Imágenes de páginas
PDF
EPUB

Traditions exposed.

34

MATTHEW

And when they had passed over, they came 35 into the land of Gennesaret. And when the men of that place knew him, they sent out into all the surrounding country, and brought to him 36 all who were diseased; And besought him that they might only touch the border of his garment; and as many as touched were made perfectly sound.

CHAPTER XV.

A. D. 32. Christ reproveth the Scribes and Pharisees for their traditions ; healeth the woman of Canaan's daughter; and feedeth four thousand, &c.

1

[blocks in formation]
[ocr errors]

then honour his father or his mother.' Thus
have ye made the commandment of God of no
effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well 7
hath Isaiah prophesied of you, saying, This 8
people draw nigh to me with their mouth, and
honour me with their lips; but their heart is far
from me.
But in vain do they worship me, 9
teaching doctrines which are the commandments
of men." And he called the multitude, and 10
said to them, "Hear, and understand. Not 11
that which goeth into the mouth defileth a man ;
but that which cometh out of the mouth, this
defileth a man." Then came his disciples, and 12
said to him, "Knowest thou that the Pharisees
were offended, when they heard this discourse?"
But he auswered and said, "Every plant, which 13
my heavenly Father hath not planted, shall be
rooted up. Let them alone: they are blind 14

THEN came near to Jesus Scribes and Pha2 risees, from Jerusalem, saying, "Why do thy disciples transgress the tradition of the elders? for 3 they wash not their hands when they eat bread." But he answered and said to them, "Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your 4 tradition? For God commanded, saying, 'Ho-leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the nour thy father and mother: and, He who revileth father and mother, let him assuredly die.' 5 But ye say, Whosoever shall say to his father or his mother, Devoted be every thing of mine 6 by which thou mightest be profited; He shall not

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER XIV. 1. From the 53-56 ver. of the 25th Chap. we learn how much the humble origin and occupation of our Lord and his relatives, were the subject of censorious remarks, and the occasion of many stumbling and offending. His miracles astonished them; but instead of bowing to this evidence of his character, they rejected him. Let us not indulge this spirit, but bless God for the gifts of grace conferred on men, whatever their origin may have been.

2. How mysterious the providence of God; that such a person as Herod should sit on the throne, and to be suffered to have power over the liberty and life of John. Yet such is the force of truth and righteousthat Herod feared John; and was grieved on account of the rash

ness,

blind, both will fall into the ditch." Then an- 15 swered Peter and said to him, "Explain to us this saying." And Jesus said, "Are ye also 16 still without understanding? Do ye not under- 17 stand, that whatsoever entereth into the mouth

engagements he had made. To what crimes do pride and lust impell men; and how dreadful the account of such in the day of retribution! At that day we shall see the righteous who were persecuted and put to death, honoured and rewarded, while their persecutors are covered with shame, and confusion of face.

3. In the miracles of our Lord, we see the same power exerted which produced the world. There was as real a creation of bread, and of fish in the desert, as that which Moses describes. Who can refuse to pay homage to Jesus as the Son of God! Let us commit our souls to him who is able to do for us abundantly above all that we can ask or think; and who is as willing to hear our prayer in distress and save us, as he is able.

who now addressed him, it is not easy to ascertain. From witnessing his amazing power in feeding the multitudes, and now controling the winds, and the waves, it is natural to think, that they considered him as one greater than any of the prophets.

34. Land of Gennesaret. This extended about thirty furlongs along the lake of the same name, and was about twenty in breadth.

35. Knew him, &c. He had been there before. See Chap. viii. 24. CHAP. XV. 2. The tradition, &c. Injunctions delivered down by their ancestors, but not written in the law of Moses.

4. Honour. Succour, or assist with thy substance. See ver. 6. Acts Xxviii. 10. and 1 Tim. v. 9.

5. A devoted thing. Mark uses the word Corban; and Campbell has clearly proved that this was not any thing actually given in the temple, but a kind of imprecation on himself, if he ever gave any thing to support his aged

parents. See Campbell's Note Mark vii. 11. In case a Son repented of such a rash vow, and gave any thing to his parents, the doctrine of the Pharisees was, that what was so given as a sacred thing belonged to God; and they had a right to claim it.

7. Prophesied of you. That is, use words that are applicable to you. See Isa. xxix. 13.

9. Doctrines which are the, &c. Campbell renders, While they teach institutions merely human.' There is doubtless a contrast intended between the authority of God and of men; and in his worship what is not sanctioned by his authority must be vain.

