John Wesley's Notes on the Bible: Luke.

NOTES ON THE WHOLE OF THE BIBLE BY JOHN WESLEY: LUKE.

INTRODUCTION TO LUKE

The Gospel according to St. Luke contains,

I. The beginning: and therein.

The conception of John Chap. i, 5-25.
The conception of Christ 26-56.
The birth and circumcision of John; the hymn of Zacharias; the youth of John 57-80.
Christ's birth ii, 1-20 Christ's circumcision and name 21.
Presentation in the temple 22-38; Country and growth 39, 40.

II. The middle, when he was twelve years old and upward 41-52

III. The course of the history.

__A. The introduction, wherein are described John the Baptist; Christ's baptism, and temptation iii, iv, 1-13.

__B. The acceptable year in Galilee, Proposed at Nazareth 14-30.

__C. The acceptable year in Galilee, Actually exhibited at Capernaum and near it; here we may observe,

Actions not censured, while Jesus

Teaches with authority 31, 32.
Casts out a devil 33-37.
Heals many sick 38-41.
Teaches everywhere 42-44.
Calls Peter; then James and John Chap. v, 1-11.
Cleanses the leper 12-16.

Actions censured, more and more severally, here occur,

The healing the paralytic 17-26.
The calling of Levi; eating with publicans and sinners. 27-32.
The question concerning fasting 33-39.
The plucking the ears of corn vi, 1-5.
The withered hand restored; snares laid 6-11.

Actions having various effects on various persons,

Upon the apostles 12-16.
Upon other hearers 17-40.
Upon the centurion vii, 1-10.
Upon the disciples of John, The occasion: the young man raised 11-17.
The message and answer 18-23.
The reproof of them that believed not John 24-35.
Upon Simon and the penitent sinner 36-50.
Upon the woman who ministered to him viii, 1-3.
Upon the people 4-18.
Upon his mother and brethren 19-21.
Upon his brethren on the sea, and 22-26.
Upon the Gadarenes 27-39.

Actions back in Galilee.

Jairus and the flux of blood 40-55.
The apostles sent ix, 1-6.
Herod's doubting 7-9.
The relation of the apostles 10.
The earnestness of the people; our Lord's benignity; five thousand fed 11-17.

__D. The preparation for his passion,

A recapitulation of the doctrine concerning his person: his passion foretold 18-27.
His transfiguration; the lunatic healed; his passion again foretold; humility enjoined 28-50.
His last journey to Jerusalem, which we may divide into the following intervals,

The inhospitable Samaritans born with 51-57.
In the way, improper followers repelled, Proper ones pressed forward 58-62.
Afterward the seventy sent; and received again x, 1-24.
And the scribe taught to love his neighbour, by the example of the good Samaritan 25-37.
In Bethany, Mary preferred before Martha 38-42.
In a certain place the disciples taught to pray xi, 1-13.
A devil cast out, and the action defended 14-26.
The acclamation of the woman corrected 27, 28.
Those who desire a sign reproved 29-36.
In a certain house, the scribes and Pharisees censured. 37-54.
Our Lord's discourse to his disciples xii, 1-12.
To one that interrupts him 13-21.
To his disciples again 22-40.
To Peter 41-53.
To the people 54-59.
The necessity of repentance shown xiii, 1-9.
A woman healed on the Sabbath 10-21.
The fewness of them that are saved 22-30.
Herod termed a fox: Jerusalem reproved 31-35.
In the Pharisee's house, he cures the dropsy on the
Sabbath; and xiv, 1-6.
Teaches humility 7-11.
Hospitality 12-14.
The nature of the great supper 15-24.
The necessity of self denial 25-35.
Joy over repenting sinners defended, and xv, 1-10.
Illustrated by the story of the prodigal son 11-32.
The unjust steward, wise in his generation xvi, 1-13.
The Pharisees reproved; and warned by the story of 14-18 the rich man and Lazarus 19-31.
Cautions against scandals xvii, 1-4.
The faith of the apostles increased 5-10.
In the confines of Samaria and Galilee he heals ten lepers. 11- 19.
Answers the question concerning the time when the kingdom of God should come 20-37.
Commends constant prayer xviii, 1-8.
Recommends humility by the story of the Pharisee and publican 9-14.
Blesses little children 15-17.
Answers the rich young man 18-27.
And Peter, asking what he should have 28-30.
Foretells his passion a third time 31-34.
Near Jericho, cures a blind man 35-42.
In Jericho, brings salvation to Zacchaeus xix, 1-10
Answers touching the sudden appearance of his kingdom. 11-28.

__E. Transactions at Jerusalem,

The four first days of the great week,

His royal entry 29-44.
The abuse of the temple corrected 45, 46.
Its use restored, and 47, 48.
Vindicated xx, 1-8.
His discourses in the temple,
The parable of the husbandmen 9-19.
The answer concerning paying tribute 20-26.
And the resurrection 27-40.
The question concerning the Son of David 41-44.
The disciples admonished 45-47.
The poor widow's offering commended xxi, 1-4.
His prediction of the end of the temple, the city, and the world 5-38.
Judas's agreement with the chief priests xxii, 1-6.

Thursday,

Peter and John prepare the passover 7-13.
The Lord's Supper: discourse after it 14-23.
The dispute, which of them was greatest 24-30.
Peter, and the other apostles warned 31-38.
On the Mount of Olives,.
Jesus prays; is in an agony; strengthened by an angel; wakes his disciples 39-46.
Is betrayed; unseasonably defended 47-53.
Carried to the high priest's house 54.
Denied by Peter 55-62.
Mocked 63-65.

Friday,

His passion and death: transactions,
In the council 66-71.
With Pilate xxiii, 1-5.
With Herod 6-12.
With Pilate again 13-25.
In the way 26-32.
At Golgotha, where,
The crucifixion itself, and Jesus's prayer 33, 34.
His garments parted 34.
Scoffs: the inscription on the cross 35-39.
The penitent thief 40-43.
The prodigies, and the death of Jesus 44-46.
The beholders of it 47-49.
His burial 50-53.

Friday evening and Saturday 54-56.

His resurrection made known,
To the women Chap. xxiv, 1-12.
To the two going into the country, and to Peter 13-35.
To the other apostles 36-45.

The instructions given his apostles: his ascension 46-53.

LUKE CHAPTER 1

Verse 1, 2.

This short, weighty, artless, candid dedication, belongs to the Acts, as well as the Gospel of St. Luke. Many have undertaken - He does not mean St. Matthew or Mark; and St. John did not write so early. For these were eye witnesses themselves and ministers of the word.

Verse 3.

To write in order - St. Luke describes in order of time; first, The Acts of Christ; his conception, birth, childhood, baptism, miracles, preaching, passion, resurrection, ascension: then, The Acts of the Apostles. But in many smaller circumstances he does not observe the order of time. Most excellent Theophilus - This was the appellation usually given to Roman governors. Theophilus (as the ancients inform us) was a person of eminent quality at Alexandria. In Acts i, 1, St. Luke does not give him that title. He was then probably a private man. After the preface St. Luke gives us the history of Christ, from his coming into the world to his ascension into heaven.

Verse 5.

The course of Abia - The priests were divided into twenty-four courses, of which that of Abia was the eighth, 1 Ch xxiv, 10. Each course ministered in its turn, for seven days, from Sabbath to Sabbath. And each priest of the course or set in waiting, had his part in the temple service assigned him by lot.

Verse 6.

Walking in all the moral commandments, and ceremonial ordinances, blameless - How admirable a character! May our behaviour be thus unblamable, and our obedience thus sincere and universal!

Verse 10.

The people were praying without, at the time of the incense - So the pious Jews constantly did. And this was the foundation of that elegant figure, by which prayer is in Scripture so often compared to incense. Perhaps one reason of ordaining incense might be, to intimate the acceptableness of the prayer that accompanied it; as well as to remind the worshippers of that sacrifice of a sweet-smelling savour, which was once to be offered to God for them, and of that incense, which is continually offered with the prayers of the saints, upon the golden altar that is before the throne, Rev. viii, 3, 4.

Verse 12.

Zacharias was troubled - Although he was accustomed to converse with God, yet we see he was thrown into a great consternation, at the appearance of his angelical messenger, nature not being able to sustain the sight. Is it not then an instance of the goodness is well as of the wisdom of God, that the services, which these heavenly spirits render us, are generally invisible?

Verse 13.

Thy prayer is heard - Let us observe with pleasure, that the prayers of pious worshippers come up with acceptance before God; to whom no costly perfume is so sweet, as the fragrancy of an upright heart. An answer of peace was here returned, when the case seemed to be most helpless. Let us wait patiently for the Lord, and leave to his own wisdom the time and manner wherein he will appear for us. Thou shalt call his name John - John signifies the grace or favour of Jehovah. A name well suiting the person, who was afterward so highly in favour with God, and endued with abundance of grace; and who opened a way to the most glorious dispensation of grace in the Messiah's kingdom. And so Zacharias's former prayers for a child, and the prayer which he, as the representative of the people, was probably offering at this very time, for the appearing of the Messiah, were remarkably answered in the birth of his forerunner.

Verse 15.

He shall be great before the Lord - God the Father: of the Holy Ghost and the Son of God mention is made immediately after. And shall drink neither wine nor strong drink - Shall be exemplary for abstemiousness and self-denial; and so much the more filled with the Holy Ghost.

Verse 16.

And many of the children of Israel shall he turn - None therefore need be ashamed of "preaching like John the Baptist." To the Lord their God - To Christ.

Verse 17.

He shall go before him, Christ, in the power and spirit of Elijah - With the same integrity, courage, austerity, and fervour, and the same power attending his word: to turn the hearts of the fathers to the children - To reconcile those that are at variance, to put an end to the most bitter quarrels, such as are very frequently those between the nearest relations: and the hearts of the disobedient to the wisdom of the just - And the most obstinate sinners to true wisdom, which is only found among them that are righteous before God.

Verse 18.

Zacharias said, Whereby shall I know this? - In how different a spirit did the blessed virgin say, How shall this be? Zacharias disbelieved the fact: Mary had no doubt of the thing; but only inquired concerning the manner of it.

Verse 19.

I am Gabriel, that stand in the presence of God - Seven angels thus stand before God, Rev. vii, 2; who seem the highest of all. There seems to be a remarkable gradation in the words, enhancing the guilt of Zacharias's unbelief. As if he had said, I am Gabriel, a holy angel of God: yea, one of the highest order. Not only so, but am now peculiarly sent from God; and that with a message to thee in particular. Nay, and to show thee glad tidings, such as ought to be received with the greatest joy and readiness.

Verse 20.

Thou shalt be dumb - The Greek word signifies deaf, as well as dumb: and it seems plain, that he was as unable to hear, as he was to speak; for his friends were obliged to make signs to him, that he might understand them, ver. 62.

Verse 21.

The people were waiting - For him to come and dismiss them (as usual) with the blessing.

Verse 24.

Hid herself - She retired from company, that she might have the more leisure to rejoice and bless God for his wonderful mercy.

Verse 25.

He looked upon me to take away my reproach - Barrenness was a great reproach among the Jews. Because fruitfulness was promised to the righteous.

Verse 26.

In the sixth month - After Elisabeth had conceived.

Verse 27.

Espoused - It was customary among the Jews, for persons that married to contract before witnesses some time before. And as Christ was to be born of a pure virgin, so the wisdom of God ordered it to be of one espoused, that to prevent reproach he might have a reputed father, according to the flesh.

Verse 28.

Hail, thou highly favoured; the Lord is with thee; blessed art thou among women - Hail is the salutation used by our Lord to the women after his resurrection: thou art highly favoured, or hast found favour with God, ver. 30, is no more than was said of Noah, Moses, and David. The Lord is with thee, was said to Gideon, Judg. vi, 12; and blessed shall she be above women, of Jael, Judg. v, 24. This salutation gives no room for any pretense of paying adoration to the virgin; as having no appearance of a prayer, or of worship offered to her.

Verse 32.

He shall be called the Son of the Highest - In this respect also: and that in a more eminent sense than any, either man or angel, can be called so. The Lord shall give him the throne of his father David - That is, the spiritual kingdom, of which David's was a type.

Verse 33.

He shall reign over the house of Jacob - In which all true believers are included.

Verse 35.

The Holy Ghost shall come upon thee, and the power of the Highest shall overshadow thee - The power of God was put forth by the Holy Ghost, as the immediate Divine agent in this work: and so he exerted the power of the Highest as his own power, who together with the Father and the Son is the most high God. Therefore also - Not only as he is God from eternity, but on this account likewise he shall be called the Son of God.

Verse 36.

And behold, thy cousin Elisabeth - Though Elisabeth was of the house of Aaron, and Mary of the house of David, by the fathers side, they might be related by their mothers. For the law only forbad heiresses marrying into another tribe. And so other persons continually intermarried; particularly the families of David and of Levi.

Verse 38.

And Mary said, Behold the handmaid of the Lord - It is not improbable, that this time of the virgin's humble faith, consent, and expectation, might be the very time of her conceiving.

Verse 39.

A city of Judah - Probably Hebron, which was situated in the hill country of Judea, and belonged to the house of Aaron.

Verse 41.

When Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary - The discourse with which she saluted her, giving an account of what the angel had said, the joy of her soul so affected her body, that the very child in her womb was moved in an uncommon manner, as if it leaped for joy.

Verse 45.

Happy is she that believed - Probably she had in her mind the unbelief of Zacharias.

Verse 46.

And Mary said - Under a prophetic impulse, several things, which perhaps she herself did not then fully understand.

Verse 47.

My spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour - She seems to turn her thoughts here to Christ himself, who was to be born of her, as the angel had told her, he should be the Son of the Highest, whose name should be Jesus, the saviour. And she rejoiced in hope of salvation through faith in him, which is a blessing common to all true believers, more than in being his mother after the flesh, which was an honour peculiar to her. And certainly she had the same reason to rejoice in God her saviour hat we have: because he had regarded the low estate of his handmaid, in like manner as he regarded our low estate; and vouchsafed to come and save her and us, when we were reduced to the lowest estate of sin and misery.

