.... Immediately, as soon as he had
so said and swore, as the Vulgate Latin, Syriac, and Ethiopic versions
read, and as it is read in one of Beza's copies; which was about three
of the clock in the morning, and is what is properly called the cock
crowing:
AND PETER... [ Continue Reading ]