15. This saying, or proverb. Parable is here wholly improper. Peter desired our Lord to explain his words, ver. 11.

17. Vault. I am satisfied that the Vulgate has given the genuine sense. See Note on Mat. vii. 19.

[blocks in formation]

goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the 18 vault? But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they 19 defile the man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, 20 thefts, false-witness, evil-speaking. These are the things which defile a man; but to eat with unwashed hands defileth not a man.”

21

Then Jesus went thence, and withdrew into 22 the parts about Tyre and Sidon. And, behold, a Canaanitish woman came out of those borders, and cried to him, saying, "Have pity on me, Master, son of David; my daughter is grievous23 ly afflicted with a demon." But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came near and besought him, saying, "Send her away; 24 for she crieth after us." Then he answered and said, "I am not sent but to the lost sheep of the 25 house of Israel." Then she came and did him 26 homage, saying, "Master, help me." But he answered and said, "It is not proper to take the chil27 dren's bread, and to cast it to dogs." And she said, "True, Master; yet the dogs eat of the crumbs 28 which fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered and said to her, "O woman, great is thy faith: be it unto thee even as thou desirest." And her daughter was cured from that very hour.

[blocks in formation]

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER XV. 1. Though the law of God be holy, just and good, how ingenious are men in destroying its spirit, and setting aside its authority. What duty ought to be more joyfully performed, than expressing our love and regard to our parents; and how wicked it must be to make vows that we never will do any thing for them. The doctrine of the Pharisees is indeed making void the divine command. Let us equally detest their spirit and their practice, and ever show proper filial regard.

Various miracles wrought.

and sat down there. And great multitudes 30 came to him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and laid them down at the feet of Jesus; and he healed them: So that the multitude won- 31 dered, when they perceived that the dumb spoke, the maimed were made whole, the lame walked and the blind saw: and they glorified the God of Israel.

Then Jesus called his disciples to him, and 32 said "I have compassion on the multitude, because they have now continued with me three days, and have nothing to eat; and I am not willing to send them away fasting, lest they grow faint on the way." And his disciples say 33 to him, "Whence should we have so many loaves in the desert, as to satisfy so great a multitude?" And Jesus saith to them, "How 34 many loaves have ye?" And they said, "Seven, and a few little fishes." And he commanded 35 the multitude to place themselves on the ground. And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, 36 and gave thanks, and broke them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude. And they all ate, and were filled; and 37 they took up of the fragments which remained, seven baskets full. Now they that ate were 38 four thousand men, besides women and children. And he sent away the multitude, and took ship, 39 and came into the borders of Magdala.

2. In what respects the duties of religion, we ought ever to regard the authority of God. Mere human institutions in religion, ought ever to be considered as without authority to bind the conscience. For what right has one man to impose his own invention on another? To the law and to the testimony should be our appeal; and if any thing is not divinely appointed, we may neglect it without sin. Hypocrites have ever been more zealous for forms of human appointment, the tradition of men, than the law of God.

22. Son of David. This woman evidently had some knowledge of our Lord, and had probably seen or heard of his miracles, through her intercourse with the Galileans.

23. After us. This happened while Jesus and his disciples were on the way. But when Jesus entered into a house, Mark vii. 22. the woman came and fell at his feet.

24. I am not sent, &c. Our Lord was particularly sent to the Jews. Comp. Chap. x. 5, 6. Acts xiii. 46. Rom. xv. 8.

26. Dogs. So the Jews called all the Heathens. See Philip. iii, 2. and Rev. xxii. 15. The reply of our Lord seems to have been a strong pro

verbial expression, and he knew the woman's faith, and the miracle which he would work in answer to it: John vi. 6.

34-38. The miracle previously wrought, supports our Lord's reproof, that his followers had little faith. This miracle falls short of that recorded in the former chapter; but as Newcome remarks there is no gradation as in fictitious histories; and this is a strong circumstance in favour of the truth of what is related.

39. Magdala. A place on the eastern side of the lake; from which it is probable that Mary was called Magdalene, that is, of Magdala.

A sign required.

CHAPTER XVI.

MATTHEW XVI.

A. D. 32. The Pharisees require a sign; Jesus cautions his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and Sadducees; the people's opinion of him ; Peter's confession; he foretelleth his death, and reproveth Peter, &c.