Verse 51.

He hath wrought strength with his arm - That is, he hath shown the exceeding greatness of his power. She speaks prophetically of those things as already done, which God was about to do by the Messiah. He hath scattered the proud - Visible and invisible.

Verse 52.

He hath put down the mighty - Both angels and men.

Verse 54.

He hath helped his servant Israel - By sending the Messiah.

Verse 55.

To his seed - His spiritual seed: all true believers.

Verse 56.

Mary returned to her own house - And thence soon after to Bethlehem.

Verse 60.

His mother said - Doubtless by Revelation, or a particular impulse from God.

Verse 66.

The hand of the Lord - The peculiar power and blessing of God.

Verse 67.

And Zacharias prophesied - Of things immediately to follow. But it is observable, he speaks of Christ chiefly; of John only, as it were, incidentally.

Verse 69.

A horn - Signifies honour, plenty, and strength. A horn of salvation - That is, a glorious and mighty saviour.

Verse 70.

His prophets, who have been since the world began - For there were prophets from the very beginning.

Verse 74.

To serve him without fear - Without any slavish fear. Here is the substance of the great promise. That we shall be always holy, always happy: that being delivered from Satan and sin, from every uneasy and unholy temper, we shall joyfully love and serve God, in every thought, word, and work.

Verse 76.

And thou, child - He now speaks to John; yet not as a parent, but as a prophet.

Verse 77.

To give knowledge of salvation by the remission of sins - The knowledge of the remission of our sins being the grand instrument of present and eternal salvation, Heb. viii, 11, 12. But the immediate sense of the words seems to be, to preach to them the Gospel doctrine of salvation by the remission of their sins.

Verse 78.

The day spring - Or the rising sun; that is, Christ.

LUKE CHAPTER 2

Verse 1.

That all the world should be enrolled - That all the inhabitants, male and female, of every town in the Roman empire, with their families and estates, should be registered.

Verse 2.

When Cyrenius was governor of Syria - When Publius Sulpicius Quirinus governed the province of Syria, in which Judea was then included.

Verse 6.

And while they were there, the days were fulfilled that she should be delivered - Mary seems not to have known that the child must have been born in Bethlehem, agreeably to the prophecy. But the providence of God took care for it.

Verse 7.

She laid him in the manger - Perhaps it might rather be translated in the stall. They were lodged in the ox stall, fitted up on occasion of the great concourse, for poor guests. There was no room for them in the inn - Now also, there is seldom room for Christ in an inn. Matt. i, 25.

Verse 11.

To you - Shepherds; Israel; mankind.

Verse 14.

Glory be to God in the highest; on earth peace; good will toward men - The shouts of the multitude are generally broken into short sentences. This rejoicing acclamation strongly represents the piety and benevolence of these heavenly spirits: as if they had said, Glory be to God in the highest heavens: let all the angelic legions resound his praises. For with the Redeemer's birth, peace, and all kind of happiness, come down to dwell on earth: yea, the overflowings of Divine good will and favour are now exercised toward men.

Verse 20.

For all the things that they had heard - From Mary; as it was told them - By the angels.

Verse 21.

To circumcise the child - That he might visibly be made under the law by a sacred rite, which obliged him to keep the whole law; as also that he might be owned to be the seed of Abraham, and might put an honour on the solemn dedication of children to God.

Verse 22.

The days - The forty days prescribed, Lev. xii, 2, 4.

Verse 23.

Exod. xiii, 2.

Verse 24.

A pair of turtle doves, or two young pigeons - This offering sufficed for the poor. Lev. xii, 8.

Verse 25.

The consolation of Israel - A common phrase for the Messiah, who was to be the everlasting consolation of the Israel of God. The Holy Ghost was upon him - That is, he was a prophet.

Verse 27.

By the Spirit - By a particular Revelation or impulse from him.

Verse 30.

Thy salvation - Thy Christ, thy saviour.

Verse 32.

And the glory of thy people Israel - For after the Gentiles are enlightened, all Israel shall be saved.

Verse 33.

Joseph and his mother marvelled at those things which were spoken - For they did not thoroughly understand them.

Verse 34.

Simeon blessed them - Joseph and Mary. This child is set for the fall and rising again of many - That is, he will be a savour of death to some, to unbelievers: a savour of life to others, to believers: and for a sign which shall be spoken against - A sign from God, yet rejected of men: but the time for declaring this at large was not yet come: that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed - The event will be, that by means of that contradiction, the inmost thoughts of many, whether good or bad, will be made manifest.

Verse 35.

A sword shall pierce through thy own soul - So it did, when he suffered: particularly at his crucifixion.

Verse 37.

Fourscore and four years - These were the years of her life, not her widowhood only. Who departed not from the temple - Who attended there at all the stated hours of prayer. But served God with fastings and prayers - Even at that age. Night and day - That is, spending therein a considerable part of the night, as well as of the day.

Verse 38.

To all that were waiting for redemption - The scepter now appeared to be departing from Judah, though it was not actually gone: Daniel's weeks were plainly near their period. And the revival of the spirit of prophecy, together with the memorable occurrences relating to the birth of John the Baptist, and of Jesus, could not but encourage and quicken the expectation of pious persons at this time. Let the example of these aged saints animate those, whose hoary heads, like theirs, are a crown of glory, being found in the way of righteousness. Let those venerable lips, so soon to be silent in the grave, be now employed in the praises of their Redeemer. Let them labour to leave those behind, to whom Christ will be as precious as he has been to them; and who will be waiting for God's salvation, when they are gone to enjoy it.

Verse 40.

And the child grew - In bodily strength and stature; and waxed strong in spirit - The powers of his human mind daily improved; filled with wisdom - By the light of the indwelling Spirit, which gradually opened itself in his soul; and the grace of God was upon him - That is, the peculiar favour of God rested upon him, even as man.

Verse 43.

The child Jesus - St. Luke describes in order Jesus the fruit of the womb, chap. i, 42; an infant, chap. ii, 12; a little child, ver. 40; a child here, and afterward a man. So our Lord passed through and sanctified every stage of human life. Old age only did not become him.

Verse 44.

Supposing him to have been in the company - As the men and women usually travelled in distinct companies.

Verse 46.

After three days - The first day was spent in their journey, the second, in their return to Jerusalem: and the third, in searching for him there: they found him in the temple - In an apartment of it: sitting in the midst of the doctors - Not one word is said of his disputing with them, but only of his asking and answering questions, which was a very usual thing in these assemblies, and indeed the very end of them. And if he was, with others, at the feet of these teachers (where learners generally sat) he might be said to be in the midst of them, as they sat on benches of a semicircular form, raised above their hearers and disciples.

Verse 49.

Why sought ye me? - He does not blame them for losing, but for thinking it needful to seek him: and intimates, that he could not be lost, nor found any where, but doing the will of a higher parent.

Verse 50.

It is observable that Joseph is not mentioned after this time; whence it is probable, he did not live long after.

Verse 52.

Jesus increased in wisdom - As to his human nature, and in favour with God - In proportion to that increase. It plainly follows, that though a man were pure, even as Christ was pure, still he would have room to increase in holiness, and in consequence thereof to increase in the favour, as well as in the love of God.

LUKE CHAPTER 3

Verse 1.

The fifteenth year of Tiberius - Reckoning from the time when Angustus made him his colleague in the empire. Herod being tetrarch of Galilee - The dominions of Herod the Great were, after his death, divided into four parts or tetrarchies. This Herod his son was tetrarch of Galilee, reigning over that fourth part of his dominions. His brother reigned over two other fourth parts, the region of Iturea, and that of Trachonitis (that tract of land on the other side Jordan, which had formerly belonged to the tribe of Manasseh.) And Lysanias (probably descended from a prince of that name, who was some years before governor of that country) was tetrarch of the remaining part of Abilene, which was a large city of Syria, whose territories reached to Lebanon and Damascus, and contained great numbers of Jews. Matt. iii, 1; Mark i, 1.

Verse 2.

Annas being high priest, and Caiaphas - There could be but one high priest, strictly speaking, at once. Annas was the high priest at that time, and Caiaphas his sagan or deputy.

Verse 4.

Isaiah xl, 3.

Verse 5.

Every valley shall be filled, etc. - That is, every hindrance shall be removed.

Verse 6.

The salvation of God - The saviour, the Messiah.

Verse 8.

Say not within yourselves, We have Abraham to our father - That is, trust not in your being members of the visible Church, or in any external privileges whatsoever: for God now requires a change of heart; and that without delay.

Verse 10.

He answereth - It is not properly John, but the Holy Ghost, who teaches us in the following answers, how to come ourselves, and how to instruct other penitent sinners to come to Christ, that he may give them rest. The sum of all this is, Cease to do evil, learn to do well. These are the fruits worthy of repentance.

Verse 20.

He shut up John - This circumstance, though it happened after, is here mentioned before our Lord's baptism, that his history (that of John being concluded) may then follow without any interruption.

Verse 21.

Jesus praying, the heaven was opened - It is observable, that the three voices from heaven, see chap. ix, 29, 35; John xii, 28; by which the Father bore witness to Christ, were pronounced either while he was praying, or quickly after it. Matt. iii, 13; Mark i, 9.

Verse 23.

And Jesus was - John's beginning was computed by the years of princes: our saviour's by the years of his own life, as a more august era. About thirty years of age - He did not now enter upon his thirtieth year (as the common translation would induce one to think) but he now entered on his public ministry: being of such an age as the Mosaic law required. Our great Master attained not, as it seems, to the conclusion of his thirty-fourth year. Yet what glorious achievements did he accomplish within those narrow limits of time! Happy that servant, who, with any proportionable zeal, despatches the great business of life; and so much the more happy, if his sun go down at noon. For the space that is taken from the labours of time, shall be added to the rewards of eternity. The son of Heli - That is, the son-in-law: for Heli was the father of Mary. So St. Matthew writes the genealogy of Joseph, descended from David by Solomon; St. Luke that of Mary, descended from David by Nathan. In the genealogy of Joseph (recited by St. Matthew) that of Mary is implied, the Jews being accustomed to marry into their own families.

Verse 38.

Adam the son of God - That is, whatever the sons of Adam receive from their human parents, Adam received immediately from God, except sin and misery.

LUKE CHAPTER 4

Verse 1.

The wilderness - Supposed by some to have been in Judea; by others to have been that great desert of Horeb or Sinai, where the children of Israel were tried for forty years, and Moses and Elijah fasted forty days. Matt. iv, 1; Mark i, 12.

Verse 4.

Deut. viii, 3.

Verse 6.

I give it to whomsoever I will - Not so, Satan. It is God, not thou, that putteth down one, and setteth up another: although sometimes Satan, by God's permission, may occasion great revolutions in the world.

Verse 8.

Deut. vi, 13.

Verse 10.

Psalm xci, 11.

Verse 12.

Deut. vi, 16.

Verse 13.

A convenient season - In the garden of Gethsemane, chap. xxii, 53.

Verse 14.

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit - Being more abundantly strengthened after his conflict.

Verse 15.

Being glorified of all - So God usually gives strong cordials after strong temptations. But neither their approbation continued long, nor the outward calm which he now enjoyed.

Verse 16.

He stood up - Showing thereby that he had a desire to read the Scripture to the congregation: on which the book was given to him. It was the Jewish custom to read standing, but to preach sitting. Matt. xiii, 54; Mark vi, 1.

Verse 17.

He found - It seems, opening upon it, by the particular providence of God.

Verse 18.

He hath anointed me - With the Spirit. He hath by the power of his Spirit which dwelleth in me, set me apart for these offices. To preach the Gospel to the poor - Literally and spiritually. How is the doctrine of the ever-blessed trinity interwoven, even in those scriptures where one would least expect it? How clear a declaration of the great Three-One is there in those very words, The Spirit - of the Lord is upon me! To proclaim deliverance to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised - Here is a beautiful gradation, in comparing the spiritual state of men to the miserable state of those captives, who are not only cast into prison, but, like Zedekiah, had their eyes put out, and were laden and bruised with chains of iron. Isaiah lxi, 1.

Verse 19.

The acceptable year - Plainly alluding to the year of jubilee, when all, both debtors and servants, were set free.

Verse 21.

Today is this scripture fulfilled in your ears - By what you hear me speak.

Verse 22.

The gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth - A person of spiritual discernment may find in all the discourses of our Lord a peculiar sweetness, gravity, and becomingness, such as is not to be found in the same degree, not even in those of the apostles.

Verse 23.

Ye will surely say - That is, your approbation now outweighs your prejudices. But it will not be so long. You will soon ask, why my love does not begin at home? Why I do not work miracles here, rather than at Capernaum? It is because of your unbelief. Nor is it any new thing for me to be despised in my own country. So were both Elijah and Elisha, and thereby driven to work miracles among heathens, rather than in Israel.

Verse 24.

No prophet is acceptable in his own country - That is, in his own neighbourhood. It generally holds, that a teacher sent from God is not so acceptable to his neighbours as he is to strangers. The meanness of his family, or lowness of his circumstances, bring his office into contempt: nor can they suffer that he, who was before equal with, or below themselves, should now bear a superior character.

Verse 25.

When the heaven was shut up three years and six months - Such a proof had they that God had sent him. In 1 Kings xviii, 1, it is said, The word of the Lord came to Elijah in the third year: namely, reckoning not from the beginning of the drought, but from the time when he began to sojourn with the widow of Sarepta. A year of drought had preceded this, while he dwelt at the brook Cherith. So that the whole time of the drought was (as St. James likewise observes) three years and six months. 1 Kings xvii, 19; xviii, 44.

Verse 27.

2 Kings v, 14.

Verse 28.

And all in the synagogue were filled with fury - Perceiving the purport of his discourse, namely, that the blessing which they despised, would be offered to, and accepted by, the Gentiles. So changeable are the hearts of wicked men! So little are their starts of love to be depended on! So unable are they to bear the close application, even of a discourse which they most admire!

Verse 30.

Passing through the midst of them - Perhaps invisibly; or perhaps they were overawed; so that though they saw, they could not touch him.

Verse 31.

He came down to Capernaum - And dwelt there, entirely quitting his abode at Nazareth. Mark i, 21.

Verse 34.

What have we to do with thee - Thy present business is with men, not with devils. I know thee who thou art - But surely he did not know a little before, that he was God over all, blessed forever; or he would not have dared to tell him, All this power is delivered to me, and I give it to whomsoever I will. The Holy One of God - Either this confession was extorted from him by terror, (for the devils believe and tremble, ) or he made it with a design to render the character of Christ suspected. Possibly it was from hence the Pharisees took occasion to say, He casteth out devils by the prince of the devils.

Verse 38.

Matt. viii, 14; Mark i, 29.

Verse 40.

When the sun was set - And consequently the Sabbath ended, which they reckoned from sunset to sunset. Matt. viii, 16; Mark i, 32.

Verse 42.

Mark i, 35.

LUKE CHAPTER 5

Verse 1.

Matt. iv, 18; Mark i, 16.

Verse 6.

Their net brake - Began to tear.

Verse 8.

Depart from me, for I am a sinful man - And therefore not worthy to be in thy presence.

Verse 11.

They forsook all and followed him - They had followed him before, John i, 43, but not so as to forsake all. Till now, they wrought at their ordinary calling.

Verse 12.

Matt. viii, 2; Mark i, 40.

Verse 14.

Lev. xiv, 2.

Verse 16.

He withdrew - The expression in the original implies, that he did so frequently.

Verse 17.

Sitting by - As being more honourable than the bulk of the congregation, who stood. And the power of the Lord was present to heal them - To heal the sickness of their souls, as well as all bodily diseases.

Verse 18.

Matt. ix, 2; Mark ii, 3.

Verse 19.

Not being able to bring him in through the multitude, they went round about by a back passage, and going up the stairs on the outside, they came upon the flat-roofed house, and let him down through the trap door, such as was on the top of most of the Jewish houses: doubtless, with such circumspection as the circumstances plainly required.

Verse 26.

We have seen strange things today - Sins forgiven, miracles wrought.

Verse 27.

Matt. ix, 9; Mark ii, 14.

Verse 28.

Leaving all - His business and gain.

Verse 29.

And Levi made him a great entertainment - It was necessarily great, because of the great number of guests.

Verse 33.

Make prayers - Long and solemn. Matt. ix, 14; Mark ii, 18.

Verse 34.

Can ye make - That is, is it proper to make men fast and mourn, during a festival solemnity?

Verse 36.

He spake also a parable - Taken from clothes and wine; therefore peculiarly proper at a feast.

Verse 39.

And no man having drunk old wine - And beside, men are not wont to be immediately freed from old prejudices.

LUKE CHAPTER 6

Verse 1.

The first Sabbath - So the Jews reckoned their Sabbaths, from the passover to pentecost; the first, second, third, and so on, till the seventh Sabbath (after the second day.) This immediately preceded pentecost, which was the fiftieth day after the second day of unleavened bread. Matt. xii, 1; Mark ii, 23.

Verse 2.

Why do ye - St. Matthew and Mark represent the Pharisees as proposing the question to our Lord himself. It was afterward, probably, they proposed it to his disciples.

Verse 4.

1 Sam. xxi, 6.

Verse 6.

Matt. xii, 9; Mark iii, 1.

Verse 9.

To save life or to kill - He just then probably saw the design to kill him rising in their hearts.

Verse 12.

In the prayer of God - The phrase is singular and emphatical, to imply an extraordinary and sublime devotion. Mark iii, 13.

Verse 13.

Matt. x, 2; Mark iii, 14; Acts i, 13.

Verse 15.

Simon called Zelotes - Full of zeal; otherwise called Simon the Canaanite.

Verse 17.

On a plain - At the foot of the mountain.

Verse 20.

In the following verses our Lord, in the audience of his newly- chosen disciples, and of the multitude, repeats, standing on the plain, many remarkable passages of the sermon he had before delivered, sitting on the mount. He here again pronounces the poor and the hungry, the mourners, and the persecuted, happy; and represents as miserable those who are rich, and full, and joyous, and applauded: because generally prosperity is a sweet poison, and affliction a healing, though bitter medicine. Let the thought reconcile us to adversity, and awaken our caution when the world smiles upon us; when a plentiful table is spread before us, and our cup is running over; when our spirits are gay; and we hear (what nature loves) our own praise from men. Happy are ye poor - The word seems here to be taken literally: ye who have left all for me. Matt. v, 3.

Verse 24.

Miserable are ye rich - If ye have received or sought your consolation or happiness therein.

Verse 25.

Full - Of meat and drink, and worldly goods. That laugh - That are of a light trifling spirit.

Verse 26.

Woe to you when all men shall speak well of you - But who will believe this?

Verse 27.

But I say to you that hear - Hitherto our Lord had spoken only to particular sorts of persons: now he begins speaking to all in general. Matt. v, 44.

Verse 29.

To him that smiteth thee on the cheek - Taketh away thy cloak - These seem to be proverbial expressions, to signify an invasion of the tenderest points of honour and property. Offer the other - Forbid not thy coat - That is, rather yield to his repeating the affront or injury, than gratify resentment in righting your self; in any method not becoming Christian love. Matt. v, 39.

Verse 30.

Give to every one - Friend or enemy, what thou canst spare, and he really wants: and of him that taketh away thy goods - By borrowing, if he be insolvent, ask them not again. Matt. v, 42.

Verse 31.

Matt. vii, 12.

Verse 32.

It is greatly observable, our Lord has so little regard for one of the highest instances of natural virtue, namely, the returning love for love, that he does not account it even to deserve thanks. For even sinners, saith he, do the same: men who do not regard God at all. Therefore he may do this, who has not taken one step in Christianity.

Verse 37.

Matt. vii, 1.

Verse 38.

Into your bosom - Alluding to the mantles the Jews wore, into which a large quantity of corn might be received. With the same measure that ye mete with, it shall be measured to you again - Amazing goodness! So we are permitted even to carve for ourselves! We ourselves are, as it were, to tell God how much mercy he shall show us! And can we be content with less than the very largest measure? Give then to man, what thou designest to receive of God.

Verse 39.

He spake a parable - Our Lord sometimes used parables when he knew plain and open declarations would too much inflame the passions of his hearers. It is for this reason he uses this parable, Can the blind lead the blind? - Can the scribes teach this way, which they know not themselves? Will not they and their scholars perish together? Can they make their disciples any better than themselves? But as for those who will be my disciples, they shall be all taught of God; who will enable them to come to the measure of the stature of the fulness of their Master. Be not ye like their disciples, censuring others, and not amending yourselves. Matt. xv, 14.

Verse 40.

Matt. x, 24; John xv, 20.

Verse 41.

Matt. vii, 3.

Verse 46.

And why call ye me Lord, Lord - What will fair professions avail, without a life answerable thereto? Matt. vii, 21.

Verse 47.

Matt. vii, 24.

LUKE CHAPTER 7

Verse 1.

Matt. viii, 5.

Verse 3.

Hearing of Jesus - Of his miracles, and of his arrival at Capernaum.

Verse 18.

Matt. xi, 2.

Verse 22.

To the poor the Gospel is preached - Which is the greatest mercy, and the greatest miracle of all.

Verse 24.

When the messengers were departed - He did not speak the following things in the hearing of John's disciples, lest he should seem to flatter John, or to compliment him into an adherence to his former testimony. To avoid all suspicion of this kind, he deferred his commendation of him, till the messengers were gone; and then delivered it to the people, to prevent all imaginations, as if John were wavering in his judgment, and had sent the two disciples for his own, rather than their satisfaction.

Verse 27.

Mal. iii, 1.

Verse 28.

There is not a greater prophet than John - A greater teacher. But he that is least in the kingdom of God - The least teacher whom I send forth.

Verse 29.

And all the people - Our Lord continues his discourse: justified God - Owned his wisdom and mercy in thus calling them to repentance, and preparing them for Him that was to come.

Verse 30.

But the Pharisees and scribes - The good, learned, honourable men: made void the counsel, the gracious design, of God toward them - They disappointed all these methods of his love, and would receive no benefit from them.

Verse 32.

They are like children sitting in the market place - So froward and perverse, that no contrivance can be found to please them. It is plain our Lord means, that they were like the children complained of, not like those that made the complaint.

Verse 34.

But wisdom is justified by all her children - The children of wisdom are those who are truly wise unto salvation. The wisdom of God in all these dispensations, these various methods of calling sinners to repentance, is owned and heartily approved by all these.

Verse 36.

And one of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him - Let the candour with which our Lord accepted this invitation, and his gentleness and prudence at this ensnaring entertainment, teach us to mingle the wisdom of the serpent, with the innocence and sweetness of the dove. Let us neither absolutely refuse all favours, nor resent all neglects, from those whose friendship is at best very doubtful, and their intimacy by no means safe.

Verse 37.

A woman - Not the same with Mary of Bethany, who anointed him six days before his last passover.

Verse 40.

And Jesus said, Simon, I have somewhat to say to thee - So tender and courteous an address does our Lord use even to a proud, censorious Pharisee!

Verse 43.

Which of them will love him most? - Neither of them will love him at all, before he has forgiven them. An insolvent debtor, till he is forgiven, does not love, but fly his creditor.

Verse 44.

Thou gavest me no water - It was customary with the Jews to show respect and kindness to their welcome guests, by saluting them with a kiss, by washing their feet, and anointing their heads with oil, or some fine ointment.

Verse 47.

Those many sins of hers are forgiven; therefore she loveth much - The fruit of her having had much forgiven. It should carefully be observed here, that her love is mentioned as the effect and evidence, not the cause of her pardon. She knew that much had been forgiven her, and therefore she loved much.

Verse 50.

Thy faith hath saved thee - Not thy love. Love is salvation.

LUKE CHAPTER 8

Verse 2.

Mary Magdalene - Or Mary of Magdala, a town in Galilee: probably the person mentioned in the last chapter.

Verse 4.

Matt. xiii, 1; Mark iv, 1.

Verse 15.

Who - keep it - Not like the highway side: And bring forth fruit - Not like the thorny ground: With perseverance - Not like the stony.

Verse 16.

No man having lighted a candle - As if he had said, And let your good fruit appear openly. Matt. v, 15; Mark iv, 21; Chap. xi, 33.

Verse 17.

For nothing is hid - Strive not to conceal it at all; for you can conceal nothing long. Matt. x, 26; Mark iv, 22; Chap. xii, 2.

Verse 18.

The word commonly translated seemeth, wherever it occurs, does not weaken, but greatly strengthens the sense. Matt. xiii, 12; Mark iv, 25; Luke xix, 26.

Verse 19.

Matt. xii, 46; Mark iii, 31.

Verse 22.

Matt. viii, 23; Mark iv, 35.

Verse 26.

Matt. viii, 28; Mark v, 1.

Verse 29.

For many times it had caught him - Therefore our compassionate Lord made the more haste to cast him out.

Verse 31.

The abyss - That is, the bottomless pit.

Verse 32.

To enter into the swine - Not that they were any easier in the swine than out of them. Had it been so, they would not so soon have dislodged themselves, by destroying the herd.

Verse 37.

Matt. ix, 1; Mark v, 18.

Verse 40.

Mark v, 21.

Verse 52.

She is not dead but sleepeth - Her soul is not separated finally from the body; and this short separation is rather to be called sleep than death.

LUKE CHAPTER 9

Verse 1.

Matt. x, 1; Mark vi, 7.

Verse 4.

There abide and thence depart - That is, stay in that house till ye leave the city.

Verse 7.

It was said by some - And soon after by Herod himself. Matt. xiv, 1; Mark vi, 14.

Verse 8.

That Elijah had appeared - He could not rise again, because he did not die.

Verse 10.

Mark vi, 30.

Verse 12.

Matt. xiv, 15; Mark vi, 35; John vi, 3.

Verse 18.

Apart - From the multitude. And he asked them - When he had done praying, during which they probably stayed at a distance. Matt. xiv, 13; Mark viii, 27.

Verse 22.

Saying - Ye must prepare for a scene far different from this.

Verse 23.

Let him deny himself, and take up his cross - The necessity of this duty has been shown in many places: the extent of it is specified here, daily - Therefore that day is lost wherein no cross is taken up.

Verse 24.

Matt. xvi, 25; Mark viii, 35; John xii, 25.

Verse 28.

Matt. xvii, 1; Mark ix, 2.

Verse 31.

In glory - Like Christ with whom they talked.

Verse 32.

They saw his glory - The very same expression in which it is described by St. John, John i, 14; and by St. Peter, 2 Pet. i, 16.

Verse 34.

A cloud came and overshadowed them all. And they, the apostles, feared, while they (Moses and Elijah) entered into the cloud, which took them away.

Verse 37.

Matt. xvii, 14; Mark ix, 14.

Verse 44.

Let these sayings sink down into your ears - That is, consider them deeply. In joy remember the cross. So wisely does our Lord balance praise with sufferings. Matt. xvii, 22; Mark ix, 31.

Verse 46.

And there arose a reasoning among them - This kind of reasoning always arose at the most improper times that could be imagined.

Verse 47.

Matt. xviii, 2; Mark ix, 37.

Verse 48.

And said to them - If ye would be truly great, humble yourselves to the meanest offices. He that is least in his own eyes shall be great indeed.

Verse 49.

Mark ix, 38.

Verse 51.

The days are fulfilled that he should be received up - That is, the time of his passion was now at hand. St. Luke looks through this, to the glory which was to follow. He steadfastly set his face - Without fear of his enemies, or shame of the cross, Heb. xii, 2.

Verse 52.