1

THEN the Pharisees and the Sadducees came near, and tempting Jesus desired that he would 2 show them a sign from heaven. He answered and said to them, " When it is evening, ye say, 'It will be fair weather: for the sky is red.' 3 And in the morning, 'It will be stormy weather to day for the sky is red and lowering.' Hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 4 A wicked and an adulterous race seeketh a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonah." And he left them, 5 and departed.

Now when his disciples were come to the other side, they had forgotten to take loaves with 6 them. Then Jesus said to them, "Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and 7 of the Sadducees." And they reasoned among themselves, saying, "It is because we have 8 taken no loaves with us." But when Jesus perceived this, he said to them, "O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because

3. Let us ever remember, that the vices of the heart are what defile us. We may eat with unwashed hands and be guiltless, but we cannot indulge evil thoughts, or cherish those dispositions, which produce evil-speaking, thefts, fornications, adulteries, and murders, without contracting the most awful guilt. Let us therefore keep our hearts with all diligence; for out of them proceed the actions of life.

4. How lovely are humility and faith; and though tried, they will in the end be rewarded. The woman of Canaan exemplifies this remark. The language of Jesus seems more severe, and more discouraging, than on any other occasion; yet such appears to be her humility,

Peter's confession.

ye have brought no loaves with you? Do ye 9 not yet understand; nor remember the five loaves of the five thousand, and how many large baskets ye took up? Nor the seven 10 loaves of the four thousand, and how many baskets ye took up? How is it that How is it that ye do not 11 understand that I spoke not to you concerning bread, That ye should beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees?" Then 12 they understood how he did not bid them beware of the leaven of bread, but of the doctrine of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees.

When Jesus was coming into the parts of 13 Cesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, saying, "Who do men say that 1, the Son of man, am?" And they said, "Some, that thou art John the 14 Baptist; some, Elijah; and others, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets." He saith to them, 15 "But who say ye, that I am?" And Simon 16 Peter answered and said, "Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God." the Son of the living God." And Jesus answer- 17 ed and said to him, "Happy art thou, Simon, son of Jonah; for flesh and blood hath not revealed this to thee, but my Father who is in heaven. And I say also to thee, That thou art 18 Peter, [A STONE ;] and upon this very rock I

wisdom and faith, that from the degrading epithet of a Dog, she de. rives an argument to enforce her petition. Let us pray and never grow faint, whatever discouragements may arise; for in the end God will hear and answer us to the joy of our hearts..

5. The children of affliction were our Lords constant attendants. On the present occasion, a vast multitude were assembled, and he healed them all. Their friends and neighbours saw with wonder the mighty deeds which were done. It is still true, that they who are sick, sick of sin, and burdened with its guilt, come to the Saviour, by faith and prayer, that they may be healed.

[ocr errors]

CHAP. XVI. 1. A sign from heaven. See Note, Chap. xii. 38. 3. The signs of the times. Such as were to be given to evince the appearance of the Messiah; and such as our Lord mentioned to the messengers of John, Chap. xi. 5.

4. See Note, Chap. xii. 39.

5. From the other side. From Magdala to the western sea of Galilee, and Bethsaida,

6. Leaven. Here means their corrupt doctrines. See 1 Corin. v. 6, 7. 13. Cesarea Philippi. This was situate at the spring head of the Jordan. and was built by Philip, tetrarch of Galilee, in honour of Tiberius Cæsar. The name Philippi was added to distinguish it from the sea-port town of Cesarea, mentioned in the Acts, which was situate on the shore of the Mediterranean sea.

14. John the baptist. Like Herod some thought he was risen from the dead.Elijah, &c. The Pharisees believed according to Josephus, that the souls of good men migrated into other bodies.

18. Peter. His name was Simon, but now honoured with this, which in Greek, signifies a stone, as Cæphas does in Syriac. In the Hebrew, similar allusions to names often occur: Gen. xxvii. 3, 6. and xlix. 8, 16, 19.——— Upon this rock. Upon thee, as upon a rock. Peter was the first Apostle who preached to the Jews, Acts ii; and he was the first who preached to the Gentiles, Acts x. But the other Apostles were foundation-stones as well as Peter Eph. ii. 20. Others think that Simon was thus called on account of the confession he made, and that our Lord meant, upon this truth, that I am the Son of God, as upon a rock, I will build my church.' No prerogative, unless that of first preaching the gospel, seems to have beeu enjoyed by Peter

[merged small][ocr errors]

MATTHEW will build my church, [CONGREGATION;] and the gates of hades shall not prevail against it. 19 And I will give to thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in 20 heaven." Then charged he his disciples to tell no man that he was the Christ.