He sent messengers to make ready - A lodging and needful entertainment for him and those with him.

Verse 53.

His face was as though he would go to Jerusalem - It plainly appeared, he was going to worship at the temple, and thereby, in effect, to condemn the Samaritan worship at Mount Gerizim.

Verse 54.

As Elisha did - At or near this very place, which might put it into the minds of the apostles to make the motion now, rather than at any other time or place, where Christ had received the like affront.

Verse 55.

Ye know not what manner of spirit - The spirit of Christianity is. It is not a spirit of wrath and vengeance, but of peace, and gentleness, and love.

Verse 57.

Matt. viii, 19.

Verse 58.

But Jesus said to him - First understand the terms: consider on what conditions thou art to follow me.

Verse 61.

Suffer me first to bid them farewell that are in my house - As Elisha did after Elijah had called him from the plough, 1 Kings xix, 19; to which our Lord's answer seems to allude.

Verse 62.

Is fit for the kingdom of God - Either to propagate or to receive it.

LUKE CHAPTER 10

Verse 2.

Pray ye the Lord of the harvest, that he would thrust forth labourers - For God alone can do this: he alone can qualify and commission men for this work. Matt. ix, 37.

Verse 3.

Matt. x, 16.

Verse 4.

Salute no man by the way - The salutations usual among the Jews took up much time. But these had so much work to do in so short a space, that they had not a moment to spare.

Verse 6.

A son of peace - That is, one worthy of it.

Verse 7.

Matt. x, 11.

Verse 11.

The kingdom of God is at hand - Though ye will not receive it.

Verse 13.

Woe to thee, Chorazin - The same declaration Christ had made some time before. By repeating it now, he warns the seventy not to lose time by going to those cities. Matt. xi, 21.

Verse 16.

Matt. x, 40; John xiii, 20.

Verse 18.

I beheld Satan - That is, when ye went forth, I saw the kingdom of Satan, which was highly exalted, swiftly and suddenly cast down.

Verse 19.

I give you power - That is, I continue it to you: and nothing shall hurt you - Neither the power, nor the subtilty of Satan.

Verse 20.

Rejoice not so much that the devils are subject to you, as that your names are written in heaven - Reader, so is thine, if thou art a true, believer. God grant it may never be blotted out!

Verse 21.

Lord of heaven and earth - In both of which thy kingdom stands, and that of Satan is destroyed. That thou hast hid these things - He rejoiced not in the destruction of the wise and prudent, but in the display of the riches of God's grace to others, in such a manner as reserves to Him the entire glory of our salvation, and hides pride from man. Matt. xi, 25.

Verse 22.

Who the Son is - Essentially one with the Father: who the Father is - How great, how wise, how good!

Verse 23.

Matt. xiii, 16.

Verse 25.

Matt. xxii, 35; Mark xii, 28.

Verse 27.

Thou shalt love the Lord thy God - That is, thou shalt unite all the faculties of thy soul to render him the most intelligent and sincere, the most affectionate and resolute service. We may safely rest in this general sense of these important words, if we are not able to fix the particular meaning of every single word. If we desire to do this, perhaps the heart, which is a general expression, may be explained by the three following, With all thy soul, with the warmest affection, with all thy strength, the most vigourous efforts of thy will, and with all thy mind or understanding, in the most wise and reasonable manner thou canst; thy understanding guiding thy will and affections. Deut. vi, 5; Lev. xix, 18.

Verse 28.

Thou hast answered right; this do, and thou shalt live - Here is no irony, but a deep and weighty truth. He, and he alone, shall live forever, who thus loves God and his neighbour in the present life.

Verse 29.

To justify himself - That is, to show he had done this. Lev. xviii, 5.

Verse 30.

From Jerusalem to Jericho - The road from Jerusalem to Jericho (about eighteen miles from it) lay through desert and rocky places: so many robberies and murders were committed therein, that it was called the bloody way. Jericho was situated in the valley: hence the phrase of going down to it. About twelve thousand priests and Levites dwelt there, who all attended the service of the temple.

Verse 31.

The common translation is, by chance - Which is full of gross improprieties. For if we speak strictly, there is no such thing in the universe as either chance or fortune. A certain priest came down that way, and passed by on the other side - And both he and the Levite no doubt could find an excuse for passing over on the other side, and might perhaps gravely thank God for their own deliverance, while they left their brother bleeding to death. Is it not an emblem of many living characters, perhaps of some who bear the sacred office? O house of Levi and of Aaron, is not the day coming, when the virtues of heathens and Samaritans will rise up in judgment against you?

Verse 33.

But a certain Samaritan came where he was - It was admirably well judged to represent the distress on the side of the Jew, and the mercy on that of the Samaritan. For the case being thus proposed, self interest would make the very scribe sensible, how amiable such a conduct was, and would lay him open to our Lord's inference. Had it been put the other way, prejudice might more easily have interposed, before the heart could have been affected.

Verse 34.

Pouring in oil and wine - Which when well beaten together are one of the best balsams that can be applied to a fresh wound.

Verse 36.

Which of these was the neighbour to him that fell among the robbers - Which acted the part of a neighbour?

Verse 37.

And he said, He that showed mercy on him - He could not for shame say otherwise, though he thereby condemned himself and overthrew his own false notion of the neighbour to whom our love is due. Go and do thou in like manner - Let us go and do likewise, regarding every man as our neighbour who needs our assistance. Let us renounce that bigotry and party zeal which would contract our hearts into an insensibility for all the human race, but a small number whose sentiments and practices are so much our own, that our love to them is but self love reflected. With an honest openness of mind let us always remember that kindred between man and man, and cultivate that happy instinct whereby, in the original constitution of our nature, God has strongly bound us to each other.

Verse 40.

Martha was encumbered - The Greek word properly signifies to be drawn different ways at the same time, and admirably expresses the situation of a mind, surrounded (as Martha's then was) with so many objects of care, that it hardly knows which to attend to first.

Verse 41.

Martha, Martha - There is a peculiar spirit and tenderness in the repetition of the word: thou art careful, inwardly, and hurried, outwardly.

Verse 42.

Mary hath chosen the good part - To save her soul. Reader, hast thou?

LUKE CHAPTER 11

Verse 1.

Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples - The Jewish masters used to give their followers some short form of prayer, as a peculiar badge of their relation to them. This it is probable John the Baptist had done. And in this sense it seems to be that the disciples now asked Jesus, to teach them to pray. Accordingly he here repeats that form, which he had before given them in his sermon on the mount, and likewise enlarges on the same head, though still speaking the same things in substance. And this prayer uttered from the heart, and in its true and full meaning, is indeed the badge of a real Christian: for is not he such whose first and most ardent desire is the glory of God, and the happiness of man by the coming of his kingdom? Who asks for no more of this world than his daily bread, longing meantime for the bread that came down from heaven? And whose only desires for himself are forgiveness of sins, (as he heartily forgives others,) and sanctification.

Verse 2.

When ye pray, say - And what he said to them is undoubtedly said to us also. We are therefore here directed, not only to imitate this in all our prayers, but to use this very form of prayer. Matt. vi, 9.

Verse 4.

Forgive us; for we forgive them - Not once, but continually. This does not denote the meritorious cause of our pardon; but the removal of that hindrance which otherwise would render it impossible.

Verse 5.

At midnight - The most unseasonable time: but no time is unseasonable with God, either for hearing or answering prayer.

Verse 9.

Matt. vii, 7.

Verse 13.

How much more shall your heavenly Father - How beautiful is the gradation! A friend: a father: God! Give the Holy Spirit - The best of gifts, and that which includes every good gift.

Verse 14.

It was dumb - That is, it made the man so. Matt. xii, 22.

Verse 15.

But some said, He casteth out devils by Beelzebub - These he answers, ver. 17. Others, to try whether it were so or no, sought a sign from heaven. These he reproves in ver. 29 and following verses. Beelzebub signifies the Lord of flies, a title which the heathens gave to Jupiter, whom they accounted the chief of their gods, and yet supposed him to be employed in driving away flies from their temple and sacrifices. The Philistines worshipped a deity under this name, as the God of Ekron: from hence the Jews took the name, and applied it to the chief of the devils. Mark iii, 22.

Verse 16.

Matt. xii, 38.

Verse 17.

A house - That is, a family.

Verse 20.

If I cast out devils by the finger of God - That is, by a power manifestly Divine. Perhaps the expression intimates farther, that it was done without any labour: then the kingdom of God is come upon you - Unawares, unexpected: so the Greek word implies.

Verse 21.

The strong one armed - The devil, strong in himself, and armed with the pride, obstinacy, and security of him in whom he dwells.

Verse 26.

The last state of that man becometh worse than the first - Whoever reads the sad account Josephus gives of the temple and conduct of the Jews, after the ascension of Christ and before their final destruction by the Romans, must acknowledge that no emblem could have been more proper to describe them. Their characters were the vilest that can be conceived, and they pressed on to their own ruin, as if they had been possessed by legions of devils, and wrought up to the last degree of madness. But this also is fulfilled in all who totally and finally apostatize from true faith.

Verse 27.

Blessed is the womb that bare thee, and the paps which thou hast sucked! - How natural was the thought for a woman! And how gently does our Lord reprove her!

Verse 28.

Yea, rather blessed are they that hear the word of God and keep it - For if even she that bare him had not done this, she would have forfeited all her blessedness.

Verse 29.

It seeketh - The original word implies seeking more, or over and above what one has already.

Verse 32.

They repented at the preaching of Jonah - But it was only for a season. Afterward they relapsed into wickedness, till (after about forty years) they were destroyed. It is remarkable, that in this also the comparison held. God reprieved the Jews for about forty years; but they still advanced in wickedness, till having filled up their measure, they were destroyed with an utter destruction.

Verse 33.

The meaning is, God gives you this Gospel light, that you may repent. Let your eye be singly fixed on him, aim only at pleasing God; and while you do this, your whole soul will be full of wisdom, holiness, and happiness. Matt. v, 15; Mark iv, 21; Luke viii, 16.

Verse 34.

But when thine eye is evil - When thou aimest at any thing else, thou wilt be full of folly, sin, and misery. On the contrary, Matt. vi, 22.

Verse 36.

If thy whole body be full of light - If thou art filled with holy wisdom, having no part dark, giving way to no sin or folly, then that heavenly principle will, like the clear flame of a lamp in a room that was dark before, shed its light into all thy powers and faculties.

Verse 39.

Now ye Pharisees - Probably many of them were present at the Pharisee's house. Matt. xxiii, 25.

Verse 41.

Give what is in them - The vessels which ye clean, in alms, and all things are clean to you. As if he had said, By acts directly contrary to rapine and wickedness, show that your hearts are cleansed, and these outward washings are needless.

Verse 42.

Woe to you - That is, miserable are you. In the same manner is the phrase to be understood throughout the chapter.

Verse 44.

For ye are as graves which appear not - Probably in speaking this our Lord fixed his eyes on the scribes. As graves which appear not, being overgrown with grass, so that men are not aware, till they stumble upon them, and either hurt themselves, or at least are defiled by touching them. On another occasion Christ compared them to whited sepulchres, fair without, but foul within; Matt. xxiii, 27.

Verse 45.

One of the lawyers - That is scribes; expounders of the law.

Verse 48.

Whom they killed, ye build their sepulchres - Just like them pretending great reverence for the ancient prophets, while ye destroy those whom God sends to yourselves. Ye therefore bear witness by this deep hypocrisy that ye are of the very same spirit with them.

Verse 49.

The wisdom of God, agreeably to this, hath said - In many places of Scripture, though not in these very words, I will send them prophets - Chiefly under the Old Testament: and apostles - Under the New. Matt. xxiii, 34.

Verse 50.

The blood of all shall be required of this generation - That is, shall be visibly and terribly punished upon it.

Verse 51.

And so it was within forty years, in a most astonishing manner, by the dreadful destruction of the temple, the city, and the whole nation. Between the temple and the altar - In the court of the temple.

Verse 52.

Ye have taken away the key of knowledge - Ye have obscured and destroyed the knowledge of the Messiah, which is the key of both the present and the future kingdom of heaven; the kingdom of grace and glory. Ye have not entered in - Into the present kingdom of heaven.

LUKE CHAPTER 12

Verse 1.

He said to his disciples first - But afterward ver. 54 to all the people. Matt. xvi, 6.

Verse 3.

Matt. x, 27.

Verse 4.

But I say to you, Fear not - Let not the fear of man make you act the hypocrite, or conceal any thing which I have commissioned you to publish.

Verse 5.

Fear him who hath power to cast into hell - Even to his peculiar friends, Christ gives this direction. Therefore the fearing of God as having power to cast into hell, is to be pressed even on true believers.

Verse 6.

Are not five sparrows - But trust as well as fear him.

Verse 7.

Matt. x, 30.

Verse 8.

And I say to you - If you avoid all hypocrisy, and openly avow my Gospel: The Son of man shall confess you - before the angels - At the last day. Mark viii, 38; Chap. ix, 26.

Verse 10.

And whosoever - As if he had said, Yet the denying me in some degree, may, upon true repentance, be forgiven; but if it rise so high as that of the blasphemy against the Holy Ghost, it shall never be forgiven, neither is there place for repentance. Matt. xii, 31; Mark iii, 28.

Verse 11.

Take no thought - Be not solicitous about the matter or manner of your defense; nor how to express yourselves. Matt. x, 19; Luke xxi, 12.

Verse 14.

Who made me a judge? - In worldly things. His kingdom is not of this world.

Verse 15.

He said to them - Perhaps to the two brothers, and through them to the people. A man's life - That is, the comfort or happiness of it.

Verse 17.

What shall I do? - The very language of want! Do? Why, lay up treasure in heaven.

Verse 20.

Thou fool - To think of satisfying thy soul with earthly goods! To depend on living many years! Yea, one day! They - The messengers of death, commissioned by God, require thy soul of thee!

Verse 21.

Rich toward God - Namely, in faith, and love, and good works.

Verse 22.