21

[ocr errors]

From that time Jesus began to show to his disciples, that he must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chiefpriests and Scribes, and be killed, and be raised 22 again on the third day. Then Peter took him aside, and began to reprove him, saying, "Be it far from thee, Master; this shall by no means 23 befal thee." But he turned, and said to Peter, “Get thee behind me, adversary; thou art an obstacle to me; for thou regardest not the things of God, but the things of men."

[blocks in formation]

will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whoso- 25 ever desireth to save his life shall lose it; and whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall gain it. For what is a man profited, if he shall 26 gain the whole world, and forfeit his own life? or what would not a man give in ransom for his life?

For the Son of man will come in the 27 glory of his Father with his angels; and then he will reward every man according to his works. Verily I say to you, There are some standing 28 here, who shall not taste of death, till they have seen the Son of man coming in his kingdom."

CHAPTER XVII.

A. D. 32. The transfiguration of Christ; he healeth a lunatic; foretelleth his own sufferings, and payeth tribute.

Now after six days Jesus taketh Peter, James, 1 and John his brother, and bringeth them up a And was transfigured 2

24. Then said Jesus to his disciples, "If any man high mountain apart,

20 Jesus. Mss.

REFLECTIONS UPON CHAPTER XVI. 1. Well might our Lord call the people of his day an evil and an adulterous race.' they had degenerated from the purity of their forefathers; and many of them were guilty of the greatest dissimulation and hypocrisy. They pretended to judge of the weather by the appearance of the sky; yet, throughtheir prejudice and unbelief, they could not discern the signs of the times. To unbiassed reason, nothing could be more evident, than that God was now accomplishing what he had promised by the prophets; and that Jesus was the Christ. The works he did testified of him.

2. We learn from our Lord's remark, that errors in religion have the most dangerous influence. They work like leaven; and gratifying some depraved passion of the heart, they are extolled and maintained with the greatest zeal. Let us beware of corrupt doctrines; they will eat like a canker; and destroy all manly and rational piety.

CHAP. XVII.

3. How singular the opinions of men respecting Christ. Some thought him John the Baptist risen from the dead; others, Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets. These opinions prove that they who held then, had made little inquiry respecting him. Peter confesses him to be the Christ; and our surprise is, that all did not make the same acknowledgment.

4. Jesus now began to hint at his crucifixion; but how unpleasant was this to his most devoted disciples! He reproves with some severity the conduct of Peter, and insinuates that he had hitherto more regard to what is agreeable to flesh and blood, than to the will of God. How important bis injunctions considered in this connexion. If we would approve ourselves to him, we must exercise the greatest selfdenial, and holy courage, be willing in his cause, to part with life, in full confidence that we shall find a better, an eternal one.

above the other Apostles. See 1 Pet. ii. 5.-Gates of hades. The Hebrew sheol, and the Greek hades, imports the place of departed spirits; and death is the gate leading to this abode. Our Lord foretels, that however his disciples might be persecuted and put to death, this should not prevent, but rather contribute to, the establishment of his church and kingdom.

19. The keys. Bearing the keys is a mark of office and rule. Comp. Isa. ix. 5. and xxii. 22. Rev. iii. 7. The power intended is explained by what follows,- -Whatsoever thou shalt bind. Thou shalt condemn men, or absolve them, as guided by the spirit. Comp. Job, xx. 23. See Note, Chap. xviii. 18.

21. To show his disciples. To teach them how he must suffer.

[blocks in formation]

like the other Apostles, seems to have thought our Lord's kingdom would be like the kingdoms of this world. How soon is Peter the rock, turned to an adversary, opposing the scheme of God for the redemption of mankind.

25, 26. His life. As the term is the same in both verses, it ought to be rendered in the same manner; and the former verse limits it to life. The expressions are proverbial, importing. It signifies nothing how much a man may gain, if it be at the expence of his life; and if this be true as to the present life, it must be so, for a stronger reason, if a man lose his soul, or eternal life.

28. Seen the son, &c. Coming by the power of his spirit to set up his kingdom; and in his providence to punish the wicked and unbelieving Jews.