Matt. vi, 25.

Verse 25.

Which of you can add the least measure - It seems, to add one cubit to a thing (which is the phrase in the original) was a kind of proverbial expression for making the least addition to it.

Verse 28.

The grass - The Greek word means all sorts of herbs and flowers.

Verse 29.

Neither be ye of a doubtful mind - The word in the original signifies, any speculations or musings in which the mind fluctuates, or is suspended (like meteors in the air) in an uneasy hesitation.

Verse 32.

It is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom - How much more food and raiment? And since ye have such an inheritance, regard not your earthly possessions.

Verse 33.

Sell what ye have - This is a direction, not given to all the multitude: (much less is it a standing rule for all Christians:) neither to the apostles; for they had nothing to sell, having left all before: but to his other disciples, (mentioned chap. xii, 22, and Acts i, 15, ) especially to the seventy, that they might be free from all worldly entanglements. Matt. vi, 19.

Verse 35.

Let your loins be girt - An allusion to the long garments, worn by the eastern nations, which they girded or tucked up about their loins, when they journeyed or were employed in any labour: as also to the lights that servants used to carry at weddings, which were generally in the night.

Verse 37.

He will come and serve them - The meaning is, he will show them his love, in the most condescending and tender manner.

Verse 38.

The Jews frequently divided the night into three watches, to which our Lord seems here to allude.

Verse 41.

Speakest thou this parable to us - Apostles and disciples: Or to all - The people? Does it concern us alone? Or all men?

Verse 42.

Who is that faithful and wise steward - Our Lord's answer manifestly implies, that he had spoken this parable primarily (though not wholly) to the ministers of his word: Whom his Lord shall make ruler over his household - For his wisdom and faithfulness.

Verse 43.

Happy is that servant - God himself pronounces him wise, faithful, happy! Yet we see, he might fall from all, and perish forever.

Verse 46.

The Lord will appoint him his portion - His everlasting portion, with the unfaithful - As faithful as he was once, God himself being the Judge!

Verse 47.

And that servant who knew his Lord's will shall be beaten with many stripes - And his having much knowledge will increase, not lessen, his punishment.

Verse 49.

I am come to send fire - To spread the fire of heavenly love over all the earth.

Verse 50.

But I have a baptism to be baptized with - I must suffer first, before I can set up my kingdom. And how I long to fight my way through all!

Verse 51.

Suppose ye that I am come to send peace upon earth - That universal peace will be the immediate effect of my coming? Not so, but quite the contrary. Matt. x, 34.

Verse 52.

There shall be five in one house, three against two, and two against three - There being an irreconcilable enmity between the Spirit of Christ and the spirit of the world.

Verse 53.

The father against the son - For those who reject me will be implacable toward their very nearest relations who receive me. At this day also is this scripture fulfilled. Now likewise there is no concord between Christ and Belial.

Verse 54.

And he said to the people also - In the preceding verses he speaks only to his disciples. From the west - In Judea, the west wind, blowing from the sea, usually brought rain: the south wind, blowing from the deserts of Arabia, occasioned sultry heat. Matt. xvi, 2.

Verse 56.

How do ye not discern this season - Of the Messiah's coming, distinguishable by so many surer signs.

Verse 57.

Why even of yourselves, without any external sign, judge ye not what is right? - Why do ye not discern and acknowledge the intrinsic excellence of my doctrine?

Verse 58.

When thou art going - As if he had said, And ye have not a moment to lose. For the executioners of God's vengeance are at hand. And when he hath once delivered you over to them, ye are undone forever. Matt. v, 25.

Verse 59.

A mite - was about the third part of a farthing sterling.

LUKE CHAPTER 13

Verse 1.

The Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mingled with their sacrifices - Some of the followers of Judas Gaulonites. They absolutely refused to own the Roman authority. Pilate surrounded and slew them, while they were worshipping in the temple, at a public feast.

Verse 3.

Ye shall all likewise perish - All ye of Galilee and of Jerusalem shall perish in the very same manner. So the Greek word implies. And so they did. There was a remarkable resemblance between the fate of these Galileans and of the main body of the Jewish nation; the flower of which was slain at Jerusalem by the Roman sword, while they were assembled at one of their great festivals. And many thousands of them perished in the temple itself, and were literally buried under its ruins.

Verse 6.

A man had a fig tree - Either we may understand God the Father by him that had the vineyard, and Christ by him that kept it: or Christ himself is he that hath it, and his ministers they that keep it. Psalm lxxx, 8. etc.

Verse 7.

Three years - Christ was then in the third year of his ministry. But it may mean only several years; a certain number being put for an uncertain. Why doth it also cumber the ground? - That is, not only bear no fruit itself, but take up the ground of another tree that would.

Verse 11.

She was bowed together, and utterly unable to lift up herself - The evil spirit which possessed her afflicted her in this manner. To many doubtless it appeared a natural distemper. Would not a modern physician have termed it a nervous case?

Verse 15.

Thou hypocrite - For the real motive of his speaking was envy, not (as he pretended) pure zeal for the glory of God.

Verse 16.

And ought not this woman? - Ought not any human creature, which is so far better than an ox or an ass? Much more, this daughter of Abraham - probably in a spiritual as well as natural sense, to be loosed?

Verse 18.

Matt. xiii, 31; Mark iv, 30.

Verse 20.

Matt. xiii, 33.

Verse 21.

Covered up - So that, for a time, nothing of it appeared.

Verse 24.

Strive to enter in - Agonize. Strive as in an agony. So the word signifies Otherwise none shall enter in. Barely seeking will not avail. Matt. vii, 13.

Verse 25.

And even agonizing will not avail, after the door is shut. Agonize, therefore, now by faith, prayer, holiness, patience. And ye begin to stand without - Till then they had not thought of it! O how new will that sense of their misery be? How late? How lasting? I know not whence ye are - I know not, that is, I approve not of your ways.

Verse 27.

Matt. vii, 23.

Verse 28.

Matt. viii, 11.

Verse 29.

They shall sit down in the kingdom of God - Both the kingdom of grace and of glory.

Verse 30.

But there are last - Many of the Gentiles who were latest called, shall be most highly rewarded; and many of the Jews who were first called, shall have no reward at all. Matt. xix, 30.

Verse 31.

Herod is minded to kill thee - Possibly they gave him the caution out of good will.

Verse 32.

And he said, Go and tell that fox - With great propriety so called, for his subtilty and cowardice. The meaning of our Lord's answer is, Notwithstanding all that he can do, I shall for the short time I have left, do the works of him that sent me. When that time is fulfilled, I shall be offered up. Yet not here, but in the bloody city. Behold, I cast out devils - With what majesty does he speak to his enemies! With what tenderness to his friends! The third day I am perfected - On the third day he left Galilee, and set out for Jerusalem, to die there. But let us carefully distinguish between those things wherein Christ is our pattern, and those which were peculiar to his office. His extraordinary office justified him in using that severity of language, when speaking of wicked princes, and corrupt teachers, to which we have no call; and by which we should only bring scandal on religion, and ruin on ourselves, while we irritated rather than convinced or reformed those whom we so indecently rebuked.

Verse 33.

It cannot be, that a prophet perish out of Jerusalem - Which claims prescription for murdering the messengers of God. Such cruelty and malice cannot be found elsewhere.

Verse 34.

How often would I have gathered thy children together - Three solemn visits he had made to Jerusalem since his baptism for this very purpose. Matt. xxiii, 37.

Verse 35.

Your house is left to you desolate - Is now irrecoverably consigned to desolation and destruction: And verily I say to you, after a very short space, ye shall not see me till the time come, when taught by your calamities, ye shall be ready and disposed to say, Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord. It does not imply, that they should then see Jesus at all; but only that they would earnestly wish for the Messiah, and in their extremity be ready to entertain any who should assume that character.

LUKE CHAPTER 14

Verse 2.

There was a certain man before him - It does not appear that he was come thither with any insidious design. Probably he came, hoping for a cure, or perhaps was one of the family.

Verse 3.

And Jesus answering, spake - Answering the thoughts which he saw rising in their hearts.

Verse 7.

He spake a parable - The ensuing discourse is so termed, because several parts are not to be understood literally. The general scope of it is, Not only at a marriage feast, but on every occasion, he that exalteth himself shall be abased, and he that abaseth himself shall be exalted.

Verse 11.

Matt. xxiii, 12.

Verse 12.

Call not thy friends - That is, I do not bid thee call thy friends or thy neighbours. Our Lord leaves these offices of humanity and courtesy as they were, and teaches a higher duty. But is it not implied herein, that we should be sparing in entertaining those that need it not, in order to assist those that do need, with all that is saved from those needless entertainments? Lest a recompense be made - This fear is as much unknown to the world, as even the fear of riches.

Verse 14.

One of them that sat at table hearing these things - And being touched therewith, said, Happy is he that shall eat bread in the kingdom of God - Alluding to what had just been spoken. It means, he that shall have a part in the resurrection of the just.

Verse 16.

Then said he - Continuing the allusion. A certain man made a great supper - As if he had said, All men are not sensible of this happiness. Many might have a part in it, and will not.

Verse 18.

They all began to make excuse - One of them pleads only his own will, I go: another, a pretended necessity, I must needs go: the third, impossibility, I cannot come: all of them want the holy hatred mentioned ver. 26. All of them perish by things in themselves lawful. I must needs go - The most urgent worldly affairs frequently fall out just at the time when God makes the freest offers of salvation.

Verse 21.

The servant came and showed his Lord these things - So ministers ought to lay before the Lord in prayer the obedience or disobedience of their hearers.

Verse 23.

Compel them to come in - With all the violence of love, and the force of God's word. Such compulsion, and such only, in matters of religion, was used by Christ and his apostles.

Verse 24.

For refers to Go out, ver. 23.

Verse 26.

If any man come to me, and hate not his father - Comparatively to Christ: yea, so as actually to renounce his field, oxen, wife, all things, and act as if he hated them, when they stand in competition with him. Matt. x, 37.

Verse 28.

And which of you intending to build a tower - That is, and whoever of you intends to follow me, let him first seriously weigh these things.

Verse 31.

Another king - Does this mean, the prince of this world? Certainly he has greater numbers on his side. How numerous are his children and servants!

Verse 33.

So - Like this man, who, being afraid to face his enemy, sends to make peace with him, every one who forsaketh not all that he hath;

By withdrawing his affections from all the creatures;
By enjoying them only in and for God, only in such a measure and manner as leads to him;
By hating them all, in the sense above mentioned, cannot be my disciple - But will surely desist from building that tower, neither can he persevere in fighting the good fight of faith.

Verse 34.

Salt - Every Christian, but more eminently every minister. Matt. v, 13; Mark ix, 50.

LUKE CHAPTER 15

Verse 1.

All the publicans - That is, all who were in that place. It seems our Lord was in some town of Galilee of the Gentiles, from whence he afterward went to Jerusalem, chap. xvii, 11.

Verse 3.

He spake - Three parables of the same import: for the sheep, the piece of silver, and the lost son, all declare (in direct contrariety to the Pharisees and scribes) in what manner God receiveth sinners.

Verse 4.

Leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness - Where they used to feed: all uncultivated ground, like our commons, was by the Jews termed wilderness or desert. And go after - In recovering a lost soul, God as it were labours. May we not learn hence, that to let them alone who are in sin, is both unchristian and inhuman! Matt. xviii, 12.

Verse 7.

Joy shall be - Solemn and festal joy, in heaven - First, in our blessed Lord himself, and then among the angels and spirits of just men, perhaps informed thereof by God himself, or by the angels who ministered to them. Over one sinner - One gross, open, notorious sinner, that repenteth - That is, thoroughly changed in heart and life; more than over ninety and nine just persons - Comparatively just, outwardly blameless: that need not such a repentance - For they need not, cannot repent of the sins which they never committed. The sum is, as a father peculiarly rejoices when an extravagant child, supposed to be utterly lost, comes to a thorough sense of his duty; or as any other person who has recovered what he had given up for gone, has a more sensible satisfaction in it, than in several other things equally valuable, but not in such danger: so do the angels in heaven peculiarly rejoice in the conversion of the most abandoned sinners. Yea, and God himself so readily forgives and receives them, that he may be represented as having part in the joy.

Verse 12.

Give me the part of goods that falleth to me - See the root of all sin! A desire of disposing of ourselves; of independency on God!

Verse 13.

He took a journey into a far country - Far from God: God was not in all his thoughts: And squandered away his substance - All the grace he had received.

Verse 14.

He began to be in want - All his worldly pleasures failing, he grew conscious of his want of real good.

Verse 15.

And he joined himself to a citizen of that country - Either the devil or one of his children, the genuine citizens of that country which is far from God. He sent him to feed swine - He employed him in the base drudgery of sin.

Verse 16.

He would fain have filled his belly with the husks - He would fain have satisfied himself with worldly comforts. Vain, fruitless endeavour!

Verse 17.

And coming to himself - For till then he was beside himself, as all men are, so long as they are without God in the world.

Verse 18.

I will arise and go to my father - How accurately are the first steps of true repentance here pointed out! Against Heaven - Against God.

Verse 20.

And he arose and came to his father - The moment he had resolved, he began to execute his resolution. While he was yet a great way off, his father saw him - Returning, starved, naked.

Verse 22.

But the father said - Interrupting him before he had finished what he intended to say. So does God frequently cut an earnest confession short by a display of his pardoning love.

Verse 23.

Let us be merry - Both here, and wherever else this word occurs, whether in the Old or New Testament, it implies nothing of levity, but a solid, serious, religious, heartfelt joy: indeed this was the ordinary meaning of the word two hundred years ago, when our translation was made.

Verse 25.

The elder son seems to represent the Pharisees and scribes, mentioned chap. xv, 2.

Verse 27.

Thy father hath killed the fatted calf - Perhaps he mentions this rather than the robe or ring, as having a nearer connection with the music and dancing.

Verse 28.

He was angry, and would not go in - How natural to us is this kind of resentment!

Verse 29.

Lo, so many years do I serve thee - So he was one of the instances mentioned ver. 7. How admirably therefore does this parable confirm that assertion! Yet thou never gavest me a kid, that I might make merry with my friends - Perhaps God does not usually give much joy to those who never felt the sorrows of repentance.

Verse 31.

Thou art ever with me, and all that I have is thine - This suggests a strong reason against murmuring at the indulgence shown to the greatest of sinners. As the father's receiving the younger son did not cause him to disinherit the elder; so God's receiving notorious sinners will be no loss to those who have always served him; neither will he raise these to a state of glory equal to that of those who have always served him, if they have, upon the whole, made a greater progress in inward as well as outward holiness.

Verse 32.

This thy brother was dead, and is alive - A thousand of these delicate touches in the inspired writings escape an inattentive reader. In ver. 30, the elder son had unkindly and indecently said, This thy son. The father in his reply mildly reproves him, and tenderly says, This thy brother - Amazing intimation, that the best of men ought to account the worst sinners their brethren still; and should especially remember this relation, when they show any inclination to return. Our Lord in this whole parable shows, not only that the Jews had no cause to murmur at the reception of the Gentiles, (a point which did not at that time so directly fall under consideration, ) but that if the Pharisees were indeed as good as they fancied themselves to be, still they had no reason to murmur at the kind treatment of any sincere penitent. Thus does he condemn them, even on their own principles, and so leaves them without excuse. We have in this parable a lively emblem of the condition and behaviour of sinners in their natural state. Thus, when enriched by the bounty of the great common Father, do they ungratefully run from him, ver. 12. Sensual pleasures are eagerly pursued, till they have squandered away all the grace of God, ver. 13. And while these continue, not a serious thought of God can find a place in their minds. And even when afflictions come upon them, ver. 14, still they will make hard shifts before they will let the grace of God, concurring with his providence, persuade them to think of a return, ver. 15, 16. When they see themselves naked, indigent, and undone, then they recover the exercise of their reason, ver. 17. Then they remember the blessings they have thrown away, and attend to the misery they have incurred. And hereupon they resolve to return to their father, and put the resolution immediately in practice, ver. 18, 19. Behold with wonder and pleasure the gracious reception they find from Divine, injured goodness! When such a prodigal comes to his father, he sees him afar off, ver. 20. He pities, meets, embraces him, and interrupts his acknowledgments with the tokens of his returning favour, ver. 21. He arrays him with the robe of a Redeemer's righteousness, with inward and outward holiness; adorns him with all his sanctifying graces, and honours him with the tokens of adopting love, ver. 22. And all this he does with unutterable delight, in that he who was lost is now found, ver. 23, 24. Let no elder brother murmur at this indulgence, but rather welcome the prodigal back into the family. And let those who have been thus received, wander no more, but emulate the strictest piety of those who for many years have served their heavenly Father, and not transgressed his commandments.

LUKE CHAPTER 16

Verse 1.

And he said also to his disciples - Not only to the scribes and Pharisees to whom he had hitherto been speaking, but to all the younger as well as the elder brethren: to the returning prodigals who were now his disciples. A certain rich man had a steward - Christ here teaches all that are now in favour with God, particularly pardoned penitents, to behave wisely in what is committed to them.

Verse 3.

To beg I am ashamed - But not ashamed to cheat! This was likewise a sense of honour! "By men called honour, but by angels pride."

Verse 4.

I know - That is, I am resolved, what to do.

Verse 8.

And the Lord commended the unjust steward - Namely, in this respect, because he had used timely precaution: so that though the dishonesty of such a servant be detestable, yet his foresight, care, and contrivance, about the interests of this life, deserve our imitation, with regard to the more important affairs of another. The children of this world - Those who seek no other portion than this world: Are wiser - Not absolutely, for they are, one and all, egregious fools; but they are more consistent with themselves; they are truer to their principles; they more steadily pursue their end; they are wiser in their generation - That is, in their own way, than the children of light - The children of God, whose light shines on their hearts.

Verse 9.

And I say to you - Be good stewards even of the lowest talents wherewith God hath intrusted you. Mammon means riches or money. It is termed the mammon of unrighteousness, because of the manner wherein it is commonly either procured or employed. Make yourselves friends of this, by doing all possible good, particularly to the children of God: that when ye fail, when your flesh and your heart faileth, when this earthly tabernacle is dissolved, those of them who have gone before may receive, may welcome you into the everlasting habitations.

Verse 10.

And whether ye have more or less, see that ye be faithful as well as wise stewards. He that is faithful in what is meanest of all, worldly substance, is also faithful in things of a higher nature; and he that uses these lowest gifts unfaithfully, is likewise unfaithful in spiritual things.

Verse 11.

Who will intrust you with the true riches? - How should God intrust you with spiritual and eternal, which alone are true riches?

Verse 12.

If ye have not been faithful in that which was another's - None of these temporal things are yours: you are only stewards of them, not proprietors: God is the proprietor of all; he lodges them in your hands for a season: but still they are his property. Rich men, understand and consider this. If your steward uses any part of your estate (so called in the language of men) any farther or any otherwise than you direct, he is a knave: he has neither conscience nor honour. Neither have you either one or the other, if you use any part of that estate, which is in truth God's, not yours, any otherwise than he directs. That which is your own - Heaven, which when you have it, will be your own forever.

Verse 13.

And you cannot be faithful to God, if you trim between God and the world, if you do not serve him alone. Matt. vi, 24.

Verse 15.

And he said to them, Ye are they who justify yourselves before men - The sense of the whole passage is, that pride, wherewith you justify yourselves, feeds covetousness, derides the Gospel, ver. 14, and destroys the law, ver. 18. All which is illustrated by a terrible example. Ye justify yourselves before men - Ye think yourselves righteous, and persuade others to think you so.

Verse 16.

The law and the prophets were in force until John: from that time the Gospel takes place; and humble upright men receive it with inexpressible earnestness. Matt. xi, 13.

Verse 17.

Not that the Gospel at all destroys the law. Matt. v, 18.

Verse 18.

But ye do; particularly in this notorious instance. Matt. v, 31; xix, 7.

Verse 19.

There was a certain rich man - Very probably a Pharisee, and one that justified himself before men; a very honest, as well as honourable gentleman: though it was not proper to mention his name on this occasion: who was clothed in purple and fine linen - and doubtless esteemed on this account, (perhaps not only by those who sold it, but by most that knew him, ) as encouraging trade, and acting according to his quality: And feasted splendidly every day - And consequently was esteemed yet more, for his generosity and hospitality in keeping so good a table.

Verse 20.

And there was a certain beggar named Lazarus, (according to the Greek pronunciation) or Eleazer. By his name it may be conjectured, he was of no mean family, though it was thus reduced. There was no reason for our Lord to conceal his name, which probably was then well known. Theophylact observes, from the tradition of the Hebrews, that he lived at Jerusalem. Yea, the dogs also came and licked his sores - It seems this circumstance is recorded to show that all his ulcers lay bare, and were not closed or bound up.

Verse 22.

And the beggar - Worn out with hunger, and pain, and want of all things, died: and was carried by angels (amazing change of the scene!) into Abraham's bosom - So the Jews styled paradise; the place where the souls of good men remain from death to the resurrection. The rich man also died, and was buried - Doubtless with pomp enough, though we do not read of his lying in state; that stupid, senseless pageantry, that shocking insult on a poor, putrefying carcass, was reserved for our enlightened age!

Verse 23.

He seeth Abraham afar off - And yet knew him at that distance: and shall not Abraham's children, when they are together in paradise, know each other!

Verse 24.

Father Abraham, have mercy on me - It cannot be denied, but here is one precedent in Scripture of praying to departed saints: but who is it that prays, and with what success? Will any, who considers this, be fond of copying after him?

Verse 25.

But Abraham said, Son - According to the flesh. Is it not worthy of observation, that Abraham will not revile even a damned soul? and shall living men revile one another? Thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things - Thou didst choose and accept of worldly things as thy good, thy happiness. And can any be at a loss to know why he was in torments? This damnable idolatry, had there been nothing more, was enough to sink him to the nethermost hell.

Verse 26.

Beside this there is a great gulf fixed - Reader, to which side of it wilt thou go?

Verse 28.

Lest they also come into this place - He might justly fear lest their reproaches should add to his own torment.

Verse 31.

Neither will they be persuaded - Truly to repent: for this implies an entire change of heart: but a thousand apparitions cannot, effect this. God only can, applying his word.

LUKE CHAPTER 17

Verse 1.

It is impossible but offenses will come - And they ever did and do come chiefly by Pharisees, that is, men who trust in themselves that they are righteous, and despise others. Matt. xviii, 6; Mark ix, 42.

Verse 2.

Little ones - Weak believers.

Verse 3.

Take heed to yourselves - That ye neither offend others, nor be offended by others. Matt. xviii, 15.

Verse 4.

If he sin against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day return, saying, I repent - That is, if he give sufficient proof that he does really repent, after having sinned ever so often, receive him just as if he had never sinned against thee. But this forgiveness is due only to real penitents. In a lower sense we are to forgive all, penitent or impenitent; (so as to bear them the sincerest good will, and to do them all the good we can;) and that not seven times only, but seventy times seven.

Verse 5.

Lord, increase our faith - That we may thus forgive, and may neither offend nor be offended. Matt. xvii, 20.

Verse 6.

And he said, If ye had faith as a grain of mustard seed - If ye had the least measure of true faith, no instance of duty would be too hard for you. Ye would say to this sycamine tree - This seems to have been a kind of proverbial expression.

Verse 7.

But which of you - But is it not meet that you should first obey, and then triumph? Though still with a deep sense of your utter unprofitableness.

Verse 9.

Doth he thank that servant - Does he account himself obliged to him?

Verse 10.

When ye have done all, say, We are unprofitable servants - For a man cannot profit God. Happy is he who Judges himself an unprofitable servant: miserable is he whom God pronounces such. But though we are unprofitable to him, our serving him is not unprofitable to us. For he is pleased to give by his grace a value to our good works, which in consequence of his promise entitles us to an eternal reward.

Verse 20.

The kingdom of God cometh not with observation - With such outward pomp as draws the observation of every one.

Verse 21.

Neither shall they say, Lo here, or lo there - This shall not be the language of those who are, or shall be sent by me, to declare the coming of my kingdom. For behold the kingdom of God is within or among you - Look not for it in distant times or remote places: it is now in the midst of you: it is come: it is present in the soul of every true believer: it is a spiritual kingdom, an internal principle. Wherever it exists, it exists in the heart.

Verse 22.

Ye shall desire to see one of the days of the Son of man - One day of mercy or one day wherein you might converse with me, as you do now.

Verse 23.

They shall say, See, Christ is here, or there - Limiting his presence to this or that place. Matt. xxiv, 23.

Verse 24.

So shall also the Son of man be - So swift, so wide, shall his appearing be: In his day - The last day.

Verse 26.

The days of the Son of man - Those which immediately follow that which is eminently styled his day. Matt. xxiv, 37.

Verse 31.

In that day - (Which will be the grand type of the last day) when ye shall see Jerusalem encompassed with armies.

Verse 32.

Remember Lot's wife - And escape with all speed, without ever looking behind you. Luke ix, 24; John xii, 25.

Verse 33.

The sense of this and the following verses is, Yet as great as the danger will be, do not seek to save your life by violating your conscience: if you do, you will surely lose it: whereas if you should lose it for my sake, you shall be paid with life everlasting. But the most probable way of preserving it now, is to be always ready to give it up: a peculiar Providence shall then watch over you, and put a difference between you and other men.

Verse 37.

Matt. xxiv, 28.

LUKE CHAPTER 18

Verse 1.

He spake a parable to them - This and the following parable warn us against two fatal extremes, with regard to prayer: the former against faintness and weariness, the latter against self confidence.

Verse 7.

And shall not God - The most just Judge, vindicate his own elect - Preserve the Christians from all their adversaries, and in particular save them out of the general destruction, and avenge them of the Jews? Though he bear long with them - Though he does not immediately put an end, either to the wrongs of the wicked, or the sufferings of good men.

Verse 8.

Yet when the Son of man cometh, will he find faith upon earth - Yet notwithstanding all the instances both of his long suffering and of his justice, whenever he shall remarkably appear, against their enemies in this age or in after ages, how few true believers will be found upon earth!

Verse 9.

He spake this parable - Not to hypocrites; the Pharisee here mentioned was no hypocrite, no more than an outward adulterer: but he sincerely trusted in himself that he was righteous, and accordingly told God so, in the prayer which none but God heard.

Verse 12.

I fast twice in the week - So did all the strict Pharisees: every Monday and Thursday. I give tithes of all that I possess - Many of them gave one full tenth of their income in tithes, and another tenth in alms, the sum of this plea is, I do no harm: I use all the means of grace: I do all the good I can.

Verse 13.

The publican standing afar off - From the holy of holies, would not so much as lift up his eyes to heaven - Touched with shame, which is more ingenuous than fear.

Verse 14.

This man went down - From the hill on which the temple stood, justified rather than the other - That is, and not the other.

Verse 15.

Matt. xix, 13; Mark x, 13.

Verse 16.

Calling them - Those that brought the children: of such is the kingdom of God - Such are subjects of the Messiah's kingdom. And such as these it properly belongs to.

Verse 18.

Matt. xix, 16; Mark x, 17.

Verse 20.

Exod. xx, 12, etc.

Verse 22.

Yet lackest thou one thing - Namely, to love God more than mammon. Our saviour knew his heart, and presently put him upon a trial which laid it open to the ruler himself. And to cure his love of the world, which could not in him be cured otherwise, Christ commanded him to sell all that he had. But he does not command us to do this; but to use all to the glory of God.

Verse 31.

Matt. xx, 17; Mark x, 32.

Verse 34.