CHAP. XVII. 1. After six days. Luke ix. 28. says, 'about eight days after,' reckoning the first and last in that number, which Matthew and Mark omit.—A high mountain. According to Jerom, it was an old tradition in his day, that this was Mount Tabor.

[blocks in formation]

and

before them; and his face shone as the sun, 3 his raiment became white as the light. And, behold, there appeared to them Moses and 4 Elijah talking with him. Then Peter spoke and said to Jesus, "Master, it is good for us to be here if thou wilt, let us make here three booths; one for thee, and one for Moses, and one 5 for Elijah." While he yet spoke, behold, a bright cloud surrounded them and lo, a voice out of the cloud, which said, "This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased; hear 6 ye him." And when the disciples heard it, they 7 fell on their face, and feared greatly. And Jesus came near and touched them, and said, 8 Arise, and be not afraid." And when they had raised their eyes, they saw no man, except Jesus only.

9

66

And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, "Tell the vision to no one, until the Son of man be risen from 10 the dead." And his disciples asked him, saying, "Why then say the Scribes that Elijah 11 must come first?" And Jesus answered and said to them, "Elijah indeed doth come first, 12 and restore all things. But I say to you, That Elijah is come already; and they acknowledged him not, but have done to him whatsoever they chose; in like manner the Son of man 13 also will thus suffer from them." Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptist.

A demoniac healed.

And when they had come to the multitude, 14 a certain man came near to him, kneeling down to him, and saying, "Master, have pity on my 15 son; for he is a lunatic and grievously afflicted : for he often falleth into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, 16 and they could not cure him." Then Jesus 17 answered and said, "O unbelieving and perverse race, how long shall I be with you? how long shall I endure you? bring him hither to me." Then Jesus rebuked the demon; and he 18 came out of him; and the child was cured from that very hour. Then the disciples came near 19 to Jesus privately, and said, Why could not we cast him out?" And Jesus said to them, 20 "Because of your unbelief; for verily I say to you, If ye have faith as a grain of mustard seed, ye shall say to this mountain, Remove hence to yonder place; and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. However this kind 21 is not cast out but by prayer and fasting."

66

[merged small][ocr errors][merged small]

2. Transfigured. Not by a change of his form as a man, but by his face shining as the sun, &c.

3. Moses and Elijah. The one the great Jewish law-giver, and the other the most distinguished of the prophets. They appeared to do honour to Jesus as their God and Saviour; to whom they had borne testimony, and whose glory all their ministrations had been designed to advance.

4. Booths. A temporary shed, made of boughs of trees seems to be meant here, and not a tent or tabernacle. See Campbell's Note.

3. Surrounded them. Jesus, Moses, and Elijah. See Luke ix. 24. -Hear ye him. Pearce thinks that these words refer to Deut. xviii. 15, and that it was now declared from heaven, that Jesus. was the prophet of whom Moses spake.

10. Asked him. The three disciples perhaps thought that Elijah was soon to come; and they were surprised, that they were commanded not to tell what they had seen.

11. And restore all. Campbell renders, consummate, and Doddridge, regulate. With Grotius and Hammond I conceive there is a reference to Mal. iv. 6. and that the sense is, He will restore, or turn the children with the fathers, by preaching repentance, and directing men to the Messiah.' Thus John completed the old dispensation and began the new.

12. They acknowledged him not. They acknowledged not that he was the person whom Malachi had spoken of; but they expected the prophet Elijah would literally some again as a preacher and reformer.

15. Lunatic. He was an epileptic at the lunar periods.

17. O unbelieving, &c. Jesus knew that his power to cure this lunatic was doubted. See Mark ix. 22.

20. As a grain of, &c. See Note on Chap. xiii. 32.—— This mountain. Some think our Lord pointed to the mountain on which he had been transfigured.

21. Wakefield omits this verse, and conjectures it has been interpolated from Mark. It is wanting in two ancient manuscripts, and in the Celtics Æthiopic, and Syriac versions; but the weight of authority is in favour of it.

- This kind is not cast out, that is, the power to expel demons, and to effect cures of this kind, is to be acquired only by fasting and prayer.

24. The half-shekel. Every Jew paid this for the service of the temple : Exod. xxx. 13, &c.' This was now demanded by the authority of the Highpriest and the Sanhedrim.

25. Or custom. Wakefield omits these words, and Newcome observes that they have the appearance of a gloss.

« AnteriorContinuar »