They understood none of these things - The literal meaning they could not but understand. But as they could not reconcile this to their preconceived opinion of the Messiah, they were utterly at a loss in what parabolical or figurative sense to take what he said concerning his sufferings; having their thoughts still taken up with the temporal kingdom.

Verse 35.

Matt. xx, 29; Mark x, 46.

LUKE CHAPTER 19

Verse 1.

He passed through Jericho - So that Zacchaeus must have lived near the end of the town: the tree was in the town itself. And he was rich - These words seem to refer to the discourse in the last chapter, ver. 24, particularly to ver. 27. Zacchiaeus is a proof, that it is possible by the power of God for even a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven.

Verse 2.

The chief of the publicans - What we would term, commissioner of the customs. A very honourable as well as profitable place.

Verse 4.

And running before - With great earnestness. He climbed up - Notwithstanding his quality: desire conquering honour and shame.

Verse 5.

Jesus said, Zacchaeus, make haste and come down - What a strange mixture of passions must Zacchaeus have now felt, hearing one speak, as knowing both his name and his heart!

Verse 7.

They all murmured - All who were near: though most of them rather out of surprise than indignation.

Verse 8.

And Zacchaeus stood - Showing by his posture, his deliberate, purpose and ready mind, and said, Behold, Lord, I give - I determine to do it immediately.

Verse 9.

He also is a son of Abraham - A Jew born, and as such has a right to the first offer of salvation.

Verse 10.

Matt. xviii, 11.

Verse 11.

They thought the kingdom of God - A glorious temporal kingdom, would immediately appear.

Verse 12.

He went into a far country to receive a kingdom - Christ went to heaven, to receive his sovereign power as wan, even all authority in heaven and earth. Matt. xxv, 14; Mark xiii, 34.

Verse 13.

Trade till I come - To visit the nation, to destroy Jerusalem, to judge the world: or, in a more particular sense, to require thy soul of thee.

Verse 14.

But his citizens - Such were those of Jerusalem, hated him, and sent an embassy after him - The word seems to imply, their sending ambassadors to a superior court, to enter their protest against his being admitted to the regal power. In such a solemn manner did the Jews protest, as it were, before God, that Christ should not reign over them: this man - So they call him in contempt.

Verse 15.

When he was returned - In his glory.

Verse 23.

With interest - Which does not appear to be contrary to any law of God or man. But this is no plea for usury, that is, the taking such interest as implies any degree of oppression or extortion.

Verse 25.

They said - With admiration, not envy.

Verse 26.

Matt. xxv, 29; Luke viii, 18.

Verse 27.

He went before - The foremost of the company, showing his readiness to suffer.

Verse 29.

He drew nigh to the place where the borders of Bethphage and Bethany met, which was at the foot of the Mount of Olives. Matt. xxi, 1; Mark xi, 1.

Verse 37.

The whole multitude began to praise God - Speaking at once, as it seems, from a Divine impulse, words which most of them did not understand.

Verse 38.

Peace in heaven - God being reconciled to man.

Verse 39.

Rebuke thy disciples - Paying thee this immoderate honour.

Verse 40.

If these should hold their peace, the stones, which lie before you, would cry out - That is, God would raise up some still more unlikely instruments to declare his praise. For the power of God will not return empty.

Verse 42.

O that thou hadst known, at least in this thy day - After thou hast neglected so many. Thy day - The day wherein God still offers thee his blessings.

Verse 43.

Thine enemies shall cast a trench about thee, and compass thee around - All this was exactly performed by Titus, the Roman general.

Verse 44.

And thy children within thee - All the Jews were at that time gathered together, it being the time of the passover. They shall not leave in thee one stone upon another - Only three towers were left standing for a time, to show the former strength and magnificence of the place. But these likewise were afterward levelled with the ground.

Verse 45.

Matt. xxi, 12; Mark xi, 11.

Verse 46.

Isaiah lvi, 7.

LUKE CHAPTER 20

Verse 1.

Matt. xxi, 23; Mark xi, 27.

Verse 9.

A long time - It was a long time from the entrance of the Israelites into Canaan to the birth of Christ. Matt. xxi, 33; Mark xii, 1.

Verse 16.

He will destroy these husbandmen - Probably he pointed to the scribes, chief priests, and elders: who allowed, he will miserably destroy those wicked men, Matt. xxi, 41; but could not bear that this should be applied to themselves. They might also mean, God forbid that we should be guilty of such a crime as your parable seems to charge us with, namely, rejecting and killing the heir. Our saviour answers, But yet will ye do it, as is prophesied of you.

Verse 17.

He looked on them - To sharpen their attention. Psalm cxviii, 22.

Verse 18.

Matt. xxi, 45.

Verse 20.

Just men - Men of a tender conscience. To take hold of his discourse - If he answered as they hoped he would. Matt. xxii, 16; Mark xii, 12.

Verse 21.

Thou speakest - In private, and teachest - In public.

Verse 24.

Show me a penny - A Roman penny, which was the money that was usually paid on that occasion.

Verse 26.

They could not take hold of his words before the people - As they did afterward before the sanhedrim, in the absence of the people, chap. xxii, 67.

Verse 27.

Matt. xxii, 23; Mark xii, 18.

Verse 28.

Deut. xxv, 5.

Verse 34.

The children of this world - The inhabitants of earth, marry and are given in marriage - As being all subject to the law of mortality; so that the species is in need of being continually repaired.

Verse 35.

But they who obtain that world - Which they enter into, before the resurrection of the dead.

Verse 36.

They are the children of God - In a more eminent sense when they rise again.

Verse 37.

That the dead are raised, even Moses, as well as the other prophets showed, when he calleth - That is, when he recites the words which God spoke of himself, I am the God of Abraham, etc. It cannot properly be said, that God is the God of any who are totally perished. Exod. iii, 6.

Verse 38.

He is not a God of the dead, or, there is no God of the dead - That is, tho term God implies such a relation, as cannot possibly subsist between him and the dead; who in the Sadducees' sense are extinguished spirits; who could neither worship him, nor receive good from him. So that all live to him - All who have him for their God, live to and enjoy him. This sentence is not an argument for what went before; but the proposition which was to be proved. And the consequence is apparently just. For as all the faithful are the children of Abraham, and the Divine promise of being a God to him and his seed is entailed upon them, it implies their continued existence and happiness in a future state as much as Abraham's. And as the body is an essential part of man, it implies both his resurrection and theirs; and so overthrows the entire scheme of the Sadducean doctrine.

Verse 40.

They durst not ask him any question - The Sadducees durst not. One of the scribes did, presently after.

Verse 41.

Matt. xxii, 41; Mark xii, 35.

Verse 42.

Psalm cx, 1.

Verse 46.

Matt. xxiii, 5.

Verse 47.

Matt. xxiii, 14.

LUKE CHAPTER 21

Verse 1.

He looked up - From those on whom his eyes were fixed before. Mark xii, 41.

Verse 5.

Goodly stones - Such as no engines now in use could have brought, or even set upon each other. Some of them (as an eye witness who lately measured them writes) were forty - five cubits long, five high, and six broad; yet brought thither from another country. And gifts - Which persons delivered from imminent dangers had, in accomplishment of their vows, hung on the walls and pillars. The marble of the temple was so white, that it appeared like a mountain of snow at a distance. And the gilding of many parts made it, especially when the sun shone, a most splendid and beautiful spectacle. Matt. xxiv, 1; Mark xiii, 1.

Verse 8.

I am the Christ; and the time is near - When I will deliver you from all your enemies. They are the words of the seducers.

Verse 9.

Commotions - Intestine broils; civil wars.

Verse 11.

Fearful sights and signs from heaven - Of which Josephus gives a circumstantial account.

Verse 12.

Mark xiii, 9.

Verse 13.

It shall turn to you for a testimony - Of your having delivered your own souls, and of their being without excuse.

Verse 16.

Matt. x, 21.

Verse 17.

Matt. xxiv, 13; Mark xiii, 13.

Verse 18.

Not a hair of your head - A proverbial expression, shall perish - Without the special providence of God. And then, not before the time, nor without a full reward.

Verse 19.

In your patience possess ye your souls - Be calm and serene, masters of yourselves, and superior to all irrational and disquieting passions. By keeping the government of your spirits, you will both avoid much misery, and guard the better against all dangers.

Verse 21.

Let them that are in the midst of it - Where Jerusalem stands (that is, they that are in Jerusalem) depart out of it, before their retreat is cut off by the uniting of the forces near the city, and let not them that are in the adjacent countries by any means enter into it.

Verse 22.

And things which are written - Particularly in Daniel.

Verse 24.

They shall fall by the edge of the sword, and shall be led away captive - Eleven hundred thousand perished in the siege of Jerusalem, and above ninety thousand were sold for slaves. So terribly was this prophecy fulfilled! And Jerusalem shall be trodden by the Gentiles - That is, inhabited. So it was indeed. The land was sold, and no Jew suffered even to come within sight of Jerusalem. The very foundations of the city were ploughed up, and a heathen temple built where the temple of God had stood. The times of the Gentiles - That is, the times limited for their treading the city; which shall terminate in the full conversion of the Gentiles.

Verse 25.

And there shall be - Before the great day, which was typified by the destruction of Jerusalem: signs - Different from those mentioned in ver. 11. Matt. xxiv, 29; Mark xiii, 24.

Verse 28.

Now when these things - Mentioned ver. 8, 10, etc., begin to come to pass, look up with firm faith, and lift up your heads with joy: for your redemption out of many troubles draweth nigh, by God's destroying your implacable enemies.

Verse 29.

Behold the fig tree and all the trees - Christ spake this in the spring, just before the passover; when all the trees were budding on the Mount of Olives, where they then were.

Verse 30.

Ye know of yourselves - Though none teach you.

Verse 31.

The kingdom of God is nigh - The destruction of the Jewish city, temple, and religion, to make way for the advancement of my kingdom.

Verse 32.

Till all things be effected - All that has been spoken of the destruction of Jerusalem, to which the question, ver. 7, relates: and which is treated of from ver. 8-24.

Verse 34.

Take heed, lest at any time your hearts be overloaded with gluttony and drunkenness - And was there need to warn the apostles themselves against such sins as these? Then surely there is reason to warn even strong Christians against the very grossest sins. Neither are we wise, if we think ourselves out of the reach of any sin: and so that day - Of judgment or of death, come upon you, even you that are not of this world-Unawares. Matt. xxiv, 42; Mark xiii, 33; Luke xii, 35.

Verse 35.

That sit - Careless and at ease.

Verse 36.

Watch ye therefore - This is the general conclusion of all that precedes. That ye may be counted worthy - This word sometimes signifies an honour conferred on a person, as when the apostles are said to be counted worthy to suffer shame for Christ, Acts v, 41. Sometimes meet or becoming: as when John the Baptist exhorts, to bring fruits worthy of repentance, chap. iii, 8. And so to be counted worthy to escape, is to have the honour of it, and to be fitted or prepared for it. To stand - With joy and triumph: not to fall before him as his enemies.

Verse 37.

Now by day - In the day time, he was teaching in the temple - This shows how our Lord employed his time after coming to Jerusalem: but it is not said, he was this day in the temple, and next morning the people came. It does not therefore by any means imply, that he came any more after this into the temple.

Verse 38.

And all the people came early in the morning to hear him - How much happier were his disciples in these early lectures, than the slumbers of the morning could have made them on their beds! Let us not scruple to deny ourselves the indulgence of unnecessary sleep, that we may morning after morning place ourselves at his feet, receiving the instructions of his word, and seeking those of his Spirit.

LUKE CHAPTER 22

Verse 1.

Matt. xxvi, 1; Mark xiv, 1.

Verse 3.

Then entered Satan - Who is never wanting to assist those whose heart is bent upon mischief.

Verse 4.

Captains - Called captains of the temple, ver. 52. They were Jewish officers, who presided over the guards which kept watch every night in the temple.

Verse 7.

Matt. xxvi, 17; Mark xiv, 12.

Verse 14.

Matt. xxvi, 20; Mark xiv, 17.

Verse 15.

With desire have I desired - That is, I have earnestly desired it. He desired it, both for the sake of his disciples, to whom he desired to manifest himself farther, at this solemn parting: and for the sake of his whole Church, that he might institute the grand memorial of his death.

Verse 16.

For I will not eat thereof any more - That is, it will be the last I shall eat with you before I die. The kingdom of God did not properly commence till his resurrection. Then was fulfilled what was typified by the passover.

Verse 17.

And he took the cup - That cup which used to be brought at the beginning of the paschal solemnity, and said, Take this and divide it among yourselves; for I will not drink - As if he had said, Do not expect me to drink of it: I will drink no more before I die.

Verse 19.

And he took bread - Namely, some time after, when supper was ended, wherein they had eaten the paschal lamb. This is my body - As he had just now celebrated the paschal supper, which was called the passover, so in like figurative language, he calls this bread his body. And this circumstance of itself was sufficient to prevent any mistake, as if this bread was his real body, any more than the paschal lamb was really the passover.

Verse 20.

This cup is the New Testament - Here is an undeniable figure, whereby the cup is put for the wine in the cup. And this is called, The New Testament in Christ's blood, which could not possibly mean, that it was the New Testament itself, but only the seal of it, and the sign of that blood which was shed to confirm it.

Verse 21.

The hand of him that betrayeth me is with me on the table - It is evident Christ spake these words before he instituted the Lord's Supper: for all the other evangelists mention the sop, immediately after receiving which he went out: John xiii, 30. Nor did he return any more, till he came into the garden to betray his Master. Now this could not be dipped or given, but while the meat was on the table. But this was all removed before that bread and cup were brought.

Verse 24.

There was also a contention among them - It is highly probable, this was the same dispute which is mentioned by St. Matthew and St. Mark: and consequently, though it is related here, it happened some time before.

Verse 25.

They that exercise the most arbitrary authority over them, have from their flatterers the vain title of benefactors.

Verse 26.

But ye are to be benefactors to mankind, not by governing, but by serving.

Verse 27.

For - This he proves by his own example. I am in the midst of you - Just now: see with your eyes. I take no state upon me, but sit in the midst, on a level with the lowest of you.

Verse 28.

Ye have continued with me in my temptations - And all his life was nothing else, particularly from his entering on his public ministry.

Verse 29.

And I - Will preserve you in all your temptations, till ye enter into the kingdom of glory: appoint to you - By these very words. Not a primacy to one, but a kingdom to every one: on the same terms: as my Father hath appointed to me - Who have fought and conquered.

Verse 30.

That ye may eat and drink at my table - That is, that ye may enjoy the highest happiness, as guests, not as servants. These expressions seem to be primarily applicable to the twelve apostles, and secondarily, to all Christ's servants and disciples, whose spiritual powers, honours, and delights, are here represented in figurative terms, with respect to their advancement both in the kingdom of grace and of glory.

Verse 31.

Satan hath desired to have you - My apostles, that he might sift you as wheat - Try you to the uttermost.

Verse 32.

But I have prayed for thee - Who wilt be in the greatest danger of all: that thy faith fail not - Altogether: and when thou art returned - From thy flight, strengthen thy brethren - all that are weak in faith; perhaps scandalized at thy fall.

Verse 34.

It shall not be the time of cock crowing this day - The common time of cock crowing (which is usually about three in the morning) probably did not come till after the cock which Peter heard had crowed twice, if not oftener.

Verse 35.

When I sent you - lacked ye any thing - Were ye not born above all want and danger?

Verse 36.

But now - You will be quite in another situation. You will want every thing. He that hath no sword, let him sell his garment and buy one - It is plain, this is not to be taken literally. It only means, This will be a time of extreme danger.

Verse 37.

The things which are written concerning me have an end - Are now drawing to a period; are upon the point of being accomplished. Isaiah liii, 12.

Verse 38.

Here are two swords - Many of Galilee carried them when they travelled, to defend themselves against robbers and assassins, who much infested their roads. But did the apostles need to seek such defense? And he said; It is enough - I did not mean literally, that every one of you must have a sword.

Verse 39.

Matt. xxvi, 30.

Verse 40.

The place - The garden of Gethsemane.

Verse 43.

Strengthening him - Lest his body should sink and die before the time.

Verse 44.

And being in an agony - Probably just now grappling with the powers of darkness: feeling the weight of the wrath of God, and at the same time surrounded with a mighty host of devils, who exercised all their force and malice to persecute and distract his wounded spirit. He prayed more earnestly - Even with stronger cries and tars: and his sweat - As cold as the weather was, was as it were great drops of blood - Which, by the vehement distress of his soul, were forced out of the pores, in so great a quantity as afterward united in large, thick, grumous drops, and even fell to the ground.

Verse 48.

Betrayest thou the Son of man - He whom thou knowest to be the Son of man, the Christ?

Verse 49.

Seeing what would follow - That they were just going to seize him. Matt. xxvi, 51; Mark xiv, 47.

Verse 51.

Suffer me at least to have my hands at liberty thus far, while I do one more act of mercy.

Verse 52.

Jesus said to the chief priests, and captains, and the elders who were come - And all these came of their own accord: the soldiers and servants were sent.

Verse 53.

This is your hour - Before which ye could not take me: and the power of darkness - The time when Satan has power.

Verse 54.

Matt. xxvi, 57; Mark xiv, 53; John xviii, 12.

Verse 58.

Another man saw him and said - Observe here, in order to reconcile the four evangelists, that divers persons concurred in charging Peter with belonging to Christ.

The maid that led him in, afterward seeing him at the fire, first put the question to him, and then positively affirmed, that he was with Christ.
Another maid accused him to the standers by, and gave occasion to the man here mentioned, to renew the charge against him, which caused the second denial.
Others of the company took notice of his being a Galilean, and were seconded by the kinsman of Malchus, who affirmed he had seen him in the garden. And this drew on the third denial.

Verse 59.

And about one hour after - So he did not recollect himself in all that time.

Verse 63.

Matt. xxvi, 67; Mark xiv, 65.

Verse 64.

And having blindfolded him, they struck him on the face - This is placed by St. Matthew and Mark, after the council's condemning him. Probably he was abused in the same manner, both before and after his condemnation.

Verse 65.

Many other things blasphemously spake they against him - The expression is remarkable. They charged him with blasphemy, because he said he was the Son of God: but the evangelist fixes that charge on them, because he really was so.

Verse 66.

Matt. xxvi, 63; Mark xiv, 61.

Verse 70.

They all said, Art thou then the Son of God? - Both these, the Son of God, and the Son of man, were known titles of the Messiah; the one taken from his Divine, and the other from his human nature.

LUKE CHAPTER 23

Verse 1.

Matt. xxvii, 1; Mark xv, 1; John xviii, 28.

Verse 4.

Then said Pilate - After having heard his defense-I find no fault in this man - I do not find that he either asserts or attempts any thing seditious or injurious to Caesar.

Verse 5.

He stirreth up the people, beginning from Galilee - Probably they mentioned Galilee to alarm Pilate, because the Galileans were notorious for sedition and rebellion.

Verse 7.

He sent him to Herod - As his proper judge.

Verse 8.

He had been long desirous to see him - Out of mere curiosity.

Verse 9.

He questioned him - Probably concerning the miracles which were reported to have been wrought by him.

Verse 11.

Herod set him at nought - Probably judging him to be a fool, because he answered nothing. In a splendid robe - In royal apparel; intimating that he feared nothing from this king.

Verse 15.

He hath done nothing worthy of death - According to the judgment of Herod also.

Verse 16.

I will therefore chastise him - Here Pilate began to give ground, which only encouraged them to press on. Matt. xxvii, 15; Mark xv, 6; John xviii, 39.

Verse 22.

He said to them the third time, Why, what evil hath he done? - As Peter, a disciple of Christ, dishonoured him by denying him thrice, so Pilate, a heathen, honoured Christ, by thrice owning him to be innocent.

Verse 26.

Matt. xxvii, 31; Mark xv, 21; John xix, 16.

Verse 30.

Hosea x, 8.

Verse 31.

If they do these things in the green tree, what shall be done in the dry? - Our Lord makes use of a proverbial expression, frequent among the Jews, who compare a good man to a green tree, and a bad man to a dead one: as if he had said, If an innocent person suffer thus, what will become of the wicked? Of those who are as ready for destruction as dry wood for the fire?

Verse 34.

Then said Jesus - Our Lord passed most of the time on the cross in silence: yet seven sentences which he spoke thereon are recorded by the four evangelists, though no one evangelist has recorded them all. Hence it appears that the four Gospels are, as it were, four parts, which, joined together, make one symphony. Sometimes one of these only, sometimes two or three, sometimes all sound together. Father - So he speaks both in the beginning and at the end of his sufferings on the cross: Forgive them - How striking is this passage! While they are actually nailing him to the cross, he seems to feel the injury they did to their own souls more than the wounds they gave him; and as it were to forget his own anguish out of a concern for their own salvation. And how eminently was his prayer heard! It procured forgiveness for all that were penitent, and a suspension of vengeance even for the impenitent.

Verse 35.

If thou be the Christ; ver. 37. If thou be the king - The priests deride the name of Messiah: the soldiers the name of king.

Verse 38.

Matt. xxvii, 37; Mark xv, 26; John xix, 19.

Verse 39.

And one of the malefactors reviled him - St. Matthew says, the robbers: St. Mark, they that were crucified with him, reviled him. Either therefore St. Matthew and Mark put the plural for the singular (as the best authors sometimes do) or both reviled him at the first, till one of them felt "the overwhelming power of saving grace."

Verse 40.

The other rebuked him - What a surprising degree was here of repentance, faith, and other graces! And what abundance of good works, in his public confession of his sin, reproof of his fellow criminal, his honourable testimony to Christ, and profession of faith in him, while he was in so disgraceful circumstances as were stumbling even to his disciples! This shows the power of Divine grace. But it encourages none to put off their repentance to the last hour; since, as far as appears, this was the first time this criminal had an opportunity of knowing any thing of Christ, and his conversion was designed to put a peculiar glory on our saviour in his lowest state, while his enemies derided him, and his own disciples either denied or forsook him.

Verse 42.

Remember me when thou comest - From heaven, in thy kingdom - He acknowledges him a king, and such a king, as after he is dead, can profit the dead. The apostles themselves had not then so clear conceptions of the kingdom of Christ.

Verse 43.

In paradise - The place where the souls of the righteous remain from death till the resurrection. As if he had said, I will not only remember thee then, but this very day.

Verse 44.

There was darkness over all the earth - The noon-tide darkness, covering the sun, obscured all the upper hemisphere. And the lower was equally darkened, the moon being in opposition to the sun, and so receiving no light from it. Matt. xxvii, 45.

Verse 45.

Mark xv, 38.

Verse 46.

Father, into thy hands - The Father receives the Spirit of Jesus: Jesus himself the spirits of the faithful.

Verse 47.

Certainly this was a righteous man - Which implies an approbation of all he had done and taught.

Verse 48.

All the people - Who had not been actors therein, returned smiting their breasts - In testimony of sorrow.

Verse 50.

Matt. xxvii, 57; Mark xv, 43; John xix, 38.

LUKE CHAPTER 24

Verse 1.

Certain others with them - Who had not come from Galilee. Matt. xxviii, 1; Mark xvi, 1; John xx, 1.

Verse 4.

Behold two - Angels in the form of men. Mary had seen them a little before. They had disappeared on these women's coming to the sepulchre, but now appeared again. St. Matthew and Mark mention only one of them, appearing like a young man.

Verse 6.

Remember how he spake to you, saying, The Son of man must be delivered - This is only a repetition of the words which our Lord had spoken to them before his passion But it is observable, he never styles himself the Son of man after his resurrection.

Verse 13.

Mark xvi, 12.

Verse 21.

Today is the third day - The day he should have risen again, if at all.

Verse 25.

O foolish - Not understanding the designs and works of God: And slow of heart - Unready to believe what the prophets have so largely spoken.

Verse 26.

Ought not Christ - If he would redeem man, and fulfil the prophecies concerning him, to have suffered these things? - These very sufferings which occasion your doubts, are the proofs of his being the Messiah. And to enter into his glory - Which could be done no other way.

Verse 28.

He made as though he would go farther - Walking forward, as if he was going on; and he would have done it, had they not pressed him to stay.

Verse 29.

They constrained him - By their importunate entreaties.

Verse 30.

He took the bread, and blessed, and brake - Just in the same manner as when he instituted his last supper.

Verse 31.

Their eyes were opened - That is, the supernatural cloud was removed: And he vanished - Went away insensibly.

Verse 32.

Did not our heart burn within us - Did not we feel an unusual warmth of love! Was not our heart burning, etc.

Verse 33.

The same hour - Late as it was.

Verse 34.

The Lord hath appeared to Simon - Before he was seen of the twelve apostles, 1 Cor. xv, 5. He had, in his wonderful condescension and grace, taken an opportunity on the former part of that day (though where, or in what manner, is not recorded) to show himself to Peter, that he might early relieve his distresses and fears, on account of having so shamefully denied his Master.

Verse 35.

In the breaking of bread - The Lord's Supper.

Verse 36.

Jesus stood in the midst of them - It was just as easy to his Divine power to open a door undiscernibly, as it was to come in at a door opened by some other hand. Mark xvi, 14, 19; John xx, 19.

Verse 40.

He showed them his hands and his feet - That they might either see or feel the prints of the nails.

Verse 41.

While they believed not for joy - They did in some sense believe: otherwise they would not have rejoiced. But their excess of joy prevented a clear, rational belief.

Verse 43.

He took it and ate before them - Not that he had any need of food; but to give them still further evidence.

Verse 44.

And he said - On the day of his ascension. In the law, and the prophets, and the Psalms - The prophecies as well as types, relating to the Messiah, are contained either in the books of Moses (usually called the law) in the Psalms, or in the writings of the prophets; little being said directly concerning him in the historical books.

Verse 45.

Then opened he their understanding, to understand the Scriptures - He had explained them before to the two as they went to Emmaus. But still they understood them not, till he took off the veil from their hearts, by the illumination of his Spirit.

Verse 47.

Beginning at Jerusalem - This was appointed most graciously and wisely: graciously, as it encouraged the, greatest sinners to repent, when they saw that even the murderers of Christ were not excepted from mercy: and wisely, as hereby Christianity was more abundantly attested; the facts being published first on the very spot where they happened.

Verse 49.

Behold I send the promise - Emphatically so called; the Holy Ghost.

Verse 50.

He led them out as far as Bethany - Not the town, but the district: to the Mount of Olives, Acts i, 12, which stood within the boundaries of Bethany.

Verse 51.

And while he was blessing them, he was parted from them - It was much more proper that our Lord should ascend into heaven, than that he should rise from the dead, in the sight of the apostles. For his resurrection was proved when they saw him alive after his passion: but they could not see him in heaven while they continued on earth. Please see Notes at Matt. i, 1

Commentary Notes on the Whole Bible by John Wesley: Luke.

NOTES ON THE WHOLE OF THE BIBLE BY JOHN WESLEY: LUKE.

INTRODUCTION TO LUKE

LUKE CHAPTER 1

LUKE CHAPTER 2

LUKE CHAPTER 3

LUKE CHAPTER 4

LUKE CHAPTER 5

LUKE CHAPTER 6

LUKE CHAPTER 7

LUKE CHAPTER 8

LUKE CHAPTER 9

LUKE CHAPTER 10

LUKE CHAPTER 11

LUKE CHAPTER 12

LUKE CHAPTER 13

LUKE CHAPTER 14

LUKE CHAPTER 15

LUKE CHAPTER 16

LUKE CHAPTER 17

LUKE CHAPTER 18

LUKE CHAPTER 19

LUKE CHAPTER 20

LUKE CHAPTER 21

LUKE CHAPTER 22

LUKE CHAPTER 23

LUKE CHAPTER 24